Rye Brook resident and her service dog appear on NBC "Today Show"

Rye NY

11 December, 2020

4:48 PM

Description

Mikela Stephenson and her service dog Alaska were the toast of Rye Brook last week after making an appearance on NBC's "Today Show with Hoda and Jenna". "I couldn't believe it was real! It made me so happy to be able to be on National TV to represent people with disabilities. Having Alaska on my lap helped me to feel more confident and I loved to hear and see all the reactions and comments I received.", says Mikela. Mikela and Alaska are 2019 graduates of Canine Companions for Independence, the nation's first and largest service dog organization. Alaska is a three-year-old Lab/Golden Retriever cross who assists Mikela each day by opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, and retrieving dropped items to name just a few. In these times of social distancing, Mikela says having help from a highly-trained service dog gives her more independence in the world! For more information, visit cci.org.