Client Stories

Ivory, Teacher's Assistant

            As an individual whom has worked with children and adults with special needs for the last ten years, I am well aware of the various challenges they face.  I work as a teacher in a special needs classroom, as well as co-ordinate a summer program for the Alberta Association for the Dependently Handicapped.  I am constantly looking for new ways to improve the overall independence and quality of life for my students/campers.  Each of these individuals has amazing gifts and it is my job to find out how we can best utilize them. 

            I found out about Dogs With Wings through a teaching colleague, who had recently heard that there was a service dog working in a neighboring school. I immediately contacted the school to set up a visit and this is where the journey to receiving our classroom/summer-camp service dog began.  

            After seeing in person, the numerous successes this service dog had made happen, I knew immediately that I needed a Dogs With Wings dog to work with my students and summer program.  I received Ivory in the spring of 2011 and the success stories have been accumulating ever since.  Ivory works in my classroom daily, performing a variety of jobs with each student.  He also works throughout the summer, with up to 25 different children with special needs.  Some days he works as a comforting friend- calming a child who not one of the numerous adults in the room could console.   Some days he works as a safety patrol- allowing our children to walk safely in the community, while keeping them safe from bolting onto the road.  And some days he works as a motivator- encouraging a child, who often refuses to leave their wheelchair, to take a few steps in their walker so they can make it over to Ivory to give him a pet.  

            In the school setting, Ivory is not only utilized by my classroom, but a variety of other children in the school as well.  Children from the Specialized Therapy Educational Play Program (a program designed for children with autism spectrum disorder), have daily interactions with Ivory on their school days.  Other students around the school (with a variety of medical, emotional and behavior needs) come to visit Ivory on a regular basis.  I recently had a colleague tell me that a student, who refused to ever write more than their name, wrote THREE full sentences about how much they love Ivory.  There is continual affirmation that Ivory has not only touched the lives of students in my classroom and summer camp, but of the whole school community.  The benefits and success stories are non-stop and I can’t wait to see what Ivory helps another individual accomplish next!

Sincerely,

Keri-Ann Kozmak   

Charlie Lends a Helping Paw

Alberta Committee for Citizens with Disabilities (ACCD) member Larry Pempeit first met Charlie, his service dog, during the second week of December 2007. Since that time, Larry says his life has changed "big time." Larry enjoys getting out of the house daily, "even in the winter," and feels he lives a fuller life because of the increased mobility Charlie grants him. When asked how his relationship with Charlie has grown, he replies "she is the whole package deal, a really great friend."

ACCD believes in the power of education and works to increase the public's understanding of the circumstance surrounding the lives of people with disabilities. With this philosophy in mind, Larry gives the following advice about how to respond when encountering a service dog at work: "Guide dogs and service dogs are trained to assist individuals with all kinds of disabilities. Before you or your children pet a service dog, you need to ask the owner if it is okay. Remember, the dog is working and shouldn't be distracted from its duties."

As well as working with the public, ACCD monitors government and community programs and services with the intent of educating decision-makers about the circumstances of people with disabilities. So, when the provincial government was reviewing service dog legislation in 2006 and 2007, ACCD was happy to meet with MLA Rob Lougheed to provide input. Now, the Alberta Government is developing the policies and procedures that will accompany the Act. These guidelines will "help to ensure that Albertans who use service dogs have access to public areas without discrimination, and will increase awareness about service dogs and issues faced by people with disabilities" (Government of Alberta Seniors and Community Supports, www.seniors.gov.ab.ca). If you have questions about service dog etiquette, please contact ACCD.

Website: www.accd.net

Tristan & Autism Service Dog Nashville make a great team! 

Hi Elisa: We took a family vacation to Disneyland this past week and we just cannot thank Dogs with Wings enough for how helpful Nashville was for the entire vacation.  Tristan walked with Nashville all through Disneyland and Nashville even accompanied Tristan on many of the rides.  It helped Tristan so much to have his dog with him in terms of keeping him safe and also helping him with unknown situations and transitions. Nashville did awesome with all of the distractions (food, young children, strange noises and sights, getting on and off rides etc.) at Disneyland! Nashville has really helped Tristan to develop his play skills and also his ability to bond with another being and it is a remarkable development for Tristan.  

Amanda & Service Dog Cessco

Hello Elisa: Amanda is 19 years old and a Grade 12 student at St. Albert Catholic High School in a special program for learning disabled students.  Amanda has Prader Willis Syndrome and severe global developmental delay. Amanda will always need support and will never be able to live independently. Despite her disabilities, Amanda is a very social and happy person who is a joy to be around. 

Amanda tries hard and has a maternal streak to her, and now thankfully she has a new best friend, Cesso,  who helps her travel safely in the community and gives her a sense of accomplishment and responsibility. She is responsible for her "baby" Cesso, feeding, cleaning and exercising. They sleep together in her bed, he goes to school with her every day and comes with her to her many Special Olympic events. Amanda likes to be complimented on what great care she gives to Cessco. When she is feeling lonely or confused, they curl up together while Amanda tries to get control of her emotions. In only three months these two have bonded completely.  Cessco will go "find Amanda" and if he thinks she is in distress, he runs quickly to help her.  There are a whole lot of hugs and kisses shared between these two throughout the day. 

Amanda has suffered from separation anxiety for the last 10 years. She has panic attacks when separated from her parents or is in unfamiliar circumstances.  Her doctor supported the placement of a service dog to help her deal with this disorder.  The idea was that eventually Amanda will transfer her need to be with a family member, to her dog, and begin to consider doing things more independently.This will prepare her for the eventuality of placement in a group home when her parents are no longer able to care for her. We have already seen considerable gains in this area, all owed to the love she has for Cessco. Amanda is now willing to stay home for short periods of time, not alone of course because she has her Cessco keeping watch over her! She is talking about staying overnight with relatives and close family friends because now she will be bringing Cessco with her. This is an amazing milestone for her and has given our family comfort and some respite time for ourselves. 

Our family can't express in words what a difference Cessco has made in our daughter's life and how fortunate we are to have been placed with a dog like Cessco, who is really nothing short of perfect.  In particular, we appreciate the generosity of others who support Dogs with Wings financially and volunteer their time to foster the dogs.  All of these people can go to sleep at night, knowing they have made a difference in the life of a person with a disability and the family that supports them.