My name is Jess, and I would love your help to train my wonderful Golden Retriever Ivy-Mae to officially become my Assistance Dog. I was recently diagnosed with a couple of chronic illnesses at the age of 21 which changed my life forever. Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and mental health issues. Ivy-Mae joined our family in November 2020, as our lovable family dog, however she had other ideas in mind and as our bond grew, she automatically began to assist me. She was only a few months old when I fainted, and she licked my face to help me wake me up and sat on my lap until we were both ready to get up. Ivy-Mae began training to become my Assistance Dog in January 2021, where she is learning how to help me with fainting (alerting & staying with me), arm and vocal tics, emotional regulation, sensory regulation, mobility, crowd control and possibly more. Most important of all – she will help me to live an independent, safe, and full life.

FND is a problem with the functioning of the nervous system and how the brain/body sends and receives signals. The best way to explain it is with a computer analogy – the hardware is not damaged but there is a problem with the software. It is a mystifying condition and causes a number of different debilitating symptoms. Last year, I was also diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. This affects blood flow, the autonomic nervous system and sympathetic nervous system. My heart rate and blood pressure have difficulty regulating, often resulting in a fast heart rate. Symptoms are usually triggered by a change in posture (e.g., standing up) and include fainting, dizziness, and light-headedness. I am being treated by medical professionals for these conditions, however it’s a long journey ahead.

There are many costs associated with owning and training an Assistance Dog. This includes training gear (e.g., vests, boots), vet visits, training sessions, enrichment activities, testing, grooming, travel, and treats (positive reinforcement) – along with costs associated with owning a dog. Your kind donations will help me to manage these costs and hopefully give Ivy-Mae more training sessions.

Ivy-Mae dramatically changed my life for the better and so far, she has learnt to hold my hands when I have arm spasms, apply deep pressure which helps with many symptoms, sit under my legs (tuck), touch my hand to stay in contact with me and rest her head on my lap. She is currently learning how to ring a bell (when I faint), settle into new environments, walk on a waist lead so I can use my walker/walking stick, and learn skills needed for Public Access.

By being fully qualified, she will be able to accompany me to so many different places that I haven’t been able to go to. Your donation will help me be one step closer to accessing the community and manage my symptoms, safely and independently. Please, if you have any questions or would like to know more, email me at [email redacted]. Thank you!