Future service animal demonstrates skills

FALLS VILLAGE — Pat Campbell, a volunteer with Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities, or ECAD, brought a half golden retriever, half Labrador mix named Titan to the David M. Hunt Library Wednesday, April 16 to demonstrate how the organization trains service dogs.

Titan was on his best behavior throughout, urged on by frequent deployment of puppy treats.

While ECAD has a staff, a lot of the work is done by volunteers. Those interested can simply come to the ECAD kennel in Winsted and play with the puppies.

Campbell explained this helps socialize the puppies and helps them get used to being handled.

For those willing to get more involved, they can take a dog home for a weekend or for longer commitment of six months.

There is some training involved — for the volunteers.

When the dogs are ready to be assigned to someone permanently, the results are life changing.

Campbell recalled a woman who was a quadriplegic, confined to a wheelchair and completely dependent on her mother and a computer with a stylus, which the woman could manipulate.

But if the stylus fell on the floor, there was nothing she could do about it until someone came along to check on her. So, ECAD trained a dog to retrieve the stylus.

Campbell put Titan through his paces for the library audience. She shooed him under a small table and asked him to stay while she sat some distance away and continued speaking.

Apart from the occasional look of mild reproach, Titan stayed put until summoned.

The amiable puppy also submitted eagerly to being petted.

Volunteering for ECAD does require some effort, Campbell acknowledged.

“But it’s worth every second knowing you can change someone’s life.”