Help Find Mandi's Successor

Hi, I'm Meghan. I'm a 24 year old who loves being outdoors, training dogs and horses, photography, writing, and helping others. I am a vivacious woman and who loves learning and looks forward to the day when I will again be studying and preparing to travel the world aiding in social development and child welfare. Since I was injured in 2011, however, my academics and travels were put on hold. My service dog, Mandi, has been the most positive force in recovery and continued wellbeing. Her presence is irreplaceable.

Mandi is the one thing that keeps the dragons at bay when my PTSD becomes overwhelming. By preforming deep-pressure therapy and refusing to leave my side she helps shoulder the burden of pain, physical and mental, when my fractured back and chronic pain syndromes ravage my body. She alerts me to oncoming seizures, allowing me to get to a safe place and prevent further head injures. And she responds to get help if necessary.

Mandi helps me balance when my traumatic brain injury causes balance and focus problems, or blinding migraines force me to rely on her guidance. She searches rooms for intruders when my traumatized brain tricks me into thinking someone might be there. She can turn on lights to show me the way, open doors to allow my wheelchair through, and block my back to prevent people from getting too close. Most of all, she is my best friend.

Sadly, Mandi cannot do her job much longer. I’ve recently discovered that she has developed medical issues that will force her into an early retirement. We do not know how much longer she will be able to work. She is already on limited duty, and it is imperative that I begin preparing for life after she retires. I am, of course, devastated at the looming loss of my partner. However, on the more practical side of things, I am soon going to be without a service dog, something I very much need to function in the world.

I am still able to train another dog to take over for Mandi. However, I must first be able to obtain a suitable candidate for the job. A wonderful breeder of well rounded German Shorthairs in Michigan is working with me to find the best suited dog for the job. A trainer friend who lives relatively nearby has agreed to help evaluate the litter as well. I am fundraising to cover the cost of the puppy, the evaluation, and the cost of travel to go and get the puppy from Michigan. 

I am not generally the person to ask for help, but this could turn into a crisis situation. Between my medical conditions getting worse and having just opened a can of worms by starting intensive memory work with my PTSD, I cannot even leave the house without a service dog, much less function in the world. I am just now starting to get back on track towards auditing classes in the spring and starting up school soon after. With this dog at my side I plan to finish my last remaining year of college and move towards a Masters degree in Public Health. I don’t want to lose all that I have gained because my service dog is gone.

Mandi has been my partner, my best friend, since the moment she stepped into my life. She has saved my life in more ways than one, and will always remain with me. I must, however, begin training a dog to do the many tasks she has preformed over the years.

A service dog is my window to the world, and a life-saving partner. Any help that I can get towards my goal and bringing my next service dog home is greatly appreciated.

Edited to add: Some have asked about extra donations. Any donations received above our goal will go towards Mandi's vet bills and my own medical expenses.