Lux, a German shepherd, was a former police dog that was trained as part of a German program to guide the blind. The dog was brought to the United States by John L. “Jack” Sinykin, a Minnesota businessman who became interested in the plight of the blind. Sinykin eventually devoted his life to the cause, forming the “Master Eye Foundation.”

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Many Blinded in World War I

When America entered World War I, the U.S. troops became part of what is sometimes called the “chemist’s war.” It was the first large-scale use of chemical weapons. Even when soldiers survived with their limbs intact, they often suffered lung damage and blindness caused by gases such a chlorine, phosgene, and mustard gases. These proved very damaging.

European countries saw a high level of men blinded as well. A German military officer, Lambert Kreimer, was assigned to train police and military dogs during the 1910s. As he saw German soldiers returning with vision damage, he began experimenting with how dogs could help the sightless.

Kreimer’s program started in Potsdam, Germany, and expanded in Germany. Slowly word about his work spread to other countries. American Dorothy Harrison Eustis, who worked in Switzerland training dogs for the Swiss police, helped spread the word. In 1927, she was asked to write an article for The Saturday Evening Post. Instead of writing about her own efforts, she visited Potsdam and wrote about the work taking place there. She also began training guide dogs, eventually coming to the United States with more dogs for soldiers. She and blind businessman Morris Frank created the Seeing Eye School, initially in Tennessee.

Businessman John L. Sinykin was at a train station one day when a blind veteran was finding his way to the exit after getting off a train. Sinykin was alarmed by the fact that the man was alone, navigating new territory. (At that time, most blind people stayed home. If they needed to go somewhere, they waited until a family member could escort them. Canes did not come into use until the 1920s and ‘30s.)

When Sinykin heard about the program in Germany, he was intrigued. Maybe there was a way to help.

About John Sinykin

John Sinykin lived in St. Paul, Minnesota, and ran a very successful cosmetics company.

Sinykin’s family originally came from Kapulia, which was under the control of the Russian Czar at the time (it is now part of Belarus). His father longed for the freedom promised by America, so he and two of the older sons came to the United States in the early 1900s. They made their way to South Dakota and started a successful cattle ranch. In 1912, the family finally had enough money for the next oldest son—Jack—to join them. He loved working on the ranch and was particularly good with the horses and training the ranch dogs. 

John Sinykin wanted to explore other careers besides ranching. He moved to Minneapolis and started the cosmetics company. As Cinderella Cosmetics grew, Sinykin hired a Hollywood cosmetician, V.E. Meadows, to tour the country giving makeup demonstrations. When John Sinykin threw a party to open his new factory and offices in 1930, some two thousand people attended the grand opening.

The success of this business eventually provided the seed money for starting his nonprofit organization, The Master Eye Foundation.

Sinykin Raised German Shepherds as Hobby

From the time he was a young boy, Jack Sinykin loved dogs. He adopted strays whenever he could, but his favorite breed was the German shepherd. For that reason, it was no surprise when, as a businessman, he took up the hobby of breeding and raising these dogs. The strain of dogs he raised, the LaSalle strain, was eventually recognized by the American Kennel Club. The dogs were known for their intelligence and loyalty.

After witnessing the veteran at the train station, Sinykin began to pay more attention to the blind When he heard about the program in Germany, he determined that he should import one of these dogs. 

Working through governmental channels, he eventually received a dog. That dog was Lux, the first guide dog ever brought to the United States. The year was 1926. Just two years later, one of Dorothy Eustis’s dogs came here with owner Morris Frank. Eustis and Frank eventually started the Seeing Eye School.

Working with Lux

As Sinykin described to his great niece, Catherine Orkin, Lux knew basic commands, but it was not clear how or what commands he had learned for guiding the blind. Sinykin knew he needed help. He worked through government channels again, and eventually made a deal for trainer Lambert Kreimer to come work for the Master Eye Foundation for two years, teaching how to best to train the dogs.

