Falling further into the depths of depres- sion, her sleepless nights included late night television. Through public service announcements, she was introduced to Southeastern Guide Dogs and could just make out the two stars of the commer- cials on the television screen. Gibson was a little black Labrador Retriever puppy and Jackie was a yellow Lab. The PSA’s were on several times a night, five nights a week. She worked up the nerve to call Southeastern Guide Dogs to inquire about a service dog of her own. Once it was determined that Shauna
qualified for her own guide dog and after the paperwork had been approved, she made one special request. She loved wearing black and thought a black Lab, like Gibson in the commercials, would be a fun perk. With a 98 percent graduate satisfac-
tion rating, Southeastern Guide Dogs is adept at matching the applicant with the right dog. The process is both an art and a science, and sometimes, adjustments must be made. The 20-day, hands-on training takes place at the facility’s Palmetto, Florida campus, as well as ven- turing from the campus out to city streets, shopping malls and public trans- portation. On the second day of her training,
Shauna was given a black Lab that matched all criteria to be her service dog. However, it became instantly apparent to the instructors and Shauna that what was previously regarded as a perfect fit for her was not working. The dog was too strong and too quick for Shauna. The trainers noticed the imbalance right away. Worried, nervous and frightened,
Shauna thought it was her fault. What was she doing wrong, she wondered. The instructors were very supportive and assured her that they had the right dog for her. A nonprofit with a national reach,
Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD) trains dogs of the highest pedigree for blind people and injured veterans, providing a premier dog and a lifetime of services at no cost. One of the ways SEGD raises money is through puppy sponsorships. A $5,000 donation sponsorship helps care for the dogs through their journey from puppy to world-class guide dog, service dog or other career.
30 THE NEW BARKER In addition to quarterly updates on
the dog, the sponsor receives recognition in SEGD’s annual report and an invita- tion to a formal grad- uation luncheon. The sponsor also has the opportunity to name the puppy. PJ is short for Paula Jean. Her sponsor named the dog in loving memory of his late wife. On the fifth day of classes, Shauna
Self Confidence Is The Best Outfit.
–Shauna English (above with PJ)
was about to be introduced to her new guide dog. “I had been crying and was worried that the new dog would detect my tears and sadness, and think that it was because of her,” said Shauna. I tried to pull myself together as best as I could.” When PJ walked into the room,
there was an instant connection, as the dog jumped into Shauna’s arms. PJ licked away the remnants of Shauna’s tears and leaned into her, never leaving her side. Now the training, that would eventually
transform Shauna’s life, could commence. It wasn’t until day 10 of training that Shauna gained complete trust in PJ. The dog, who usually walked on Shauna’s left side, stopped in front of her and would not heel. Frustrated, Shauna tried several
times to correct PJ, but the dog stub- bornly refused to budge. Walking across Shauna’s path was a black snake that she would have stepped on had PJ not stepped in front of her. It’s what is known as intelligent disobedience. The SEGD dogs are taught 40 different commands, but intelligent disobedience, like the one PJ displayed, is instinctive. These dogs have saved lives, keeping people from falling off docks, or warning them of low hanging branches. And, just think about silent cars, like the Prius, on the roadways.
www.TheNewBarker.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112
