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The most accepted terms for this field are Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA). AAT involves
working with someone when a specific goal has been identified. If you do this as a
volunteer, you will work with a professional who will assist you in selecting goals for
different individuals. AAA are those activities designed to strengthen someone's quality
of life. Usually performed by volunteers, they are generally "meet and greet"
activities.
Meet Golden Tucson
Tales
of Tucson the Terrific|
Tucson
was the happy puppy waiting for us at the Flying High
Kennels. The Golden Retriever Breeder, Linda Frances,
felt Tucson would grow to be just the kind of Service
Dog I needed. She could not have picked a better
companion for me. After spending hours of her time
watching and socializing the puppies, and interviewing
potential owners to make the right match, she gave to us
the most wonderful dog that ever was. I owe many thanks
to Linda for choosing Tucson for me. Also to Don, my
husband, for he has always been a great encourager, and
supported the idea of a Service Dog.
So began our remarkable journey into miracles both large
and small. If we can call miracles of the heart small.
My first step was to find a trainer that could teach
Tucson and me good companion manners until he was old
enough to learn to serve me as a stabilizer when I
walked. Walking had become increasingly more ataxic
after 30 years of a MS related disease. The trainer we
now needed was Brad Franz. He was recommended highly,
and we learned so much from him. We will always call him
"The Dog Whisperer" as his abilities to understand dogs
and their owners was incredible. Tucson still wags his
tail and runs around looking for him if we so much as
mention his name. Spelling B-r-a-d does not work.
Special
Needs People do not always train their own dogs. So
finding the right steps was not always clear. However,
the end result was a true helper who stayed by my side
and stabilized me whenever I put on his harness.
Sometimes, even in harness, he still had a tough time
not loving everyone around him. I realize a dog with two
jobs could get mixed up, but reminded him quickly that
he was working, and he snapped back his attention. The
second job he has, came about when we observed that he
was extra mild and gentle, and that he loved children
even though we were not around any on a daily basis. So
began our thinking that we should share Tucson's lovely
spirit with others.
After talking with the breeder and trainer, we started
researching into the Delta Pet Partners program. Diana
McQuarrie and other trainers at the Denver Pet Partners
observed the same qualities in Tucson at his young age
of 8 mos. as we had. Thus we soon began the training
with him and other Denver Pet Partners. I knew that my
disability did not interfere with my work with children,
and I wanted Tucson to be with his favorite little
people. Being a retired Special Ed. teacher, I explored
our options with Diana. We now work as a team with eight
special needs kids at Sabin, and with a preschool class
at Miller Special School. Tucson uses many of the
walking skills he learned with me as he walks along with
wheelchairs or unstable walking children.
One boy in particular, uses his chair most of the time.
When he found out he could walk around by holding on to
Tucson's harness, he never wanted to stop. That was one
of those days when it is impossible to tell who is
giving and who is receiving a gift. We were all three
smiling from ear to ear. And how a Golden Retriever can
smile!
Another day, I watched as a slow moving child crawl
after Tucson using the correct arm and leg positioning.
He moved with great speed for that loving child. Still
another time, a child had to stop playing with Tucson
for two weeks because he had been inappropriately rough
with his classmates. His teacher told him she could not
trust him to be good to an innocent dog like Tucson if
he could not be good to his peers. Wow, did that his
behavior change. He is one polite little dude whenever
we see him
Also Tucson does a fine job at Our Saviour's Church.
Sometimes he goes with me if I have a lot of things to
do. He also has served as a greeter in the Narthex on
Easter, as the Easter Puppy carrying a basket of
goodies, and as the Christmas Reindeer. Last Easter the
pastor asked the children during children's sermon, what
happens at Easter. One little girl proudly announced,
"The Easter Puppy comes." Well Tucson does come to help
me, and to bring smiles to children of all ages. And he
will be back again next Easter too I am sure as he was
happy being with the children and taking them on a
Easter Parade.Just about the time Tucson
and I were on a roll, along came yet another miracle. It
seems while Brad was training another dog he told the
owner, Mrs. Bar-Or, that he had been diagnosed with CVID
an MS type disorder. Mrs. Bar-Or knew of her husband's
research at Swedish Trauma Center relating to MS, and
told Brad about it. Brad remembered Tucson and me, and
called encouraging me to check into this new discovery
with Dr. Bar-Or. Several of us with Brad are now in Dr.
Bar-Or's study with good results.
Most of the time I am
feeling so well that I did forget Tucson's harness time.
My balance has improved to the point that I don't need
Tucson for short walks or quick errands. I was so
excited about my own new abilities that I had forgotten
Tucson's main job. Soon we were noticing that Tucson
acted sick and unhappy. After a clean bill of health
from Bouton Veterinary Clinic, we called Brad. From one
phone call, he diagnosed Tucson as being depressed
because he had lost his favorite job. Well, we soon
fixed that. I incorporated Tucson into my daily exercise
regime, and we added extra walks with his harness even
if I did not always need it. He has another morning of
visiting preschool children, and I have another morning
of bending and moving on the floor with preschoolers
like I did years ago.
With all these contributions to the betterments of
children's lives and mine, anyone can understand why I
call Tucson the best dog that ever was... and still is!
Editor's Note
I think this story
should be called, “Lin and Tucson the Terrific”!
This is truly an extraordinary partnership. I
remember vividly when Lin took the Pet Partners
training class that I taught back in November
2002. It touched me deeply that someone faced
with the challenges of MS was looking beyond
herself and had such a heartfelt desire to help
others with her service dog. At that time,
Tucson was only 8 months old and just out of
curiosity we took him through the Delta
evaluation, even though the minimum age for
therapy dog registration is 1 year old. Tucson
displayed incredible discipline, good manners
and focus even at that age as well as clearly
having already taken on responsibility for Lin.
Even though he was still growing into his then
lanky legs, Tucson did a wonderful job of
steadying Lin as he escorted her. To see them
together is to observe soul-mates in action.
Lin is one of the
most beautiful people I know. She is gentle,
soft-spoken, loving, thoughtful and has a heart
that just keeps on giving. I don’t think I’ve
ever seen Lin without a smile on her face. You
can’t help but feel great when you’re around
her.
Tucson is
extraordinary because of his ability to have
such a keen awareness of his responsibilities as
a working dog and to discern between his role as
a service dog for Lin and a therapy dog for many
people. As a service dog working in harness,
his focus is solely on Lin and her safety. As a
therapy dog working in his vest, his focus
becomes outward and he gives of himself to those
around him. I think he primarily identifies
which role is expected of him from wearing
either a harness or a vest. I also know that
he’s just plain smart and has such an
overflowing heart of gold that he easily and
willingly serves both roles. “Choices
cause a mighty vibration which in effect
brings back to us more of what we give
out.” Lyanla Vanzant
Reprinted with permission by Diana M. McQuarrie, Executive Director,
Denver Pet Partners, (303) 948-6363
(office) / (720) 359-5421 (fax)
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