Success Stories
Diane and Lacey

My name is Diane and I live in North Carolina. I have a Golden Retriever service dog named Lacey who was trained by Ann-Marie and Karen of New Life Mobility Assistance Dogs, Inc. Lacey was just meant to be a service dog. She was born on September 11, the day of the terrible terrorist attacks in New York. She was donated to NLMAD as a puppy and was placed in the home of the most wonderful couple, Jim & Sue, who were her puppy raisers for one year.

Lacey is my best friend and right arm. Without her I would not be able to function as well as I do. She is my mental and physical support every day. Lacey has been trained as a mobility assistance dog. She responds to over sixty commands which include things like bracing for me to walk, pulling my shoes and socks off, pulling my wheelchair, getting drinks out of the refrigerator, turning lights on and off, retrieving a cordless phone, opening and closing doors, and (her favorite) retrieving anything I drop. Lacey is also very much in tune with my emotions. She has been there every time I've needed her, even at times when I didn't realize that I needed her!

Service animals change people's lives for the better and they need to be promoted as such. Far too many service dog organizations have to close their doors forever because they cannot find the funding to continue. Most are nonprofit organizations but there is no government funding available for them at this time, and because the service dog industry is still somewhat new, these organizations don't fit neatly into the criteria of most grant foundations. Finding the money to operate on a daily basis is the most difficult thing these wonderful organizations have to do. There are many disabled people who are forced to live in homes where nurses can help them, and there are many more who sit home alone all day relying on their families and perhaps an aide to help them with day to day chores. A service dog can frequently provide these people with enough assistance that they are able to lead independent lives. That independence equates to better living conditions, happiness, and pride in one's accomplishments for these people. This is what these wonderful helpers can do! In my case that wonderful helper is Lacey. Without her, I would have to depend on my 17 year old daughter and my husband all the time. With her, I lead a full life and am able to care for myself.

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Diane Coffey has been a friend to us for a few years now and has served as Secretary of NLMAD.

We originally placed a female Golden Retriever named Bailey with Diane in 2001. Not long after being placed, Bailey became symptomatic of a previously undetected neurological problem and had to be retired far too soon. Diane didn't have much faith that we would be able to place her with another dog who could even compare to Bailey.

When she met Lacey, her faith in us was renewed. Diane's illness has not been accurately diagnosed yet, but the symptoms mimic Multiple Sclerosis. She uses Lacey for balance when walking and to help pull her wheelchair. Lacey also has the full range of "house skills" which Diane uses and practices with her. Lacey is the sister to Cagney and was raised by Jim and Sue Taylor.

Diane and Lacey are one of the teams we are most proud of. Lacey's patience, determination, and sense of humor (yes, dogs DO have a sense of humor!) are mirrored in Diane. When Diane came to us in the beginning she had stopped driving, did not leave her house alone, and was becoming isolated. Now Diane and Lacey travel all over North Carolina and have even made a few trips out of state. These two exemplify what an assistance dog team is all about.

Diane has become very involved with NLMAD. She makes almost weekly trips to the facility to help with paperwork, organization, and dog training. She also spends untold hours at home researching and writing for grants and other fundraising avenues for NLMAD. We are very fortunate to have Diane on our roster.