Linda and "Stetson": A New Leash on Life

On June 5, 1992, a beautiful black and white border collie, named Stetson, was delivered to my door. Now, only a couple of months later, no one can convince me it was not "fate" which brought us together. He has become a life saver and my "new leash on life."

Before Stetson and I were introduced, we both had the good fortune of being rescued by Texas Hearing Dogs. When they came to my rescue, I was isolating myself more and more inside the house. I am a paraplegic single female who has been injured and in a wheelchair since 1975. With some new health problems making me fatigue easily and the crime rate soaring as it was, I was either too scared or too tired to leave the house. I wasn't even "wheeling" across the street anymore to get my groceries and medications.

So when I started getting depressed it didn't surprise me. What else could be expected from someone who had always been very active, outgoing and independent? I was now becoming a hermit and acting out the role of a couch potato.

Today, Stetson and I make up a strong team, always wanting to go see as many people, places and things as we can. In fact, the trainers are having a hard time holding us back! We practice and train on the grounds around my apartment complex several times a day. Since we have started training, I have met more people around the complex than all the years I have lived here. I did anticipate Stetson would be a big attraction, but did not expect the overwhelming number of people who now felt comfortable to approach me.

Stetson and I both thoroughly enjoyed this immediate reaction, but I suddenly realized the importance of our appearance and our performance. I wanted positive acceptance from the public, not only for my own self-esteem, but for all future working dog owners.

Together we have accomplished some basic training tasks, such as retrieving objects, hand signals, verbal commands, opening gates and doors, and on leash controlled walking with the wheelchair. It seems the more we learn together, the more we want to achieve. Just from the basic command of "tug," he is opening my patio gate, opening the refrigerator door and helping me with my clothes. He was doing so well on the tug tasks, I decided to take it a step further; now, he is opening drawers and the dishwasher, too. From his basics of retrieving, he is now pawing the portable phone of its base unit in the bedroom, picking it up and bringing it to me in the living room. Never again will I have a low or dead battery!

In everyday life, unfortunate circumstances can arise that would require help; especially since I live by myself. Last week, we started practicing the command "go get help." When told, Stetson will go and find someone and bring them back to me.

Stetson wears a bright orange back pack when we are in public. I put important medical information concerning both of us, as well as emergency supplies, valuables and a cellular phone all in his carrying pack. This will be crucial to have while traveling, driving after dark and just doing errands around town. I feel so much more secure and safe now and we can go places I never could have gone before. As Willie would say, "I'm back on the road again!"

These last couple of months have been anything but boring! It was only a week after Stetson had come to live with me, when my older cat Jake decided to bring a surprise to all of us. I had gotten out of my wheelchair and was lying on the couch when Stetson suddenly jumped up only to run out of the room. When I called him, he returned with a baby bird hanging out of his mouth.

Immediately, I told him to "leave it," when surprisingly enough, he dropped the bird right in the middle of the living room. Before I could get up off the couch and into my wheelchair, the bird started hopping around the living room, ending up underneath a chaise recliner, where I could not get to him.

Now what? The bird was causing quite a commotion by chirping so loud, and if I didn't do something fast, I would have two cats and a dog all trying to get at the poor bird. I told Stetson to "get it." He stuck his long nose underneath the recliner and gently picked the bird up in his mouth. I called him and he promptly brought the bird to me, safe and sound.

I was so proud and impressed with Stetson - for he had rescued the bird! I figured if he obeyed me this well after only being with me one week, no telling what he and I could accomplish together.

I mentioned the word "fate," but there are a lot of caring and giving people who have made it possible for Stetson and I to become a working team. Stetson would never have been rescued or trained if it had not been for his sponsors and Texas Hearing Dogs. Stetson's sponsors are Diana and David Burrow, to whom I truly owe a tremendous amount of gratitude. Without the money it takes to feed, shelter and train these very special dogs, no one, as well as myself, would be able to benefit from their capabilities.

Stetson's talents were nurtured with the guidance and training from some of the most dedicated and knowledgeable people I have ever met. Now, their greatest challenge of all -- training me!

For the months to come, these patient trainers will be coming to my home and to various public facilities to educate me about everything from dog psychology to dog behaviors. So, to Kelly Dillen, Angie Sumpter, Kelley Grush and their families, thank you for your patience, time energy and knowledge.

Since Stetson has come into my life, he has fulfilled my need or companionship, security and the means to continue an independent life-style. We both are looking forward to all the exciting and challenging experiences just waiting for us.