Help Marley Train Her Service Dog


My name is Marley and this is my service dog in training, Rhea. My hope is that in creating this page, I will raise both funds and awareness for Rhea to become a certified service dog. 

I should start by saying that deciding to create this page was not easy for me, because it goes against two of my unspoken rules: 1. Keep my mental health struggles to myself, and 2. Do not ask for help. 

I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when I was 12 years old. Like many women, I am the survivor of childhood sexual abuse. I am now 22, and my abuse history still haunts me to this day. Because mental illnesses are not perceived as easily as physical illnesses and are not as widely accepted in today's society, I have learned to suffer in silence. I experience extreme anxiety when I am in large crowds and also when I am by myself, particularly at night. Despite being medicated, my anxiety often results in debilitating panic attacks.  I also experience terrifying nightmares on an almost nightly basis. 

Since I was little, I have fought to conquer my mental illnesses, trying different types of therapies, therapists, medications, institutions. I have spent thousands of dollars in an attempt to regain control of my life and until recently, my efforts had been mostly in vain. 

In April of this past year (2017),  I was hospitalized at the Ottawa General Hospital because I was a risk to my own safety. After an initial 3 week stint at OGH, followed by brief hospitalizations in May and June, I decided that something needed to change. Though I didn't realize it at the time, my hospitalizations saved my life. Due to the time I spent in the hospital, I was not able to graduate from the University of Ottawa in June as I had intended. Because of this, when I applied to Homewood, I was fully covered under my mom's insurance and was able to receive close to $35,000  worth of treatment without paying a cent from my own pocket. I was still viewed as a student. Not graduating on time turned out to be the biggest blessing of my life.

The three months that I spent at Homewood taught me a lot about myself. Perhaps of most import, was that I suffer from a mental health condition that impacts my mind, body, and soul. This condition requires daily self-care. Translation: recovery is a life-long journey.

While I was at Homewood, I had the opportunity to interact with a service dog named Bear. Seeing the impact that Bear had on his owner inspired me and filled me with hope that I too might be able to find a furry companion to help me get through life, one day at time.

Rhea entered my life the day I was discharged from Homewood, December 20th, 2017. She is an extremely kind and well-tempered white swiss shepherd that I believe was born to be a service dog. Unfortunately, the costs associated with training and raising a Psychiatric Service Dog are upwards of $13,000, which I cannot afford on my own. 

Therefore, I am reaching out to you for help.

Funds raised will go towards specific training, such as:

DEEP TISSUE PRESSURE ~ Rhea can use her body weight as pressure to help relieve my anxiety and prevent/minimize shaking during panic attacks.

BOUNDARY CONTROL ~ Rhea can create a safe environment for me, by standing in between me and potential stressors (e.g., strangers).

ALERT ~ Rhea will be trained to sense an increase in my anxiety levels and will try to guide and refocus me. She can also lead me away from a potential situation that can bring on an attack.

NIGHT TERRORS ~ Rhea will be able to calm me down before a night terror occurs by licking and giving deep tissue pressure. She will also be able to wake me from nightmares, utilizing my 5 senses to calm me down. 

COMPANIONSHIP ~ Rhea has already provided me with amazing emotional support. She gives me a reason to get out of bed every morning and reminds me that so long as I have her in my life, I am not alone. My hope is that Rhea will be the one constant I will always be able to count on.

After almost a decade of suffering, I have finally accepted that I deserve the right to a full and happy life. I truly believe that Rhea has the potential to offer me just that. Your support not only means the world to me, it also means the world to my mother, brother, boyfriend, and friends. Your support fills me with nothing short of love and gratitude. From the bottom of my heart, on behalf of myself and my loved ones, thank you so much. <3 

If you donate, you are eligible for gifts! PLEASE fill in this form to receive what you right deserve. https://goo.gl/forms/WJD2RuNNi9a1RHxf2