Shortly after this member was declared, "medically disabled" in 1995, while watching an episode of "Gayle" on television, she learned about Service Animals. Excited about the prospect of obtaining a Service Canine for herself, she went through the same system as many persons requiring Service Animals do, but found the waiting list could be between 6 - 8 years before a canine might be available. In her younger years, she provided obedience training for canines to attend AKC Trials, and decided to find a pup she could train herself. In 1998, "Brody", she obtained a chocolate Labrador, and soon after she realized he opened up the world for her. She enjoyed his faithful companionship until the fall of 2002, when he took his place "over the rainbow". Devastated by his absence and uncertain whether she wanted to invest that much of herself again, she moved from Florida to Tennessee where her daughter and her daughter's family had relocated. After getting settled into her new surroundings, her daughter gently coached her into taking the chance again with another Service Canine.
Though this owner would never have admitted it at the time, she knew how much Brody had returned her to the world of the living and knew it was the right time to move forward. In late 2004, Angus McLean, a yellow Labrador called "Gus", entered her life from a sire and dame who had lengthily Field Trial Titles among them. Little did this owner realize the energy Gus would express but this faithful Christian believed God did not make mistakes and accepted the energized canine as a spiritual meaning to motivate her. Asking this owner what tasks Gus performs for her provided a rather interesting evaluation:
"Gus helps me with all parts of my life; he brings my clothes to me in the morning, he insists upon getting the newspaper everyday, gets me up, out and moving when I think there is not a chance I can move. He has a full time job just picking up after me; as I seem to drop everything I touch. Gus is more than just a "helping paw"; he is my salvation! We have worked in-home since he came to me as a "ball of fluff" and recently started to work in the outside world. Boo, our kitty idolizes Gus, and the two of them are sometimes found curled up in Gus' bed! I think that there is a bit more chocolate than true yellow as he is almost light amber in color."
This Owner/Handler shared her health restricts the amount of time spent in public, and explained her Service Canine has adapted quite well. "I have been very blessed to have few confrontations, but my biggest problem is when people come up and start petting Gus, despite the fact that he wears a backpack and identification. I carry copies of the ADA regulations with regard to Service Dogs and look upon the opportunity to turn a confrontation into an educational experience."
A. Jones, Handler & Owner
Editor's Note: In many ways, Gus is a miracle Service Canine. Though his breed is widely known as being "hyper", Gus knows when "enough is enough". He literally serves in a very large capacity, including remarkable retrieving skills such as patiently waiting for his Handler to fold a piece of laundry, seeing her lay it aside, then gently picking up another item from a laundry basket and handing it to his Handler to fold. He will retrieve items from grocery shelves, as well as the obvious floor and provides himself to his Handler as a brace. Absolutely remarkable!
BARREN RIVERS ANGUS MCLEAN
"GUS"
August 29, 2004 - June 12, 2007
That day in October when I drove up to Kentucky to pick up Gus my heart was full of hope because I knew that the future with my new Service Canine was one full of promise. I fall into the owner-handler category. When one chooses to train their own Service Canine, they must realize that this is a full time commitment, regardless of disability. I was grateful that puppies come with short attention spans as I had only short energy spans. It was through this "pairing" that I learned a valuable lesson: If I devoted five to ten minutes, four or five times a day, the objective would be achieved.
Gus was an energetic dog if ever there was one. He loved his service work and often taught me things that turned out to my benefit. (Never underestimate your Service Canine.) As he grew older we generated "training" time on an "as you need it" basis. Gus would help with the laundry, shopping, going to the "people" doctor, and we were inseparable. Gus was a people dog; he did not concern himself with other canines and accepted other dogs, but his primary focus was always me.
His illness came as a surprise to me; I had never heard of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. I was concerned about his joints; the things that dog owners would naturally concern themselves with but I now know, nothing a dog does should be taken for granted. Eating grass, loose stools, excessive water drinking as well as the extra trips "out" were signs something was wrong. As ill as he was, Gus never stopped being a Service Canine. His symptoms of the disease were things I just assumed were "part of his make up". The disease could not be diagnosis without a biopsy and by then it was too late. Gus and I were together "24/7" until April of this year, when I was hospitalized. Again, we were separated in May until his passing in June.
Question your dog's behavior; assume nothing. If Gus' experience saves just one canine, please give credit where credit is due.
Thank you, Gus, for all you gave.
Ann McLean-Brown Jones
Yuri Ready to Serve from Over the Rainbow!
Black Russian Terriers are the fifth rarest breed in the world and probably not the dog for everyone, but are considered the most intelligent breed in the world, with brains between monkeys and humans; they are extremely smart. The Owner/Handler of Yuri drove to Toronto to fetch him and then began minimal training because by nature, he already had many skills.
As an alert assistant, "Yuri starts getting real uneasy and steps on my feet or brushes against me if he senses I am going to have a seizure", wrote his Handler. "He starts doing this thirty to forty-five minutes before it happens", she explained. Thus, the Handler knows when to sit down, long before the seizure begins.
