| Michelle co-founded Paws Giving Independence in 2008, but her work with dogs didn’t start there. She has been training dogs since 2000; her early work focused on behavior and training of rescue/shelter dogs at West Suburban Humane Society, but she has also trained dogs in agility, therapy work, and basic obedience. In 2006, she completed an internship with a Chicago-based service dog program, and she hasn’t stopped working with service dogs. Michelle has her doctorate degree in Physical Therapy. Michelle works as a pediatric physical therapist and has started many Animal Assisted Therapy Programs. In 2009, Michelle was named one of Peoria 25 Women in Leadership and received the Ruthe Ashcraft Advocate for Animals Award. |
Brandi Weyers knew from a very young age that her goal in life was to help people. She grew up just south of Chicago and moved to Peoria to study nursing at Bradley University. Through her schooling, she met Michelle Yuen and founded Paws Giving Independence with help from family and the Peoria community. Brandi learned about training service dogs for wheelchair and mobility by volunteering with a service dog organization in the Chicago area in 2007. After graduating from nursing school, Brandi took a job as an ER nurse in 2010 and married her college sweetheart in 2016. To this day, she continuously strives to help others and make the community a better place. |