In the meantime, Sinykin worked with Lux on some of the command he thought would be helpful. Some of the training was logical. The dog needed to stop before streets and at curbs or before staircases to give the blind person an opportunity to assess the situation. Sinykin later reported that the most difficult behavior to teach a dog was to ignore a command that might expose the blind person to a hazard such as stepping into a street. 

Who Should Get Lux?

John Sinykin knew his decision here was very important. If the right person were found, the news of the program could grow. As he thought about it, he realized he had the perfect person in his state. 

 Thomas Schall (1878-1935) was a Minneapolis attorney who served in the House of Representatives from 1915-1925. In 1926 he was elected to the Senate.

Schall came from a poor family, but he was smart and after earning a scholarship to the University of Minnesota, he was able to continue on to attend St. Paul College of Law. He graduated in 1904.

Schall was blinded as an adult. This gave him added perspective. He knew what the world could be if there were a way to open it to the sightless.

Only three years out of law school, Schall was in Fargo, North Dakota, trying a case. During a break, he and another lawyer went out for cigars. Schall used a newly-installed device at the court house to light his cigar. Unfortunately, it was improperly connected and blew up in his face. Schall’s arm was scorched, and his vision seemed fuzzy, but he thought he would be okay. He returned to court to finish presenting the case.

Over the course of the year, he lost all of his vision. He and his wife Margaret visited numerous doctors hoping that someone would have an answer. No one did, and Thomas Schall needed to go back to work. One of his friends provided office space for him in a building in downtown Minneapolis. Margaret, who had earned money in school by reading to a professor whose vision was poor, was able to step in to be his secretary and offer him additional help as he needed.

Schall and Politics

Schall was well-liked. He loved giving speeches and frequently spoke on behalf of businessmen running for local and state offices. In 1913, Schall decided to run for office himself. He successfully won a seat in Congress. In 1914, he became the first blind Congressman.

During his first year in the House of Representatives, Schall successfully petitioned for a young man to serve as his page. The fellow accompanied him everywhere and was available to read documents to him when he was on the House floor.

Schall had several important committee assignments, but he was also interested in helping those in similar circumstances. He always accepted invitations to speak at the state meetings of the Minnesota State Organization of the Blind.

This era was very early for any type of push for disability rights, but Schall laid legal groundwork where he could. He obtained pension rights for the blind. He also helped pass a bill that was the forerunner of the Randolph-Sheppard Act. This act gave blind people the preference in running vending stands on federal property.

Was Schall Right?

Thomas Schall was a senator by the time John Sinykin was considering a person who could help bring fame to his program. Schall was also a very active and visible man. He and his wife were often seen riding horses together. His sons obtained pilot licenses, so they frequently took their father flying.   

Another advantage to Thomas Schall was that he was well-connected. Among his friends were William Randolph Hearst. Any cause that interested Schall was guaranteed an opportunity for good press.

Sinykin Approaches Schall

John Sinykin knew that the hallways of the Senate were always the best way to snag the attention of a senator. Security was different at that time, and Sinykin was able to wander the halls around Senator Schall’s office.

When Senator Schall emerged from his office one day, Sinykin moved forward. The senator assumed the man was an aide. Schall asked to be taken to the cloak room. When Sinykin explained he was constituent, Schall asked what help he needed. Tickets? A letter of support?

Sinykin then explained he was there to offer the senator something—a guide dog.

Schall had managed his life as a blind person for a dozen years. His initial reaction was dismissive. But as Sinykin explained to his great-niece, Schall eventually called to him and asked a few more questions.

Eventually, Senator Schall was at John Sinykin’s training kennel in Wayzata being introduced to Lux, the dog that Sinykin brought in from Germany.

Lux soon proved his worth and was adept at getting Schall to his office, the Senate chamber, and the Capitol’s barbershop. The two became inseparable.

Obstacles Everywhere

He gained permission for the dog to accompany him onto the Senate floor and laid the groundwork for other types of legal challenges.

