Mission Working Dogs

For many years, Mission Working Dogs was a vision board dream for founder Christy Gardner. Gardner, a former sergeant in the United States Army Military Police, shared a commonality with her clients – a profound need for a service dog. In 2006, a life altering injury while serving led to the amputation of both legs below the knee. Because of the severe damage, doctors told Gardner she would never walk, bike, swim, cook, or live by herself.

Gardner’s life took a turn for the better in 2010 when she was paired with Moxie, a service dog who became an inseparable companion. In many ways, Moxie gave Gardner part of her life back, and it was this experience and bond that inspired her to better the lives of others through dogs. Today, Gardner can be seen navigating Mission Working Dogs’ $1.2 million Oxford-based facility, which was entirely financed by Androscoggin Bank. The complex includes eight ADA-accessible cabins, an outdoor kennel, indoor and outdoor dog runs, and a training center that mirrors a home. The dogs undergo comprehensive training, mastering tasks from turning off lights to grabbing laundry and shutting doors.

Fifty-six dogs are currently in the program, training weekly at three Maine prisons on their two-to-three-year journey to graduation. While the organization’s primary goal is to serve the local Maine community, individuals from far and wide eagerly await their chance to benefit from this life-changing partnership.

The organization recognizes the diverse roles dogs can play. While service dogs are trained to help mitigate someone’s physical disability, some dogs are higher energy and therefore better suited for other programs.  Facility dogs, for instance, offer skills and therapeutic support in residential settings, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, schools, and prisons – while therapy dogs can offer more fun and playful energy in a relaxed setting.

Gardner’s vision board dream is now a tangible reality; Androscoggin Bank takes immense pride in playing a small part in creating that reality.