Two Shining Examples of Stubborn Determination, continued.
Beacon — that rambunctious, gangly and stubborn little puppy who had trans- formed into a handsome, sturdy and con- fident guide dog — expertly crossed the street with Jennifer. Jennifer and Beacon became the first
guide dog team to attend Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. Moving to a big city with a robust public transportation system and side- walks everywhere gave Jennifer an exhil- arating level of independence. In Florida, with no real public transportation system in place, Jennifer was always reliant on somebody else. “Even if I wanted to run down to the store for just a loaf of bread, I was reliant on someone else to take me,” she told us. The training program at
Southeastern Guide Dogs does not include navigating buses, so Jennifer and Beacon learned “the bus thing” together in Ohio. There was definitely a learning curve, getting on and off the buses. And to this day, Beacon does not like riding the bus. “I can tell he is uncomfortable trying to balance himself on a moving vehicle,” said Jennifer. The pair continued to struggle early
on in their relationship. Jennifer figures it took about six months before the whole thing stopped feeling like a challenge. “He was trying to figure out what I wanted him to do, and I was trying to read what he wanted me to do. We final- ly learned to read each other,” said Jennifer.
Beacon’s stubbornness earned him
the nickname, Beacon Brat, which she uses endearingly to this day. Harness on, and Beacon is all business. Harness off, and he becomes one crazy ball of energy, running around the house. At first, Jennifer wondered what she had gotten herself into. Could this possibly be the world’s dumbest, smartest guide dog, who tripped over his own feet? How could she place her trust — and their safety — in this dog? Ohio is known for its winter bliz-
zards with mixed precipitation. That means heavy snowfall, ice-cold winds, power outages, road closures and bus can- cellations. The first time she and Beacon were caught in the middle of one of those storms, Jennifer was understandably a lit- tle frightened — for both of them. As
50 THE NEW BARKER
native Floridians, this was the first time either of them had ever walked in snow. Navigating what mother nature
throws at a service dog team, like navigat- ing buses, is not something SEGD covers in training, but learning to trust is a big part of the training process. Trusting means somebody has to let go, allowing the other team member to take the lead. During that first winter storm
together, Beacon focused on what he needed to do to get the job done, and Jennifer let him lead. Walking slowly, but deliberately, Beacon’s path was not a straight and easy one. Soon, Jennifer real- ized his weaving pattern was a concerted effort to remain on the snow, keeping
“He’s a Lab
who hates water. Unless it’s a mud puddle.
Well, then he’s all over it.”
– Jennifer Woods on giving Beacon a bath.
them both off the slippery ice. “Once we were home, I realized he
could do it. Actually, we both realized we could do it,” said Jennifer. The team had finally learned to trust in each other. Now those treacherous snowstorms
don’t bother either one of them. “Beacon has a bigger winter wardrobe than I do. He has coats, sweaters and boots,” laughed Jennifer. There are some days, though, that Jennifer leaves Beacon at home. It turns out that the salt thrown down to melt the ice presents more of a problem to Beacon than the snow itself, which oftentimes comes up to his belly. “He is never very happy about being left behind,” said Jennifer, who said she also left Beacon behind during final exams while attending college. “Not only would he become restless during the intense four-hour exams, I could tell he was affected by the stress of 200 students
under pressure, all around him.” Those same students let her know
how comforting it was to have Beacon in class with them throughout the year. Beacon had also developed a certain fondness for a couple of Jennifer's profes- sors.
As graduation approached, Jennifer
joked to the Dean of Students that Beacon should graduate from Capital University Law School as well. The Dean thought it was an excellent idea. Soon, Beacon’s upcoming graduation was embraced by the entire school, faculty and students alike. A couple of Jennifer’s friends and fellow students helped put together Beacon’s cap and gown. During the ceremony, Jennifer
focused on Beacon. She does not remem- ber the ceremony, or the crowd’s reaction. It wasn’t until she watched a video that she realized the crowd had gone wild when the two of them walked across the stage to accept their diplomas. “Beacon was hooded like the rest of us,” said Jennifer. He remained steady and in com- plete working mode on the stage, except for one instance. He purposefully stopped to give one of his favorite professors a playful kiss, then returned to work mode, guiding his partner safely back to her seat. Jennifer has passed the Ohio Bar
Exam and is actively searching for a job. And, while she misses her family in Florida, Ohio is home for her and Beacon. Beacon’s stubborn streak is an
endearing quality, as far as Jennifer is concerned. “I’m a little stubborn as well,” she said.
U Z
Jennifer’s advice on getting a guide dog? Make sure you are ready. Yes, having a guide dog gives
you freedom. But the dog is also a responsibility. It’s not like the white cane that you place on the table and walk away from. You will be responsi- ble for the feeding and care of a sen- tient being.
Southeastern Guide Dogs 4210 77th Street East, Palmetto
GuideDogs.org
www.TheNewBarker.com
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