LEWISTON — Christy Gardner, was injured overseas while serving with the U.S. Army in 2006, and spent five years rehabbing before she could live on her own again.
Eventually, Gardner, 38, of Lewiston, was able to compete in adaptive sports, and is now the assistant captain of the U.S. Women’s Para Ice Hockey team and represented the U.S. in the ParaSurfing World Championship. She couldn’t have done it without her service dog, Moxie, who came into her life in 2010.
Gardner has been training service dogs and therapy dogs for the past nine years, and has always dreamed of helping others have the opportunity to partner with a service dog.
Gardner founded Mission Working Dogs earlier this year as a local nonprofit to help Mainers in need. The organization trains service dogs and therapy dogs for the community and hopes to build a new training center next summer. The current class of dogs will likely graduate next year as well.
For more information, visit MissionWorkingDogs.org.
