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    Partners With Paws: Service Dogs and the Lives They Change
    Partners With Paws: Service Dogs and the Lives They Change
    Partners With Paws: Service Dogs and the Lives They Change
    Ebook147 pages2 hours

    Partners With Paws: Service Dogs and the Lives They Change

    By Kyla Duffy

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    About this ebook

    Partners With Paws highlights the irreplaceable benefits service dogs provide to the people the help, with heartfelt sentiments from both puppy-raisers and those who have benefited from these amazing creatures.

    Review: "I have an assistance dog and wrote one of the stories in this book. I always knew how special my dog is and the bond we share. However, when I read this book it made me cry. The stories are so powerful and the dogs are intelligent and selfless. Also outstanding is the courage of the owners and the inspirational stories they shared. I have given this book as a gift to several family and friends and they all have loved it. This is definitely a five star! Congratulations to Kyla Duffy, Editor in Chief for a real WINNER!" -Jane Biehl, PhD

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKyla Duffy
    Release dateApr 17, 2011
    ISBN9780983312697
    Partners With Paws: Service Dogs and the Lives They Change
    Author

    Kyla Duffy

    Happy Tails Books is driven by a passion to help needy animals by raising awareness about adoption and the proper care of domestic dogs and cats. We are grateful to our volunteer photographers and editors who help us make these books come to life. Happy Tails Books donates up to 25% of gross profits back to rescue organizations. Any rescue enrolled in our rescue partner program is eligible for a donation from each sale made through this website. You can indicate your favorite rescue on the check-out form when you make a purchase. Since 2009, Happy Tails Books has published more than 1,000 stories from people who have fostered and/or adopted dogs and cats! Co-editors Kyla Duffy and Lowrey Mumford are dog lovers who have been publishing the Lost Souls: FOUND! series since 2009. Lowrey knows journalism, and Kyla has experience in entrepreneurship; this has created the perfect synergy for the Happy Tails Books project. Lowrey and Kyla have two adopted dogs each, and they continue to support the rescues in their communities.

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      Book preview

      Partners With Paws - Kyla Duffy

      Introduction: Happiness Is a Miracle

      Miracles happen every day. For people with disabilities, a miracle can be as simple as crossing a street, opening a door, or knowing when children are crying. These are all miracles that can be facilitated by a furry companion with four legs and a tail. With a dog by his or her side, the most daunting tasks can become a joy because he or she no longer faces those tasks alone. 

      What goes into training such amazing animals to perform these little miracles on a daily basis? Time, love, and dedication. A network of people, many of whom are volunteers, shapes these dogs’ futures so that one day they will be ready to be presented to people who desperately need them. To the world, these dogs are known as service dogs; to their partners, they are so much more.

      I grew up with dogs and loved them very much. They were family pets and playmates. I only had a vague idea of what a service dog was, and even that was only from what I saw in movies or on television—not the most accurate sources of information. Upon discovering that I was losing my sight, my perspective changed drastically. Due to a progressive disease, my eyesight deteriorated quickly over a period of three years. When I was a junior in college, I had to face the fact that I could no longer manage to get around safely. I had already adapted as best as I could, but finally I realized that no matter how hard I tried to overcome it alone, the disease was winning, and I was beaten. 

      At least, feeling beaten was how I perceived the situation at the time. Despite a myriad of feelings, the predominate one being helplessness, I found a way to keep going thanks to the help and encouragement of friends and family. I bravely took a leap of faith in applying for a service dog through a school called Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, Michigan. The school partnered me with a beautiful dog named Sparkle, who became my salvation.

      If you cannot imagine trusting an animal that is known to roll in mud and eat off the floor to keep you safe, you are not alone. I imagine most of us in the Leader Dog class were anxious. It is difficult, to say the least, to believe a dog you just met can guide you, especially when you find out what a great role you must play in telling them where to take you. But after a difficult and intense training program, I put my trust in Sparkle. Sparkle quickly proved that she could keep me safe. 

      Before I could even introduce myself to Sparkle, she kissed my cheek. I remember looking into her brown-spotted blue eyes and wondering if I was doing the right thing. Then she sat down in front of me and simply stared, as though waiting for me to decide. When I stood, she stood. When I turned towards the door, she did as well. I will never forget the very first time I picked up that harness handle and said, Forward, At that moment our journey together began.

      Sparkle saw me through my senior year of college at Auburn University. I learned very quickly not to cross the Quad-A mecca of squirrel life unless I was up for a jog. Yes, she was being naughty. And yes, she temporarily forgot that chasing squirrels is not a part of her job description. But, hey, she was a dog surrounded by hundreds of nut-gathering creatures that I am pretty sure were taunting her. To my trainer, Sue, I promise Sparkle was still semi-working as we chased squirrels together. She even stopped at a curb, albeit briefly, so I would not trip. I forgave her every time. Her transgressions, like sneaking a bite of food from the floor beneath a table, were few. Her accomplishments, like keeping me safe while crossing busy streets, were many. Besides, those slip-ups usually made me laugh, and laughter is the best medicine.

