My name is Ayin, and this is my service dog Charlie! I'm asking for your support in raising funds to cover her training. I live with multiple complex chronic illnesses that limit my mobility among other things. For the last year and a half, I have been working hard every day on taking care of my health. The best part of that by far has been meeting and working with Charlie. Though there are not a lot of things that can help me get better, there are some things I can do to make my life safer, easier, happier, and more fulfilling. One of those things is to get a service dog.

Our Journey So Far

This past year, I have been immensely fortunate to be the recipient of Charlie, a sweetheart of a service dog from Golden Opportunities for Independence (GOFI) in Walpole, MA. Their model has essentially trained me on how to train Charlie to meet my medical needs even if those should change over time. We've spent countless hours at their farm in Walpole and in public settings learning everything from impulse control and desensitization to paying attention and attunement. As a team, we've mastered focusing while attending to dozens of different commands that all GOFI graduates are expected to complete consistently despite the many distractions inherent in everyday life. We have also worked on specific tasks for my disabilities such as alerts to changes in my body, deep pressure therapy, item retrieval, providing balance support, and operation of doors, buttons, and light switches. Together, we passed both the Canine Good Citizen exam and the Public Access Test and graduated with flying colors!

Since then, Charlie and I continue to train twice a day at home and whenever we go out in public. Training is forever, and it has been the source of a beautiful bond that we share. Based on her full-body tail wag affectionately nicknamed "wiggle waggle" by my grandfather, it is clear that Charlie adores training, working, and earning as many treats, pets, and affectionate words she can get her paws on!

Between Charlie and my electric wheelchair, I have been able to access so many things I otherwise could not: a Renaissance Faire, a parade, grocery stores, trips with my siblings and friends, a swimming pool, public transportation, you name it. Whether she is actively providing a helping hand, passively monitoring my body for changes that could be harmful, or simply existing beside me as a calming, grounding presence, she is the highlight of every day.

What's Next

The last step in the process is to raise money for GOFI to help cover the costs associated with maintaining a non-profit that breeds, raises, and trains these incredible dogs. After my initial $8,000 deposit, I am expected to contribute another $20,000 through fundraising.

(Though there are programs that provide service dogs for free, they are generally only provided in very specific cases such as with government funding for veterans with PTSD. Though it appears high, this $28,000 total is within the normal range for a service dog.)

So far, we have raised $2623 since February 2025 which leaves $17,377 remaining to raise by June 2026.

I am so, so grateful for the support that has generously been provided over the last year both financially and as a community.

If you have the ability to contribute to this fund, I am so grateful. If you are not able to contribute, I appreciate your reading this far and encourage you to spread the word about this campaign.

If you would like to see updates along with adorable photos, Charlie's Instagram account is @chillinwithcharliethesd.

Thank you so much for reading, for contributing, and for passing this information along. The link to this page is https://gofund.me/a4f1f22bc. Please spread the word!