I have a wonderful therapy dog named Sahara. Sahara is a 7-year-old (almost 8) yellow lab. Sahara has been credentialed in Pet-Assisted Therapy through Windwalker Humane Coalition in Rhode Island since 2012. I am now a senior at URI. I transferred to URI last fall from CCRI. When I transferred I had to leave my therapy dog Sahara with my parents. This was extremely awful and devastating for me. I was so anxious and depressed that I barely made it through my last semester of my junior year. I recruited Disability Services and the counseling center at URI to help me. They both wrote letters and presented my case to the board of URI to get my therapy dog on campus. Even with their efforts and my efforts, the board denied my request. When I found out about this devastating news I spent the entire day in my room crying and panicking. I don't want to spend another year away from the my baby. She is an amazing therapy dog! She has helped so many people in nursing homes and hospitals! She spends most of her Fridays at Butler Hospital and visits the patients there. She loves helping people! I am begging everyone to help me change the board's mind and let me have Sahara on campus! I can't spend another year away from her. She is the most important animal or person in my life! Please help me!