      While I attended class, Sparkle caught up on her sleep. In one class, one I won’t name, she sometimes snored so loudly that the professor would stop pointedly and wait for me to nudge Sparkle. I wish I could say I was embarrassed, but I think most of the students in that class were snoring, too.

      In truth, Sparkle had more friends than me. Not surprising. She was perfect, amazing, and incredible. I graduated on time because of her. I walked across that stage with her beside me to get my degree. She looked very collegiate in her cap and tassel, receiving more applause than anyone. Other Auburn students got to see her in action daily. They witnessed what she could do, what she didn’t do, and how she did it all with her curly tail high and her eyes bright and wide. Everyone was proud of her, but me most of all.

      After I got married and we had our first child, Sparkle showed her great capacity for love and devotion. She’d already made my husband her dad. Their relationship was special. They jogged, walked together, and snuggled during football games on television. But I worried how Sparkle would feel about a baby.

      It turns out I worried for nothing. The day we brought our daughter home, Sparkle met her in the hallway of the hospital. My heart aches thinking about it. My precious new baby girl, eyes open, looked into Sparkle’s blue eyes with brown spots and something happened: Sparkle fell in love. She nuzzled my baby’s soft head, looked up at me, and I knew she was telling me her heart was big enough for all of us. She proved her capacity for love during the next eight years, welcoming my son two years later and raising my kids alongside me.

      How special my kids felt knowing that a dog, and not just any dog, loved them so much. How cool it was that their Boo-Boo took care of Mom. I loved the fact that Sparkle not only guided me but also helped steer my children when I needed help. This is not something she was trained to do. This was something she did because she loved us, because she was simply that incredible.

      When the time came for Sparkle to pass on, no one could have predicted the feelings we all experienced. Holding her, looking into her beautiful eyes, all I could think of was that first moment we met. Watching her eyes close, knowing our journey was over, was a moment in time I’ll never forget. In those dark hours and days that followed, I had many memories and no regrets. It was difficult to lose my very best friend, the living and breathing being who had stood on my left side for 11 years. But it would have been much worse having never known her. The gifts of love, loyalty, independence, safety, happiness, and joy beyond measure were given to me by my miracle-maker. They were priceless gifts given by a dog who loved me no matter what. Sparkle will never be matched, can never be forgotten, and will always be celebrated in my heart. I am grateful and always will be. Thanks to Sparkle, I met every challenge with hope, not dread.

      Those without disabilities are hard-pressed to understand the challenges people with disabilities face. I hope this book will give you a window into our lives and highlight the immense impact our service dogs have had on our independence, happiness, and well-being. You will find there are many different tasks with which service dogs assist. The most commonly known service dogs are those who guide the blind, listen and alert for the hearing impaired, and assist people with mobility issues, but did you know that service dogs also help people with autism, psychological disorders, and seizures? The list of ways that service dogs can enhance a person’s life goes on and on. 

      It is a privilege to witness the relationship between partners, also known as service dog teams, and see the love and loyalty at work. Watch closely, for you will see happiness, which is nothing short of a miracle for some. Problems seem trivial when one is blessed with a service dog, whether you are training one or being assisted by one. Our dogs do their jobs, which include both performing tasks and providing companionship, and we love them. I daresay that anyone with a service dog would agree that we are all better people because of our furry best friends.

      My hope is that you will be touched by the following stories. Whether they inspire you to volunteer with a service dog organization or simply to share a kind word with a person on the street who is heading your way with a service dog, this book will have been a success. If you have a disability but have been reluctant to seek the help of a service dog, here is your shot. Take it. I promise you will never regret it. These awesome animals are all treasures waiting to prove their worth to someone. Whatever you give, they will give you back tenfold. -Kellie Givens

      Monte and Me

      Name: Monte

      Breed: Labrador Retriever

      Origin: Canine Partners of the Rockies

      A while back Monte and I were climbing a ramp in front of a school when I noticed a woman watching us from a distance. As we reached the top, she called, You’ve got a mighty handsome companion there!

      In a futile effort to salvage my fragile self-concept, I shouted back, Are you talking to me or the dog? She laughed and waved before walking across the parking lot and up the stairs. We chuckled together and exchanged dog stories while my charming sidekick accepted affectionate scratches and licked her hand in return. As she left, she assured me that I was every bit as handsome as Monte. For some odd reason, I found her comparison comforting.

      Something’s wrong when being as attractive as a Labrador Retriever actually improves your self-image, but that’s just one of many revelations I’ve encountered in my adventure with a service dog.

      I thought that

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