About Foxy & Craig

Foxy is a 7-year old Long Haired German Shepherd trained specifically to assist Craig. Foxy and Craig were paired in May of 2020 after Foxy was trained by Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs to assist Craig with medical issues he has dealt with since his service and dedication in the United States Marine Corps.


In 2022, Foxy was named the Service Dog of the Year by Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. 

Love & commitment

Foxy went through about two years of extensive training at Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, where she was trained in the following:


  • Mitigating the challenges of PTSD: This includes shielding, Grounding from anxiety/panic attacks and flashbacks, and waking from nightmares. 
  • Mobility: Assisting with balance
  • Alerting prior to a seizure
  • Alerting for Help



God is in the details

Foxy has alerted or helped Craig in multiple events including

  • Waking Craig during a fire in his building so they could leave the building. You can read more about this achievement on MedicalServiceDogs.org
  • Alerting when Craig had internal bleeding
  • Waking and helping him through night terrors
  • Assisting him to get back home while on a walk and him having severe vertigo. By using the home command she helped him balanced and led him back to his apartment. 


A Life Of Service

Craig was born and grew up in Massachusetts. He went into the Marine Corps in 1976 at the age of 17. Craig spent 21 years in the Marine Corps obtaining the rank of Master Sergeant. During his time in the Corps, Craig was able to train with some of the Marine Corps elite units including 2nd ANGLICO, 2nd Recon BN, 2nd Force Recon Co, and 3rd Recon BN. Craig was a SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) Instructor and taught these techniques to members of the 3rd Recon Bn. While stationed in Okinawa Craig taught Sentry Stalking and Silent Kill Techniques along with Close Combat Instruction to many Marines. 

The Start of A Friendship

Throughout his tour, Craig traveled the world in many operations and deployments. Craig is a combat veteran of the Gulf War. After retiring from the Marine Corps Craig went to Nashville to work and then to Pittsburgh PA. 

While he was going to the VA for medical visits, one of Craig’s doctors recommended that he look at Pets for Vets, based out of Animal Friends, to get a dog. Craig met with Eric, a representative of Pets for Vets, who recommended that Craig needed a service dog. Eric provided Craig with information on Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs (GAMSD), so he went online and submitted an application.

A Future On The Horizon

GAMSD worked with Craig to learn about his medical history, interviewing family members and fully vetting Craig to ensure he could care for a dog. Craig went through their training, education, and meetings and was then notified that he had been selected as a recipient. 

Shortly after he was selected, COVID hit in March of 2020, and everything was halted. He was unable to travel to Florida for training due to COVID. In May of 2020, GAMSD brought a group of dogs to Western Pennsylvania, where Craig was paired with Foxy. Craig worked with Visit Mercer County PA to get the GAMSD staff a place to stay during their time in PA that they could train out of. This is where Craig met Foxy, and they haven’t been separated since. 

With Foxy, Craig went from mainly sitting in his basement and going to work, to going to the grocery store and speaking at events. Foxy helps Craig in many ways such as standing behind him at the grocery store and waking him up when he is sleeping and having night terrors. 

Foxy also helps Craig with balance issues while he is moving around and if he does fall, she does a thing called a “brace” so Craig can use her to stand up.

Craig feels that he now has a purpose because of Foxy. 

To the right you can see the differences between Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs and Emotional Support Dogs and what their rights are under the ADA & Federal Law. 


There is a big difference with a Medical Service Dog.  They are considered a Medical Device and never leave their handler except in extreme emergencies or special situations.  This might include when going through surgery or maybe an MRI however we have seen on occasions where during such items as an MRI or CT Scan that the technicians have been willing to take Foxy back into the control room while they are doing the tests. 

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