A Furry Graduation

A Furry Graduation!
The graduates in the Fall, 2007 class for Assistance Dogs of America, Inc. (ADAI) are different than the average graduate. With four legs, tails and fur, these proud graduates go straight to work after the ceremony. After months of training, these service and therapy dogs are more than ready to assist their new partners, among them a young girl with cerebral palsy, a young boy with down syndrome and autism and two entire schools of lively elementary students.
The graduation of seven service and therapy dogs will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2007 at Parkway Place in Maumee, Ohio at 7pm (a dinner with all of the supporters, staff and clients begins at 6pm).
This is a special ceremony for ADAI because three of the graduates (Jazzy, Scarlet and Belle) are the first dogs from the Toledo Correctional Institute’s Prison Puppy Program developed by ADAI in January of 2005. For a year, each of the dogs lived with their inmate trainers for 24 hours a day, sharing a cell with them and accompanying their trainers almost everywhere. ADAI staff members worked with the inmates and their puppy in training sessions twice a week. During their first year of training, the dogs learn basic commands like sit, come, down, stay, watch, and leave it. The first year of the Prison Puppy Training Program was funded by the Toledo Community and Stranahan Foundation.
The puppies are “furloughed” for one week each month, living with an ADAI volunteer. The furloughs give the dogs exposure to “outside” activities such as family life, public outings, and sensory experiences that they do not have in the prison environment. Following their year in prison, the puppies then are placed with to a volunteer foster home who continues their training until the dogs are ready for their final service dog training at ADAI’s Education and Training Facility located in Swanton, Ohio.
Jewels, a golden lab is now the therapy dog for Jefferson Primary and Chamberlin Hill Intermediate Schools in Findlay, Ohio. Jewels will be used in counselor settings and in special needs classrooms.
            Ellie, a golden retriever was paired with Allyssa Kluczynski a young lady from Toledo, Ohio with cerebral palsy. Allyssa’s mom says she will gain confidence in her everyday abilities knowing her new best friend will always be there. She thinks Allyssa will always have a social outlet with Ellie by her side.
            Kramer, a black labradoodle is the newest staff member at Burr Road Middle School. Kramer will provide a listening ear to 500 middle school students. The principal of Burr Road Middle School told the children that Kramer doesn’t care what they look like, what kind of clothes they wear, how good an athlete they are or how big their house is, he will see them all in a non-judgmental way.
Gracie, a black lab/golden retriever mix now lives in Delphos, Ohio with Kailey Wright a young lady with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Kailey’s mom says that Kailey will gain more independence and not have to rely on her as much now that she has her new best friend.
Scarlet, a golden retriever will be working with Deborah Wagner from Fort Wayne, IN. Deborah has cerebral palsy and says that Scarlet will improve her quality of life by bringing the phone when she falls in the shower, picking up things that she drops, helping put her legs on the bed or onto a sofa which will improve circulation. Scarlet is now her constant companion who loves to help.
Belle, a golden retriever will be living in Lucasville, Ohio with Christopher Allen Days and his mom and dad. Christopher has Down Syndrome, Autism and ADHS. His dad says that Belle will give Christopher more confidence and help him grow because of having to be responsible for taking care of his dog. Belle will also be a friend to play with and do things with.  
Jazzy, a black lab now resides with Debbie Reynolds in Oregon, Ohio. Debbie has multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia. She says that she doesn’t think an able-bodied person can truly realize how precious these dogs are. In addition to companionship, Jazzy will give her back some of the independence and confidence she has lost. She says that I am sure my life will be affected in other ways I don’t know about yet – all of this from this beautiful creature who’s “ just a dog.”
Assistance Dogs of America, Inc. (ADAI) helps children and adults with physical disabilities achieve greater independence by training and placing service and therapy dogs to assist with the individual’s daily needs. The organization places around 20 dogs per year in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. ADAI is a 501(c)(3) charity that relies on donors, volunteer fosters and puppy raisers to reach our mission. We are always looking for new foster volunteers. For more information on fostering dogs, please visit our website at www.adai.org or call the office of ADAI at 419-825-3622.
 


Posted: 11/5/07