As Schall and Lux made their way around D.C. and to Minneapolis, Schall became aware of the obstacles that sightless people faced. Transportation was one major issue. When Schall traveled between Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., he did so by train. The railroad personnel insisted that Lux had to ride in the baggage car. Even when Schall booked a private compartment, the dog was taken away. Schall kept a list of situations that he knew needed to be addressed.

Summoned by President

President Calvin Coolidge and his wife loved animals of all types. When the president and Grace heard about Lux, President Coolidge invited Senator Schall to bring Lux to the White House. Lux and Coolidge reportedly shook hands. Though service dogs were very uncommon at that time, Coolidge was wise enough to consult Schall as to whether Lux could be petted as well. (Service dogs are not generally supposed to be petted when in harness.)

Trainer Joins Master Eye Foundation

Lambert Kreimer arrived in Minneapolis in 1929 bringing with him 4 other dogs. 

One of the first things Kreimer did was recall Lux. He wanted to be certain the dog was properly trained. He had Senator Schall return briefly as well. It was important that both fully understood the necessary protocol. 

Kreimer spent two years with Master Eye Foundation. Afterward he remained in the United States but move on to work with the International Guiding Eyes, Inc. and other organizations.

Schall Announces Lux Died of Grief

In 1933, Senator Schall’s good friend, Senator Thomas Walsh of Montana, passed away. Schall knew he needed to attend the funeral but he worried that the train trip to Montana would be too arduous for Lux, who was growing older. He decided to leave the dog at home in Minneapolis.

But Lux was said to be bereft. He was not used to being apart from his master. Those caring for him in Minneapolis said the dog refused to eat. By the time Senator Schall returned home five days later, Lux passed away. 

Senator Schall was beside himself. When he returned to Washington, he asked permission to eulogize Lux from the Senate floor so that it would become part of the public record:

“For this strange division from me, he knew no reason or cause. No question that sorrow killed him. No doubt that he was the victim of mourning and love for me. Lux was so completely mine. …None but the blind will understand the whole of what I mean…”

Replacement Dog

John Sinykin and the Master Eye Foundation always did what they could to put recently trained dogs in the hands of owners who were used to having them.  Rex was the dog given to Senator Schall, but the two were not as good a fit. Schall sometimes left Rex behind and reverted to using an aide.

Unfortunately, on December 19, 1935, he and the aide stopped the car to run into a corner grocery. As they came out of the store and crossed the street, neither saw the oncoming car. Senator Schall was killed on impact. The driver was never caught.  Schall was only 58.

He was buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.

The Master Eye Foundation

John Sinykin’s commitment to developing dogs for the blind was unending. In addition to raising dogs, he made certain that no person ever had to pay for a dog or for the training that was needed to use a guide dog.

Sinykin estimated that each dog costs about $1500 to breed and train. This cost included costs related to the dog but also a 3-5 week stay for the individuals chosen to receive each dog.

Much of the financing for Master Eye Foundation was from John Sinykin’s own business success but he also accepted donations from others. 

One fellow, Edward Gayord, who owned a beauty supply business in Chicago, relied on Master Eye dogs for almost 14 years. Gaylord often made donations to Master Eye, but he also volunteered for them. He frequently accompanied his dog, Major, on marketing tours for a brand of dog food. The dog food company donated funds to the organization based on the number of labels sent in by consumers. Publicity helped increase the donations. 

Bumps Along Way

Dog training is an art not a science, and there were bumps along the way.  In 1941, there was a news story about a man and dog who were out for their final walk under tutelage of the Master Eye school.  Frank Mazza (July 20, 1941) was hit by a car and broke his shoulder. Both dog and man survived, but Mazza was expected to go home with a different dog.

Owning a kennel was also problematic. Wayzata town had to mediate with Sinykin about noise complaints. Most of the time the issues could be resolved. However, in 1954, someone decided they had had enough and tossed poisoned meat into the kennels. Ten of the dogs died the day of the poisoning. Sixteen more required the careful watch of the vet. 

Community reaction was strong, and there was an outpouring of sympathy sent to Sinykin for his loss. The police canvassed the area and conducted at least 550 interviews, but no person was found.

