A girl’s best friend

There’s a pudgy little puppy in Ava Reed’s home.

Ava, 6, has named the yellow English Labrador Maggie.

Right now, Maggie’s being house trained and learning to sit and come when called. But soon, she’ll be learning to help Ava balance, walk up stairs and get up after a fall.

Ava has Charcot-marie-tooth disease, a neurological disorder that makes it difficult to walk and maintain balance.

Two weeks ago, she received an eight-week-old puppy that will become her companion and service dog. Maggie will be trained by Jeff Tawater, executive director of K9 Direction, while growing up with the Reed family.

“Maggie, Maggie,” Ava called excitedly as the doorbell rang and Tawater brought Maggie back in after an overnight training.

“She knows sit,” Ava said moments later, trying to convince the puppy to sit with a treat. “She knows sit now.”

“She’s a natural dog trainer,” Tawater said as he chatted with Ava’s parents.

Maggie will have to be about a year old to fully start balance training, depending on how quickly she grows and when her growth plates close, Tawater said. Before that, she’ll train with a very lightweight harness to start learning behaviors.

For now, there’s a strong emphasis on creating a bond between Ava and

Maggie, who will start going to school with her owner when Ava reaches third grade.

Ava has plenty of nicknames for her dog: Mags, Mags-a-million, Maggie Moo.

Community members helped the family raise about $10,500 to purchase Maggie and pay for her equipment and training. Any money left over will go to things like veterinarian bills.

Karon Reed, Ava’s mother, said she’s still “in shock” from how the community rallied around Ava. It’s hard to believe that they already have the little puppy living with them who will one day go with Ava to school and help keep her from falling.

“It’s been incredible to see,” Karon Reed said.

Katherine Burgess covers county government and the suburbs. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.

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Ava Reed, 6, plays with her new puppy Maggie at the family's Arlington home on Friday. Ava received Maggie to be her service animal after an outpouring of community support helped raise $10,000. JOE RONDONE/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL

Jeff Tawater, the executive director of K9 Direction, brings over 8-week-old Maggie after a day of training on Friday. JOE RONDONE/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL