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Rob - How exciting that you have a dog you can train and can do all those things for you. Maybe someday soon, my love will be able to get one. Best to you, Jo ann On Sat, 5 May 2001 17:53:21 -0600 Schaaf Angus / Meadow Creek Ranch <[log in to unmask]> writes: >Hello to all from a Parkinson's dog owner! > >The dog is an incredible help and I can vouch for the various items >listed >below >AND MORE ! My dog and I just flew to a VA Hospital for an appointment > and back again the same day ..... otherwise unassisted ! It really >works. > >In addition to what is in the first post, my dog is learning to >assist >with >opening doors, getting my CG to help me, retrieving items that I >designate with a laser pointer, assist in taking my jacket off, etc. >etc. > A really important part is the help I recieve going down stairs - he > will brace until he feels the down pressure go off his harness and >then >move down to the next step. The list goes on, but he started doing >the >stair thing by himself as he was able to sense the "freezing" on his >own. > >And yes, he will even pull a wheelchair if I will let him >(I don't as he under 2 yrs, old)! > >I did things a little differently in that I raised and trained my own >dog ! >Help is readily available to teach a disabled person to train their >own >dog if they should so desire ( even if using assistive devices). I >would >be happy to coorespond with any one who wants information on how >to make it all work and all of the details. > >Rob and George (Retired Vet & Large Laid Back Lab Service Dog) > >----- Original Message ----- >From: <[log in to unmask]> >To: <[log in to unmask]> >Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2001 3:44 PM >Subject: Parkinson's dog program > > >> Someone wrote requesting info about Parkinson Dogs. One of the men >in our >> Central NY Parkinson's Support Group has one, and it has been >wonderful >for >> him. The following is part of an article I wrote about this program >back >in >> April, 1999, for our newsletter, "No Parkin' Zone." >> The Parkinson's Walker Dog Program is run through Independence Dogs >Inc. >in >> Chadds Ford, PA, and currently (as of 4/99) is the only Service Dog >School >> with the capacity for training Parkinson's Walker Dogs. This >program is >only >> in its second year (1999). >> The Program found the following facts via their pilot study: >> 1. The incidence of falling in PD patirents can be lowered by >80%. >> 2. The dog can break freezes. >> 3. Use of a dog will facilitate the restoration of a near >normal >walking >> gait. >> 4. Use of a dog will enable the Parkinsonian to maintain >his/her >balance >> much more effectively than canes or walkers. >> 5. A Parkinson's Walker Dog wil also retrieve all objects >dropped by >> his/her human partner. >> `6. A dog will assist the Parkinsonian to regain a standing >position, >> negating the need for human assistance if he/she should fall. >> The recipient of a Parkinson's dog must be willing to spend 3 >weeks, >free >> of charge at the school in Chadds Ford, PA, to bond with the dog and >learn >to >> work with him >> or her as a safely funtioning team. There is no charge for the dog, >though >> recipients are asked to make a $200 contribution which will be >applied to >the >> cost of the dog's specially designed custom made walker harness. It >is >also >> required that the Parkinsonian recipient be accompanied by a >caregiver for >> the entire 3 weeks. It currently (1999) takes 6 monhts to 2 years >to >receive >> a service dag after sending in an application. >> For more info contact: >> Independence Dogs, Inc. >> 146 State Line Rd. >> Chadds Ford, PA 19317 >> (610)358-2723 >> Remember these details are 2 years out of date and things may have >changed. >> The one thing that hasn't changed, however, is the terrific help >this dog >has >> been to our member. They rarely miss a meeting. >> Hope this helps someone out there. >> >> Marge Moylan >> 57/41/39 >> >> >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: >mailto:[log in to unmask] >> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: >mailto:[log in to unmask] >In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn