Silver City, NM - It was several years in the making before Kaity Ellis met Ranger, a multipurpose service dog and new lifelong partner. The pair is now inseparable.

Ellis is a junior from Deming, New Mexico. She was born with several disabilities including the inability to walk. She is legally blind.

"Ranger gives me so much independence and a lot more confidence in myself," said Ellis. "He opens doors and picks up my phone."

Ellis is a well-known student at both Deming and Silver City campuses. For the last two and a half years she has become a familiar face, recognized by most students for her efforts to raise awareness about people with disabilities and her leadership position with the Associated Students of WNMU.

Since being matched with Ranger in March, she is reenergized to bring change to the process in acquiring a service dog.

"When she was six years old, we started looking for a dog," said Phyllis Connor, Ellis' grandmother and caretaker. "We were turned down many times because of her multiple disabilities."

Ellis turned to Western New Mexico University for assistance. Several offices came together including the Department of Social Work, where she is earning her degree; the Office of Student Health Services and others. After several fundraisers, more than $7,000 was raised and kept in an account with the University Foundation. The funds were able to make the purchase of the dog a reality.

"There is a need for change because it was a difficult and expensive process to be matched," said Ellis. "I contacted everyone I could come across online." Social Work professor Patti West-Okiri found American Service Dog and contacted the company for Ellis.

The three-year-old rescue dog is now a familiar face on campus.

"I feel a lot safer with him because I know he is going to make sure that I'm always safe," explained Ellis. "If I leave him, he will find me."

Ranger remains in training with a former military dog handler. He is learning to turn on light switches and protects Ellis while in traffic outdoors. With more than over 500 commands already known by Ranger, Ellis is excited about the new standard of living she is experiencing.

"When grandma is gone to the store I get a glimpse of what life will be with him down the road," said Ellis. "I'm excited about the future."

The adventures of Kaity and Ranger can be explored online: facebook.com/kaitysdog.