With the publicity from the poisoning, the foundation herd from a blind girl who wanted a guide dog. She was only 5—too young for the training. Her plea was so earnest that John Sinykin provided her with a puppy. He promised that she and the dog would be trained when they were both a little older.

John Sinykin Helps Many

Ultimately, John L. Sinykin provided training and funding for hundreds of dogs to be placed with those who needed them. 

He died in St. Paul, Minnesota, at the age of 93.

A special thanks for Catherine Orkin Oskow who contacted me with two corrections about the family history and their locations. Thank you!

To read about the Seeing Eye School started by Morris Frank and Dorothy Eustis, click here.

Helen Keller’s life was filled with dogs. Though she was born before dogs were being trained as guide dogs for the blind, Keller knew what dog lovers around the world know—dogs are great companions. “A dog never let me down,” she once wrote.

Helen Keller’s Childhood

Helen Keller was born to a well-to-do family in Tuscumbia, Alabama. When she was just 19 months, she became ill with what was probably scarlet fever. When she recovered from the illness, she was deaf and blind.

The family looked for solutions, consulting doctors and other advisors. For Helen, they hired an aide to be with her at all times. Helen encountered much frustration and vented her emotions by having tantrums. By necessity, she and her companion devised a personal form of sign language so that Helen could make her basic wants known, but she was young, and the process was imperfect.

Her calmest, happiest moments were with the family dogs.

Anne Sullivan Arrives

Helen was almost 7 when the family connected with Anne Sullivan who was recommended by the staff of the Perkins School for the Blind. Sullivan could identify with some of what Helen experienced as she had low vision, even after several surgeries on her own eyes.

Sullivan’s early work with Helen required patience. Helen was accustomed to getting what she wanted, and she fought and kicked if she was not satisfied. Sullivan asked that she and Helen be permitted to live alone in a small cottage elsewhere on the property so that Helen would learn to trust and rely on her.

Sullivan knew that if there was a way to build more advanced communication between the two of them, then she needed to teach Helen sign language. Because Helen could not see the signing, Anne would teach by making the signs in the palm of Helen’s hand.

The Breakthrough

As they worked together, Sullivan signed various words in Helen’s palm over and over again. Helen learned to mimic some of the spellings but did not understand the purpose of what she was doing.

As correctly depicted in The Miracle Worker, it was Sullivan’s spelling of the word “water” followed by putting Helen’s hand under cold running water that opened the world to Helen. Once Helen understood that the hand movements provided information on specific objects, she was hungry for knowledge. She eagerly went from object to object for Sullivan to provide her with the name. Within a matter of days, Helen learned more than a hundred words.

Family Dogs

Numerous photographs of Helen Keller depict her with various dogs. When Helen was a girl, her dog Belle was a particular favorite. She writes that she tried to teach Belle sign language, but Belle was utterly bored by the process and napped instead.

The family also had a dog named Jumbo that may have been a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and there was a bull mastiff named Lioness.

Teaching Continues

The Kellers managed to work out a plan where Anne Sullivan remained with their daughter for the rest of her schooling and beyond. Sullivan accompanied her to boarding school, and Helen fulfilled her dream of being accepted to attend Radcliffe.

During this time, Sullivan married a fellow named John Macy who also became a part of Helen’s life.

Dog at Radcliffe

By the time, Helen Keller entered Radcliffe, newspaper reporters often took note of her whereabouts and her activities.  One story that became syndicated concerned a visit Helen and classmates made to a dog kennel in nearby Newton, Massachusetts:

“Last October the group visited the Newton Kennels. One of the keepers released the dog, Sir Thomas. Though the dog was said to be averse to strangers, he deliberately looked over the group of girls and walked over to Miss Keller and laid his head on her knee. Efforts to entice him away were in vain.

“Since that time, the blind girl [sic] often expressed a wish to own Sir Thomas [identified as a Boston terrier], but without any expectation of doing so. Her college friends took up a collection and purchased the dog to present to her.”

