Dog Trainer Course for Raya

Raya is 23 years old, and would like to study to be a dog trainer.

She had a difficult childhood, including aliyah from the former Soviet Union, her parents’ divorce, an alcoholic father and an abusive mother.

In high school, Raya left home for a boarding school for kids at risk. She has been in and out of touch with her mother throughout her army service. Her father has left the country and is not in touch, and her grandparents have severed contact.

At her boarding school, Raya started working with a Big Brother / Big Sister type program. They’ve helped her through high school and her army service, and continue to provide Raya with therapy, career counselling, and general emotional support. Today, Raya works as a hotel clerk and is financially independent for her day-to-day needs.

Together with career counselors, Raya has decided to study to be a dog trainer for therapy dogs. Unfortunately, there are very few scholarships for this type of education, due to the fact that dog training requires a private vocational program. The program that Raya is part of supports Raya’s dream but cannot afford to pay for the course itself.