IAADP
International Association of
Assistance Dog Partners
SOMETHING GOOD
by Leigh Singh When I was a little girl, my grandfather used to tell me that everything in
life has something good to offer. He said the trick to making it through a
tough situation is to find one good thing and hang on to that. When I was
young, I figured my Pop Pop was right about almost everything; but as a
child with cerebral palsy, I believed I had found something that Pop Pop
was wrong about. Cerebral palsy was the name for the constant pain in my
legs. It was why I had to go to the hospital for more than a dozen
operations. It was why I walked funny and why I never could learn to ride
a bike. CP was even the reason my teachers gave in school when I could not
write neatly or read in straight lines. My grandfather had told me that
everything in life has something good to offer; and although I tried for
many years, I just couldn't find anything good about having to live every
single day of my life with cerebral palsy. But then when I was twenty three
years old, something good found me. That good thing was a dog named
Slugger.
There has always been something special about Slugger. Even when he
was a very small puppy, his gentle temperament, and bright eyed
intelligence made it clear he was destined to make a difference. It took
nearly two years of intensive training and plenty of dog treats, but thanks
to the care, dedication, and skill of many volunteers who worked with
Caring Canine Companions of Virginia, one little yellow puppy was
transformed into Slugger the fully trained service dog.
By the time I was introduced to him, Slugger was a certified service
dog. In addition to basic obedience, he knew how to retrieve dropped
items, open doors, and bark on command. He had even learned how to provide
support while navigating steps and hills with his handler. The tasks that
it had taken Slugger two years to learn were all things that that could
make my life easier. And so, when Slugger and I graduated together after
several months of team training, I knew that this dog would make a
difference in my life. At the time, I had no idea how great a difference
that would be.
A new sense of freedom came into my life when I began working with my
service dog. When the two of us first began our career as a service dog
team, I was completing my masters degree in counseling at James Madison
University. With Slugger by my side, basic tasks like carrying heavy text
books and walking across a crowded campus became easier than I had ever
hoped they would be. I no longer had to rely on other people to give me a
hand when I was going up a hill, and if I dropped a pencil during one of my
classes, Slugger would quickly retrieve it for me. On several different
occasions, Slugger even managed to keep me from falling on icy steps and
rain-slicked sidewalks. Because of my service dog, I was able to shift my
focus away from the physical pain and the obstacles created by my cp. I
was given the freedom to pursue my personal goals and to spend more time
and energy on the good things in my life.
Slugger continues to bring support and independence to my life today.
In the five years that the two of us have been working together, I have
come to rely on his unshakable loyalty and his willingness to help me even
in challenging situations. I recently did a presentation with Slugger
where I needed to step up onto a high stage. I asked my dog to support me
so that I could navigate the steep step. As I climbed onto the stage, my
hand slipped and I accidentally hurt Slugger. My dog let out a yelp, but
he did not move from his supporting position until I had climbed safely
onto the stage. Slugger's unwavering assistance earned him an instant
round of applause from the audience to whom I was about to speak. It also
served as a testament to the deep bond that joins a service dog and a human
partner.
In addition to providing physical support and assistance, Slugger
enriches my life in other important if less tangible ways. The simple act
of petting my dog refreshes me even when I am tired or in pain. His
presence by my side adds to my sense of confidence, self-worth and
completeness. Since Slugger came into my life five years ago, I have even
become a wiser person. Thanks to my dog, I have come to realize that white
hair on a dark skirt is not the end of the world. I have learned that every
good partnership is a matter of give and take. I have also discovered that
there are people among us all who know that blessings are most beautiful
when they are shared. And now, I think I understand what my grandfather
meant when he said everything in life has something good to offer. And
thanks to Slugger, I think he was right.
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