Maya, a Black Lab born on February 02, 2008.

She was a generous donation by Gordon and Lavera Stephens, of Stephens Lab Depot in Waycross, Georgia

She is the sister of "Dora"

The Ocala Southwest Lions Club has graciously sponsored "Maya". The Ocala Southwest Lions Club should be commended for their dedication to community projects.

Maya is currently being raised/Trained by: Rebecca McCoy (Owner of Academy Of Canines)

Maya and Craig's Story

Maya will be two just after the first of the year. Stephan’s Lab in Waycross, Georgia donated Maya to Hero Assistance Dogs. Her journey to this point in her life and training has been very full of experiences. Little did we know here at Heroes that she would choose her own destiny.

In July 2009 Maya was placed with puppy raisers Rebecca and Craig McCoy. Craig is a United States Disabled Veteran who was getting involved with Heroes to support his wife’s passion for training dogs. He did not know what was in store for him. Rebecca and Craig’s job as puppy raisers was to finish Maya’s training so that she could go on to be placed with her forever human partner. We met several times on outings to help make Maya’s transition to a new home more comfortable. The day came for Maya to move on to the McCoy’s. The moment Craig took Maya’s leash that day, it was very clear that Maya had picked her destiny. She wanted to be with Craig and do what ever he wanted her to do. She was completely enamored with him from that moment on.

Over the last several months of Maya's training, she has begun “working” for Craig even though she is still not considered finished. Maya helps him with things that he is unable to do for himself. Craig has a cognitive disorder and depression, along with some other medical disabilities which leave him with limited memory and a list of everyday life events which he can not carry out independently. Rebecca has needed to be with him around the clock every day for the last five years due to these disabilities. Maya will provide Craig with the ability to regain some independence, allowing a more fulfilling life.

Craig is instrumental in this portion of Maya's training, so that Maya can learn to mitigate his disabilities. She has learned all of her basic skills and tasks and is now working on direct tasks to meet Craig's needs in order to finish her training.

Tasks that Maya is in the process of training include:

• Retrieving items such as phone, keys, hat, shoes, wallet upon command
• Open/Close drawers or doors upon retrieval and return
• Alert to medication time
• Alert to migraines
• Retrieve medication needed in medical crisis
• Find person from family ("mom")
• Find "dad" (Craig)
• Find vehicle
• Calms and helps human partner cope if he gets frustrated or emotional overload
• Trained to "nag" for walks, to get human partner out of bed, feeding time, along with time associated with children's schedules.
• Alerts partner to door or "get help" command of another person in need if partner is sleeping due to medication. Dog wakes up and guides human partner.

Craig and Rebecca have been kind enough to share a portion of Craig's personal “story” to be passed on to others in the hope it will make a difference to someone else. We feel his story helps people understand how important an assistance dog is to a person with disabilities. It doesn't matter if the disability is physical and obvious, or psychological and invisible...as in Craig's case.

Maya has formed an incredible bond with Craig. Is it destiny that brought these two together? We’ll never know. What ever it was that brought them together, one thing is for sure…Maya has found her forever partner in Craig.

Click Here for Maya's Photo Album