Helen was thrilled when she received the little dog as a gift. At some point, Sir Thomas Belvedere became known as “Phiz.” Phiz was with Helen on campus at all times, patiently sleeping through college lectures.

Life Continues

After receiving her college degree, Helen Keller lived with Anne Sullivan Macy and her husband John Macy, who was now part of Helen’s support team.

During this time, Keller devoted herself to writing and campaigning for what she believed. She stood up for worker rights, women’s suffrage, and became involved in the newly-formed American Civil Liberties Union.

However, her primary focus was campaigning for funds to help the blind. She became the official representative of the American Foundation for the Blind and traveled the world for the cause.

During the Depression, administrators with the AFB established a trust for Helen to take care of her financial needs for the rest of her life. She continued to travel and speak on their behalf until she suffered a stroke in 1961 and had to curtain her work.

People and Dogs in Her Life

Anne Sullivan Macy’s devotion to Helen was life-long. Though she and John Macy eventually divorced, Helen continued to live with Anne, and John remained part of their support system.

Later when Anne Sullivan Macy suffered health problems, Helen and Anne added an assistant to their team. Polly Thompson became an important figure in the household and traveled frequently with the women.

As an adult, Helen always kept dogs with her.  One dog was named Stubby, and a French bull terrier was called Kaiser. Helen described Sieglinde, a Great Dane, as the most beautiful and intelligent of her dogs. (More on Sieglinde in a moment.)

First To Bring Akita to U.S.

In the late 1930s, Helen Keller visited Japan on behalf of the American Foundation for the Blind. She was enormously popular with the Japanese, and she loved her experiences there.

During her trip, she heard the story of Hachiko, a loyal Akita (a medium-sized Japanese breed). Hachiko lived with his owner near Shibuya (the business center of Tokyo). One day the man left on a business trip for Hong Kong, leaving the dog with others.   The fellow died during his travels, but for the rest of his life, Hachido met the train that should have brought his owner home. At the Shibuya train station, there is a bronze statue honoring Hachiko.

Keller loved meeting other Akita dogs while there, and the story of Hachido’s devotion truly touched her.  She asked if she could have an Akita to take back to the United States. A few months later, a well-known Japanese Akita breeder sent a staff member to the United States by ship with a gift for Keller… an Akita named Kamikaze-Go.

New Akita Arrives

Only months after the dog’s arrival to live with his new mistress, he died of distemper. (There was no commercially available vaccine for the disease until 1950.) When the breeder heard what happened, he sent Kenzan-Go, a younger brother of Kamikaze as a replacement.

Kenzan lived many years with Keller. She referred to the breed as “angels in fur—gentle, companionable, and trusty.” Kenzan-Go, however, must have been a bit of a wanderer. There are two separate mentions in Connecticut newspapers (Keller and Sullivan Macy lived in Easton, Connecticut for a time) noting that the police received a call about the fact that “Helen Keller’s Japanese dog” was missing.

The dog was always found, but the household members must have been very worried.

“If I Could Choose but Two Items…”

In late 1929, Helen Keller was in Paterson, New Jersey, where her purebred Great Dane, Sieglinde, was to be shown in a dog show. While there, she visited a school, and a local columnist named Arthur Dean reported on her visit with the children:

She told them:  “Were my Maker to grant me but a single glance through these sightless eyes, and I could choose but two objects to behold, I would without question pray that my eyes portray of all things beautiful, first a child and then a dog.”

And More About Sieglinde

Sieglinde, the Great Dane, was to make headlines later for learning to talk.  In 1926, a reporter named Virginia Swain visited the Keller household to learn more about this amazing feat.

The sub-headline to her resulting story read: “Virginia Swain Hears Canine, Taught Like Blind Girl, Say Mama.”

The article is priceless on many levels, but from the beginning, Swain realizes this is no ordinary pet. She is let in by a houseman and Swain writes: ”A great tawny animal catapulted against me and I staggered.”

“Sieglinde won’t hurt you,” the houseman reassured her about the animal Swain describes as “the color of honey and “smaller than a pony.”

