GARDINER — Devon Chapman got “kisses” from Bauer, his 2-year old black Lab and new best friend, as they lay next to each other on the ground.

Bauer is an assistance dog trained to work with people who are deaf or have a disability.

Devon’s mother, Lisa Chapman, said her son was born with strep meningitis, a bacterial infection. After birth, Devon, now 9, was placed on life support for 23 days and stayed in the intensive care unit for 67 days.

Devon is deaf in his left ear and has partial hearing is his right ear. He also has had a number of other health problems. At age 3, Devon suffered a grand mal seizure from buildup of fluid on the brain. The River View Community School fourth-grader has had 13 brain surgeries and struggles everyday with speech impediments.

The Chapmans, who live on Washington Avenue, got Bauer from National Education for Assistance Dog Services in West Boylston, Mass.

Bauer was trained at a New England prison as part of the NEADS Prison PUP Partnership.

NEADS is also known as Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans.

“This is his first service dog,” Lisa Chapman said. “He’s a really good dog and has been a big help with Devon.”

Devon’s grandmother, Linda King, of Chelsea, said Devon is a quiet child who has difficulty in school and making friends.

“Having the dog has given Devon responsibility and has helped him make friends,” King said. “He’s a very loving child who stays to himself. You couldn’t ask for a better child.”

Lisa Chapman said they heard about the organization from Devon’s pediatrician. The family is still trying to raise money to pay for the dog.

John Moon, director of programs and communications for NEADS, said the organization asks clients to raise $9,500 of the $23,000 to $25,000 it costs to raise and train assistance dogs.

“We believe it helps knit the responsibility of the partnership closer together,” Moon said. “NEADS provides help and support to each client as they fundraise for their assistance dog, hoping that the client’s friends, family, community and other generous supporters may help in some small or large ways to bring the family some support.

“The dogs are lovable tools that provide both functional and emotional support.”

Devon and Bauer will graduate with 26 other patron-dog teams Nov. 13 at the Four Points Sheraton in Leominster, Mass.

Moon said the dogs help their patrons pick up dropped articles or retrieve vital objects such as keys, money, cellphones or medicine from the refrigerator while being nonjudgmental about their partners’ disabilities.

He said they simply want to help their partner.

“Lisa and Devon was matched with Bauer to help him socially, emotionally and be a friend for life,” Moon said. “He’s undergone 15 surgeries in his young life and is nearly 50 percent deaf. His courage throughout these events is extraordinary.”

The Chapmans spent nearly two weeks on the NEADS campus in Massachusetts learning how to work with Bauer.

King said the family’s stay on campus was “totally amazing.”

“I never experienced anything like it, to actually watch them being trained,” King said. “We were so excited.”

Lisa Chapman said she has never seen a dog as intelligent as Bauer.

“He’s so well trained. They spent hours and hours with him,” Chapman said. “He guides Devon and is very aware of their environment. He’ll nudge Devon to do things, and if Devon can’t reach the light, he jumps up and turns it on. He looks both ways before they cross the road so he’s not scared of cars. When (Bauer) has his vest on, he knows he’s working. But when we take it off and tell him, ‘free time’, he runs up and down in the yard.”

Since Bauer isn’t afraid of traffic, Chapman said she has to be extra diligent in making sure the family’s new pet stays out of the road.

Motorists often ignore Washington Avenue’s 25-mph speed limit, she said.

Chapman took time to demonstrate how Bauer follows commands — raising his paws to shake and rolling over on his back for a belly scratch.

Devon was too shy to say anything about his new friend except, “Come here, boy,” as he patted the ground next to him.

Bauer immediately laid beside his new master.

Devon smiled.

Mechele Cooper — 621-5663

[email protected]

The National Education for Assistance Dog Services organization is a nonprofit, accredited assistance-dog provider that works with children, adults and wounded veterans to provide highly trained assistance dogs to increase mobility and independence. Donations are accepted through NEADS’ website, www.neads.org, which links directly to Devon’s fund; or by calling Ellen Jones at 1-(978) 422-9064.