bitsy anderson's life goes from despair to hope thanks to a service dog named maya
MEET BITSY ANDERSON:
Relying on a wheelchair for mobility, Bitsy Anderson summed up her life before a service dog named Maya entered the picture in one word—despair. Since the yellow Labrador Retriever, nurtured and donated by Project 2 Heal and trained by Fidos for Freedom, came into her life however, Bitsy says she has regained hope and independence.
"You don't pick the dog out, the dog picks you out... and that's God's honest truth. It was just a feeling—when I said something, she did it. It was like, 'Okay, we got this. Between the two of us, we got this.'"
"I CAN SAY MY LIFE CHANGED FROM DESPAIR TO HOPE. INSTEAD OF ME HAVING TO GO TO INDIVIDUAL AND ASK FOR HELP, MAYA IS THERE AND SHE'S BEEN TRAINED TO HELP ME IN ALL AREAS OF MY LIFE."
REGAINING INDEPENDENCE WITH SERVICE DOG PARTNERSHIP.
Bitsy's service dog Maya was bred and nurtured by Project 2 Heal, receiving Early Neurological Stimulation, Early Scent Introduction, and Puppy Prodigy nurturing during the Critical Phase of his life. Maya was donated to Fidos for Freedom for service dog training, learning to help Bitsy with tasks like opening and closing doors, retrieving laundry, and helping Bitsy put on and take off socks, shoes, and jackets.
While Maya's value to Bitsy is clear to us, Bitsy admits that at first she didn't realize how valuable this new partnership would be. "I just thought she'll pick up my pen when I drop it or she'll fetch her leash... but it's incredible. She is so bright, that it takes me so little to teach her something. We always tease that Maya is 65% human."
In terms of how others view their partnership, Bitsy thinks some people don't realize the value a service dog can bring to a person in need. "I'm not sure that people understand how important it is for an individual to have a companion like Maya. I'm in a wheelchair and I pretty much can reach things—but there are a lot of things I can't do without Maya. So if I didn't have Maya, my life would be limited in some of the activities that I'd be able to take part in."
Bitsy Anderson
Service Dog Recipient
Monthly donors—which we call, "Healing Pawtners"—are the foundation of Project 2 Heal and our mission of reducing the cost and time it takes to place a service dog with a person in need. We're the only nonprofit in the country dedicated to breeding, nurturing, and donating Labrador Retriever puppies to become service dogs for veterans, children with special needs, and adults with disabilities. Our work can change—and in some cases, save—lives of people in need.
Through your monthly donation of $10, $30, $50 or $100, you provide Project 2 Heal with a consistent and reliable source of funding to allow us to meet our mission.
As a Healing Pawtner You'll Enjoy:
-
Knowledge that your donation will be immediately put to work.
-
Monthly "Pup-Dates" via email.
-
Opportunity to tour and visit our facility.
-
Access to playtime with our service puppies in training.
-
Car magnet to display and show your support.
-
Ability to change or suspend your donation at any time.
