‘They’re helping disabled people’: Canton woman shares life-changing experience at fundraiser

WORCESTER, Mass. — After a decade of suffering through symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome – a rare genetic disorder – and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Sarah Riegelhaupt-Herzig’s life has changed for the better.

“At my lowest point, I was bedridden, I had no answers, I had no idea what was going on,” Riegelhaupt-Herzig said. “I felt like I had no control over my life or my body, and now I do.”

Eighteen months ago, Riegelhaupt-Herzig matched with her service dog Tasha through Canine Companions – a nonprofit that provides fully-trained service dogs to recipients free of charge.

“They’re [Canine Companions] amazing,” said Riegelhaupt-Herzig. “They’re really helping disabled people get their independence back.”

The service dogs are provided at no cost to the recipient thanks in part to fundraising events like Sunday’s DogFest at Polar Park and thanks to thousands of volunteers like Worcester’s Kate O’Connor.

“My job as a volunteer puppy raiser is to socialize them and teach them some basic commands,” said O’Connor. “They’re amazing dogs, they learn over 40 commands.”

Since its creation in 1975, Canine Companions has placed more than 7,100 dogs with deserving recipients, including dozens in Massachusetts like Riegelhaupt-Herzig.

“If I ever lose motivation, I just look at her [Tasha]. I just look in those beautiful brown eyes and that’s all the motivation I need to just keep going because she’s there for me,” said Riegelhaupt-Herzig. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Boston 25 News Meteorologist Jason Brewer emceed DogFest 2022 for the second year in a row.

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