[nagdu] 8 On Your Side helps disabled woman with service dog

Fri Jan 23 14:11:23 UTC 2009

Found at http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=9716940&nav=menu132_2

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8 On Your Side helps disabled woman with service dog

Posted: Jan 22, 2009 03:01 PM EST 

Updated: Jan 22, 2009 03:30 PM EST 

By 

Chris Williams

QUAD CITIES --  A Quad Cities woman may be a step closer to regaining
her freedom thanks to an 8 On Your Side investigation. For her, freedom
means venturing

out without being harrassed by those who don't understand her
disability. 8 On Your Side Reporter Chris Williams  has the story that
may change the way you

look at the disabled and their service dogs .

We began working this case in October when a woman called with a
heartbreaking story. She relies on a service dog to be her ears, help
when she has a seizure

and pick up objects she can't reach. But a decision by a former
volunteer with the organization that gave her the dog made it impossible
for her to take

the animal into public without being harrassed.

Janet Parker tried to keep the mood light with her Black Lab Coal. A lot
was riding on this trip to the East Moline Animal Clinic. Bad news today
could

set her back months and deny the opportunity to regain her freedom.

"It tears my heart out if i don't have him", Janet told us through an
interpreter for the deaf. 

Coal is Janet's ears. Without him her world is a freightening place
filled with muffled noises where even the most basic daily task can be
dangerous. Janet

was born in Monmouth. At two weeks old a high fever stole her ability to
hear. Years later the violent hand of a man left Janet with injuries and
seizures

that would last a lifetime.  Five and a half years ago the organization
"

PAWS With A Cause

" brought Coal into Janet's life restoring some of her freedoms. The
Michigan based non-profit provides service dogs to those in need. Their
canines wear

blue vests to alert the public that, these are not your ordinary pets,
they're trained to work.

"PAWS With A Cause" also has strict rules regarding the care of dogs. In
2006 the woman in charge of Janet's case felt Coal's weight warranted
removing

the vest, esentially taking away his identity as a service dog.

I asked Janet, "What happens to you when you're in public and people
don't know he's a service dog?"

She replied through an interpreter, "You can't go anywhere... no
stores.. nothing." 

Vet records show Coal's weight had ballooned to 93 pounds,13 pounds
above the heaviest allowed. Over time, through diet, training and
exercise Janet helped

Coal slim down but she could not get the woman who took the vest to
answer her calls.

"I had a lawyer", she told us. "He didn't do anything. I called
Chicago... through the A.D.A... they didn't do anything. So I contacted
you, it says you

help". 

When you cannot hear, and speak clearly, communicating is nearly
impossible unless patience is practiced by those who listen. We listened
to Janet's case

and a solution seemed simple, yet she was unable to reach those who
could make a difference and restore her freedom through Coal's service.
We contacted

the case worker who removed the vest only to learn she was no longer
with "PAWS With A Cause". We tracked down information for the
organziation and volunteers

promised to look into the situation.

"I say thank you very, very much for helping me", Janet said. "It
finally feels like I have some success now."

3 months of calls, e-mails and faxing vet records brought us to this day
at the East Moline Animal Clinic.

"His heart and lungs are just fine", Veterinarian, Doctor Holyl Bordner
told Janet. 

She Gave Coal a complete check up which involved a weigh in.

"In my examination of Coal today we found him to be 77 pounds... really
in good health", the Doctor reported. 

She feel's the health of her patient has a direct impact on Janet's
peace of mind, explaining, "I see him as being crucial to her well
being."

"I've been nervous and let down so many times. I've just been sick over
the whole ordeal, so I figured you were my last hope to help me", Janet
said to

us. 

Even with renewed hope, Janet knew the path to regaining her freedom was
still an uphill climb. Armed with Coal's updated vet information, she
would have

to prepare for the hardest test of all the next day, a recertification
test by a "PAWS" volunteer.

It's Julie Firlit's job to put Coal and Janet to the test. Armed with a
video camera and clipboard, Julie watched every move and command. It
quickly becomes

obvious Coal's skills aren't exactly up to "PAWS" specifications.

Eventually Coal shows discipline, especially when given the task of
walking alongside Janet with another dog nearby.

"We just want to make sure they have a good working relationship",
Volunteer Julie explained. "It's productive for her, and in an emergency
the dog would

be available to help her and that we've held up our bargain as well as
encouraged her to hold up her end of the bargain as well."

Julie would not tell us what she'll recommend, "PAWS" headquarters will
decide on the vest issue. It could take a month before Janet learn's
whether coal

will get his vest back. 

She says "PAWS" removes vests from dogs who become overweight because
those dogs typically have more health problems. The animals can cost
$20,000 to raise

and train. "PAWS" says, knowing they could lose the vests motivates
clients to keep their dog in shape. 

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