Dog News

Young Girl Hoping to Raise $5000 to Pay for Her Service Dog

by ADMIN

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Marion Haddaway, 10, with her service dog Indie

10 year old Marion Haddaway and her family, from Talbot County, Maryland, are trying to raise the $5,000 they need to fully train and certify Marion’s new service dog, Indie. Indie is an eight month old German Shepherd, named after the hero of Marion’s favourite films – Indiana Jones.

Marion suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after being involved in two house fires.

An electric fire in December 2009 ran through the family’s home, forcing them to relocate. After the family moved, another fire happened only 18 days later, displacing the family again.

Marion and her grandmother both suffered from burns caused by the fire, and were sent to Baltimore medical centers to receive treatment. Marion was required to spend a week at John Hopkins Children’s Center.

After three years following the fire, Indie has been a huge support for Marion as she works through the PTSD.

Her mother says “She was having a really rough time. Since Indie has been here, she thinks he makes the entire world spin. She lays on the floor and tells him ‘I love you’ over and over again.”

Since Indie is still a puppy, he cannot be taken out by the family as an assistance dog. First he must complete his assistance certification, which involves a lot of money and a long trip to North Carolina. The family needs to raise a total of $5,000 to achieve this.

They are holding a variety of fundraising events, including raffles, sales, and cold drink stalls.

The $5,000 includes the price of Indie himself. Without this money, Indie can be taken back and rehomed elsewhere.

Donations can be made via the Talbot bank, to the “Tina Haddaway, Service Dog Fund.”