About Us
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to promote and strengthen the bond between a Service Dog and their partner; to place a well-matched Service Dog that will provide companionship, love, and support to their partner; to train a Service Dog that creates a positive and significant improvement in a person’s everyday life; to place a well skilled Service Dog that will restore a sense of confidence and independence to their human companion; and to make sure our clients have the training and support they need to continue the skill sets their dog has learned and bond with their new companion.
OUR TEAM
Who We Are
Melissa Peterson
Melissa has been with Service Paw Alliance, Inc. since 2015. She is another member of the Service Dog Training Team. While she is working to complete her degree from college, Melissa continues to volunteer her time beyond her regular training days as a puppy raiser in our Service Dog Puppy Raising Program.
Mike Leonardo
Mike joined our team back in 2015 and he is our lead service dog representative. If you are looking to start your service dog journey, he is your manl! His favorite part of starting the service dog team is seeing the process from start to finish - from the initial phone call, all the way up to graduation.
Sandy Simons
Sandy has been working with animals her entire life. Sandy has worked with a wide variety of species of animals over the past thirty years. She has worked with over two hundred different species of animals while employed at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Sandy worked with a variety of canines as a doggie trainer at the Animal Behavior and Training Associates Center located in Los Angeles.
Nick Buding
Nick is a seasoned service dog trainer at Service Paw Alliance, drawing on over a decade of experience to empower individuals with disabilities. His passion for this work was sparked during college when he witnessed the profound impact service dogs had on their handlers. Now certified in service dog training, Nick guides clients through the life-changing bonding process with his dogs