Before obtaining Yuri, his Handler suffered 47-breaks in her arm as a result of a car accident. A fall while having a seizure and potentially breaking her arm, could cause her to have her arm amputated. In this case, the services this Service Canine provides are extremely valuable. "He is not only my best friend, he is my freedom and security", his Handler explained.
Yuri was welcomed into the home and heart of his Handler, who quickly learned his worth and loved him so much; she decided to obtain a female. "Laska" was flown directly from Warsaw into Chicago on a ten and a half hour flight when she was only six-weeks old. Like Yuri, her Handler is training Laska, who will eventually be 75 to 130-pounds and as tall as her mate. The names bestowed on these two beauties have meanings in the Russian language:
Yuri is the Russian name for "George" and while not quite as romantic as his new mate, Laska, which means "love" in the Russian language, it provides an interesting history. Yuri's full name is Yuri Mac Zahadavich; his first name derived from Doctor Zhigavo, (a favorite movie of his Handler), his middle name contains the three initials of his Handler's husband's name, and his last name comes from his Sire. In Russian, the word "Vich" means "son of", so his translation is Yuri Mac, son of Zahada and Zahada is a Black Russian Terrier Champion in Russia.
Yuri is two years old, weighing in at 110-pounds in January 2007. (His handler thinks he may have enjoyed too much of a holiday.) Yuri may reach the weight of as much as 130-pounds and full-grown males are typically 27 to 30-inches tall.
Black Russian Terriers have talents as watchdogs, guarding, police, search and rescue, tracking, retrieving, sledding, agility, obedience, and of course, tricks. They are eager to please their Handler with tasks as Service Animals.
Ruth Cummings, Handler/Owner
Note: The Russian Military began breeding Black Russian Terriers in the 1950's, and today use them to guard the Siberian borders to help keep control of their country. Russia did not want the Black Russian Terriers to leave their country and consider them as national treasures. Breeders smuggle them out by flying them on Polish Airlines into Warsaw and then changing planes. The Russian Military goal was to create a "super man-stopper" and accomplished this with approximately 17 different breeds, including Giant Schnauzer-Airedale crossbred with Airedale-Rottweiler crosses and Giant Schnauzer-Rottweiler crosses. In 1957, the new breeds of Black Russian Terriers were exhibited during an all-Russian Dog Show and interest in this breed enveloped. Political conditions persuaded the military to sell the canines to private parties, and this new group of breeders then focused on developing traits that helped the Black Russian Terrier become a member of society, with good temperament, intelligence, loyalty, and trainability. Finally, in the 1960's and 70's the last combinations of other breeds were made. The breed was first exhibited in the United States in 1991. While this rare breed remains difficult to find, they were designated as an "AKC Working Group" in the large arena in July 2004 in the USA.
Update: On September 30, 2007, Yuri viciously attacked and mauled his Handler while she was in bed. Fortunately, the Handler suffered only bites on her arm and feet, but her Veterinarian told her she could never trust him again because no amount of training would ever "train this trait" out of him. Ultimately, the Veterinarian wisely suggested, "He will have to be put down". On the following day, Yuri was laid to rest.
Yuri attacked due to a syndrome common in Springer canines. Canines suffering with "Springer Rage Syndrome" do not have to consume any ingredient to bring on an attack. Many dogs studied with "Springer Rage Syndrome" had abnormally low amounts of serotonin metabolites in their urine and cerebral spinal fluid suggesting the dominance aggression was associated with abnormally low levels of serotonin in the brain. Several well-known veterinarians are doing trial treatments for this chemical imbalance. Low levels of Serotonin in human beings cause a vast amount of various illnesses, diseases and syndromes, none of which are apparently aggressive in a human being, but rather cause depression. There is an abundance of information on the Internet regarding Springer Rage Syndrome. One of the best articles regarding this syndrome is written by Lyn Johnson, DVM, is posted on this link on the Internet.
The Handler of this unique and special canine was both upset and relieved stating, "I could never close my eyes around him again. I am hurt and miss him, but I never want this to happen to anyone." She continues to work with "Laska" who is providing her Handler with the assistance as what Yuri once did, as well as working in the ring and receiving many awards. We gratefully thank this Handler/Owner for this information and sincerely wish her tremendous success with Laska, who is now serving this Handler as an Alert Assistant.
Impulsivity in Dogs-Assessment and Treatment by Jaume Fatjó Spain
PET LOSS SITES
As much as we all hate the dreaded day that we lose our best friend, we hope these sites will comfort others...
From: Member & Certified Grief Counselor.
The Animal Medical Center, New York
Telephone 212-838-8100
Support groups and counselor referrals for the New York City area
The Companion Animal Association of Arizona
Telephone 602-995-5885
A 24-hour grief-counseling hotline, support groups, and referrals
The Delta Society
Telephone 425-226-7357
Publishes 20-page Nationwide Pet Bereavement Directory
PetFriends, Inc., NJ
Telephone 800-404-7387
Returns long-distance calls collect, free for southern NJ & the Philadelphia area
St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, NJ
973-377-7094
Tuesday evenings
Other Helpful & Related Web Sites
