Service Dog for Maya

At around this time last year, I began having issues with my mental health. This lead to me being hospitalized, and eventually diagnosed with episodic major depressive disorder. This means that sometimes I act like a perfectly normal teenager and people can’t tell anything is wrong. However, when I am in an episode I can barely function. My parents help me tremendously during episodes and I have many friends that have been supportive and helped me catch up with school when I was unable unable to attend. In addition to these episodes, I was also diagnosed with anxiety, which is worse during episodes, and obsessive compulsive disorder. One of the stressors for my first episode was most likely fear of moving away and living on my own, as I was supposed to go on foreign exchange during this year. A time is coming when I will once again be faced with moving away and living on my own. I am currently a junior in high school and I plan to attend college.

This brings me to the reason for this go fund me. After some research and talking with my parents we have decided that I would be beneficial for me to get a psychological service dog. This dog would be able to come to college with me and help to keep my mental health stable. There will be many expenses that will come with getting a service dog for me. None of the dogs that my family currently has fit the criteria for a service dog. One has too much agression, one is too hyper, and they are all too old. With the funds raised through this I will hopefully be able to purchase either a golden retriever or Labrador retriever puppy, as they are two of the best breeds for psychological service dogs. In addition to the purchase of the puppy, this money would go towards the training of the puppy. I have found a organization that I hope to do the training through. There are many nonprofits that train service dogs however many of them are extremely expensive and they don’t train the dogs to do what I would need. The place that I have found can train the dog to perform pressure therapy, stop compulsive behaviors, respond to anxiety, lead me to uncrowded spaces, and alert people if I need help. All of these things would be beneficial to me while I am in college without my parents who are able to help me with many of these things. 

I am on medication for my health issues, but even with it, I can still fall into an episode. I have been lucky enough to have not had one since September, however we are all unaware when I may have another.

Please considering donating money towards my service dog. Anything is greatly appreciated!