A friend fur-ever

Puppy has local stop on journey to aid disabled

By JOHN GOODALL Tribune Chronicle
BAZETTA — Fluid dark eyes gaze sweetly from a face wrinkled by baby fat and curiosity.

The golden-hued puppy has a cuddle quotient that even stuffed toys can’t match.

‘‘They are all unique. But these are probably more mild mannered than regular puppies,’’ the dog’s temporary mom, Nancy Olds of Johnson-Plank Road, said. ‘‘They like to be snuggled and held.’’

Elliot — as the puppy was named — might not bask in that luxury much longer. His weight has doubled from the 12 pounds when he arrived, and Olds suspects the day when she can’t lift him will be coming soon.

Meanwhile, the puppy romps and frolics in the house with her two older dogs. They good-naturedly put up with his clumsy playfulness.

As cute as he is, Elliot is being readied to be more than a pet. His life is aimed at a higher purpose.

The dog was bred and owned by Canine Companions for Independence. Based in California, the nonprofit is the largest provider of assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities.

CCI places four types of canines with people who apply for them:

n Service dogs assist adults with physical disabilities. They can perform such tasks as pulling wheelchairs, opening and closing doors, picking up dropped items and even handing over a credit card to a clerk.

n Skilled companions for children and adults with emotional, developmental and physical disabillities who need the help of a trained assistant or guardian.

n Hearing dogs for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

n Facility dogs for professionals who want animals to promote healing and facilitate therapy for patients in their care in fields such as physical and occupational therapy, special education and hospital visits.

CCI uses only Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers or crosses between the two. Kelly Galindo, a spokesman for its North Central Regional Center in Delaware, Ohio, said those breeds most often have the temperament and health the program requires.

Despite those advantages, only 40 percent of the dogs that start the process make it through.

Those that don’t are adopted out. Their puppy raisers are given first choice to take them back.

If not, they are placed on a list. The animals are in demand for such purposes as guide, therapy, customs, border patrol and bomb searching, CCI said.

Olds has raised four other puppies for CCI since she first started as a volunteer in 2003. Her job is the first tier of the program.

When the dogs are eight weeks old, they are sent from California to CCI’s regional centers where they are turned over to puppy raisers for basic training in their homes. That involves socializing the animals and teaching them house manners, including potty training.

Puppy raisers like Olds are responsible for expenses such as food and health care from a veterinarian.

‘‘I love dogs, especially puppies,’’ Olds said. ‘‘It’s so much fun to watch them grow and learn.’’

But what really carries her through all the unpaid time and effort are the possibilities of what the animals will be able to do for people who really need them, the volunteer said.

Olds learned about the program through her mother’s eye doctor, who had two dogs that had been with CCI at his office.

At 16-18 weeks of age, the canines are transported by their raisers to the regional center for at least six months of advanced instruction by professional trainers. They learn 50 commands that are standard to every category of CCI dog.

Then the disabled individual who will get the dog comes to the regional center for specific training with the animal. That spans two weeks.

If all goes well, a graduation is held. It’s a moving affair at which the puppy raiser ceremoniously hands over the dog’s leash to the recipient, Galindo said.

So far, Olds hasn’t had the chance to participate.

‘‘None of my guys (puppies) has made it yet,’’ she said. ‘‘But my last puppy (before Elliot) is in advanced training. Hopefully, he’ll be the one.’’

jgoodall@tribune-chronicle.com