DArNeDeST

Dogs Do the Things

by Jan Blaustone kiss and got a wet one right
on the mouth. Hampton now
enjoys coming in for an eve-
ning snuggle before going
back to watch over our son.
Laura Hamby & Hampton,
Tullahoma, Tenn.

My service dog Polo, a 2001 graduate of the service dog training organization Canine Assistants, has taught me many things. Above all, he’s encouraged me with his love and humor as we begin each day.

The stories below (and more online on the MDA Web site) are from Quest readers with service dogs, as well as from several people who received dogs from Canine Assistants. Their stories exemplify the many attributes of service dogs described by Melissa Loree (below).

MasterDog

Upon checking out at a department store, I informed the cashier that Clyde, my mother’s service dog, would be paying and then getting the receipt to hand to my mother if that was OK with her (we didn’t want to scare her).

She said OK, so Clyde took the credit card from my mother’s hand, stood on his back legs with his front ones on the counter, and handed the card to the cashier.

She looked on with amazement and replied, “Will the dog be signing the slip, too?”

Debbie & Pam Murphy &
Clyde, LaGrange, Ga.

He smiles when we put them on him.

People move out of my way now in the halls at school. Those who didn’t try to be my friend before are friendlier now.

Josh Hamby & Hampton,
Tullahoma, Tenn.

How’d She Do
That?
Dena had a foldout crate to
stay in while we visited a
water park. We returned to
our hotel room only to dis-
cover Dena lying on our bed
with her toy! I checked the
crate, expecting she’d torn
it or made a hole, but no …
Dena had unzipped it!
Eric Hartley & Dena (Denahi),
Eastanollee, Ga.

Loves to Work

Ivy and I both love it when we go shopping and children ask their mothers why I can bring my dog into the store and they can’t. It gives us a chance to show them some of the things Ivy does for me, like how she picks things up for me, how she gets my medication out of the pouch on my chair, or how she gets my cell phone for me. The children almost always end our visit by telling their moms they want a dog like Ivy.

Ivy loves to work. When she wakes up, the first thing she does is bring me her vest to help her put it on because that means she’s on duty and ready to work.

Merry Davis & Ivy, Tempe,
Ariz.
Showoff

Don’t ever tell Frisco that being a service dog means work. To him, it’s nothing but fun. The more he does, the happier he is. And just when I think he’s shown me all his skills, he proves there is still more he can do.

Which is what happened when I dropped a quarter at the store. I didn’t even think to ask him to get it because I thought for sure it would be too difficult for him. Before I knew it, there he was, determined to get that quarter off the floor and give it to me.

With a crowd forming around us, his determination only got stronger until he finally got it. Then he gently placed it in my hand and pranced around “showing off” to the crowd how proud he was of his accomplishment.

Kelly McMahon & Frisco, Las
Vegas
Good Night Kiss

My husband, Mike, tends to go to bed early at night. Hampton, our son’s service dog, had never tried to get on our bed, so just to see what would happen, I patted the bed. Hampton proceeded to jump on the bed and lie with his back against Mike’s.

Assuming Hampton was me, Mike rolled over to get a

A Heavenly Moon During a Sunday morning church service, my husband and I were in the pulpit giving a presentation when Magic decided to stretch and moon the congregation. So much for trying to be reverent and holy. Jeannine Freer & Magic, Ball Ground, Ga.

Let There Be Light
In anticipation of receiving his
dinner, Oxford runs around
the house and turns on all the
light switches until we give
him his bowl! When Oxford
needs to relieve himself, he
goes and finds a coat and
brings it to me.
Max Gaudenzi & Oxford,
Beverly, Mass.

Classy Dresser Hampton loves to dress up in bandannas. I got him three new ones yesterday, and he had to have one on immediately. He likes to pick out which one he wears each day.

Secret Snorer
Bringing your service dog
along to the movie theater
can be uncomfortable when
he’s a black Lab. Because he’s
virtually invisible in the dark,
moviegoers never realize it’s
the dog that’s doing the snor-
ing — not you!
Jan Blaustone & Polo,
Nashville, Tenn.

For more stories about service
dogs, go to www.mda.org/
publications/Quest/extra/
qe14-3_more_dogs.html.

“What is a service dog — companion, friend, helper, confidant, ambassador of good will? A service dog
encompasses all of these aspects and many more; they are unconditional sources of friendship, safety and independence.
Yet, with their skillful behaviors and gentle nature, their impact reaches far beyond the physical realm. They are able to connect
with people on an emotional level, fostering care and support for their recipient while enhancing disability awareness for the
community at large. We all benefit from the extraordinary example they provide.”

—Veterinarian Melissa J. Loree, director of Education at Canine Assistants, Alpharetta, Ga.