Author: Hailey VanderWilt
Some assistance dogs open doors, literally and figuratively. Others pick up dropped items, carry laundry, or help their person conserve energy for the things that matter most. And sometimes, they do all the above with a tail wag and a heart full of joy.
Meet Maureen Rider and her service dog, REGGIE. They’ve been a team since June 4, 2015, and together, they’ve navigated everything from camping trips to cross-country flights, and even the occasional awkward encounter with strangers who don’t quite understand what a service dog really does.
But REGGIE? He gets it. He’s been getting it since day one.
A Dog Who Does Heavy Lifting (So Maureen Doesn’t Have To)
REGGIE’s job is to help Maureen with tasks that might seem small to others but make a world of difference to her. “He picks up anything I ask him to,” Maureen says. “He can take clothes out of the dryer, open doors, and help with tugging when we are out. Anything he could do saved me energy I didn’t have.”
It’s not that Maureen couldn’t do these things—it’s that REGGIE could, and that meant she could save her strength for something else. “If I used my arms to open the door, I might not be able to blow dry my hair,” she explains. “He loves doing it. He loves to work. He’s amazing.”
Constant Comfort Through Changing Health
These days, Maureen’s health has made it harder to get around. But REGGIE hasn’t missed a beat. “He is such a comfort to me,” she says. “He’s just always with me. I am the blessed recipient of this dog.”
Even when life slowed down, REGGIE’s spirit didn’t. “He’s so excited when people come to visit. We used to go out a lot; he was a goer. Now he’s just happy to be with me.”
And Maureen? She’s grateful every day. “Only because I’ve seen other things, do I know how blessed and fortunate I am to have gotten REGGIE. He’s just that on the ball and just that sharp.”
When the World Doesn’t Understand
Public perception hasn’t always aligned with Maureen’s experience as a service dog handler. “There’s a whole educational process,” she says. “People feel sorry for him, like ‘aww, poor thing,’ and I’m thinking, this is the happiest dog in the world when he’s working.”
She’s encountered comments that catch her off guard—especially from those who assume she doesn’t “look disabled.” “I wonder what handicap looks like?” She says. “It’s been eye-opening in a different way.”
Camping trips, once a favorite activity, have occasionally brought unexpected challenges. “People say inappropriate things about my disability, and they want to pet him even when he’s in his cape.”
But through it all, REGGIE remains her steady companion. “He has enhanced every part of my life,” Maureen says, her voice catching with emotion.
A Life of Meaning, Not Just Mobility
REGGIE has empowered Maureen to live more fully. Not just by helping with physical tasks, but by giving her the freedom to focus on what matters. “There’s a whole world out there,” she says. “And a lot of people don’t have the blessings I have.”
He’s helped her reclaim energy, independence, and dignity in ways that go far beyond physical assistance. With REGGIE by her side, Maureen has been able to travel, connect with loved ones, and embrace life’s moments with confidence and grace.
What she values most, though, is the quiet companionship and unwavering support REGGIE provides every single day. “To me, REGGIE has been the greatest and best in the whole world.”
Why PAWS?
Maureen is passionate about the mission behind Paws With A Cause. “This is the most worthy organization,” she says. “The money is so well spent. PAWS is so conscientious about how the dogs are used, where they go, and making sure they’re healthy and matched well.”
She’s seen firsthand how PAWS ensures that every dog finds their purpose, even if that purpose changes. “If a dog can’t be a service or hearing dog, you have facility dogs. They’re still used in other ways.”
Saying Goodbye Isn’t the End—It’s the Beginning for Someone Else
To those hesitant about fostering because of the goodbye, Maureen offers a powerful perspective. “We’re thinking of the pain we’ve had when we’ve lost a dog to death—not a dog to more service, to the life it has given me and others.”
She’s seen the impact of fostering through her cousin and her daughter’s coworker. “It’s not easy, but the joy they were giving outweighed the sadness. And you can do it again. It doesn’t have to be just one foster puppy.”
Because every dog raised is a life changed.
Taking Flight, Side by Side
One of Maureen’s most cherished memories with REGGIE? Boarding a plane together to meet her newborn grandbaby in Colorado. It was shortly after they became a certified team in 2015, and Maureen asked PAWS if she could make the trip from Michigan. “They said it would all depend on how well we were together,” she recalls. “And he did great.”
Of course he did. Because REGGIE’s not just a Service Dog—he’s a partner, a protector, and a piece of Maureen’s heart. Some assistance dogs open doors. Some Assistance Dogs open hearts. PAWS dogs do both.
Help create more life-changing partnerships like Maureen and REGGIE
Click here to support Paws With A Cause or learn how to get involved.