Swain is then joined by Helen Keller’s assistant, Miss Polly Thompson. Thompson enters the room and speaks to the dog. Swain: “Sieglinde ceased her gyrations and climbed upon the davenport.”

As Thompson talks of the dog, she explained to Swain that Sieglinde never gets out of anyone’s way—except for Helen’s.

“If we stumble over her, she considers it our own affair.” But when Helen enters the room, Sieglinde steps aside and watches her master until she is settled. Once Miss Keller sits down, Sieglinde runs to her puts her head in her lap to be petted.

Teaching the Dog to Talk

Sieglinde lived in the household for a few years, and the women were impressed by her intelligence. One day Mrs. Macy announced that she thought the dog could be taught to talk. She used cakes for training and started with the word “mama.”  Though Helen learned to voice sound by feeling the vibrations in Sullivan’s throat, the women felt Sieglinde could be taught to imitate sound by hearing it.

Work with the dog became a pleasant entertainment for the women, but when nothing happened, Helen asked them to stop. She felt Sieglinde was unsettled by not being able to learn what was being taught.

“Mama”

Then Thompson explained: “A couple of months later we were all in the study when Sieglinde suddenly sat up and said “Mama!

“We all startled at the noise.”

Over time, Mrs. Macy worked with her further to refine the sound, and now Sieglinde very clearly says “Mama!” Swain verified that the dog really did say the word. She concluded the article with:

“The dog now knows that’s her trump card.

“We are quite accustomed, when the meat platter passes, to hear a pathetic voice calling ‘mama from Sieglinde’s side of the table,” says Miss Thompson.

“If anybody questions the story, we are always ready to prove it.”

Thompson noted that they had not shared this story before was “because we should have to carry Sieglinde around country with us to prove the story. And she is too heavy to travel with.”

One presumes Sieglinde got to travel a little more than before.

The Love of a Dog

“Nobody, who is not blind, as much as they may love their pet, can know what a dog’s love really means,” Helen Keller once told an interviewer. Even without sight or hearing, she could feel the inquisitive nudge of a dog’s wet nose and sense the love from a canine as he rested his head in her lap.

While any lover of dogs will feel that they, too, understand the importance of the love of a pet, no one will disagree with the fact that Helen Keller set a stellar example of human spirit and potential.

If she achieved what she did with a dog by her side, so much the better for her and for the world.

***

The very first guide dog brought to the United States was named Lux, and was given to a blind Senator. The next dog, Buddy, was the dog whose trainer and owner created the famous school, The Seeing Eye.

The Bush family has always had dogs and loved them with great devotion. Dogs have always seen them through challenging times.

President George H.W. Bush experienced the loss of a lifetime when his wife Barbara died in April 2018.  President Bush, who suffers from a form of Parkinson’s, came down with pneumonia immediately after the funeral and was hospitalized for almost two weeks.

Upon discharge from the hospital, his children made plans for him to spend the summer as he and Barbara always did–at their compound at Walker’s Point in Maine.

(Update: President George H.W. Bush died November 30, 2018. It was fitting that after wife Barbara’s death, he had Sully, a service dog, to help him during the last few months of his life. The article below was written shortly after Sully arrived at the Bush compound in Maine.

As a specially trained service dog, the Bush family wanted Sully to continue to serve other veterans. America’s VetDogs announced that he will join the staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where he will assist  with physical and occupational therapy to wounded soldiers and active duty personnel during their journey to recovery.)

New Dog Arrives

By June, President Bush was ready to add a new family member, Sully, a service dog trained by America’s VetDogs. Sully is a 2-year-old Lab named for the former airline pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III, who became famous for landing a damaged passenger jet on the Hudson River in 2009.

Because of his illness, the President uses a wheelchair and a motorized scooter to get around. He qualifies for a dog trained by America’s VetDogs because he served during World War II as a naval aviator flying torpedo bombers in the Pacific Theater. In total, he flew 58 combat missions during the war. After the Japanese surrendered, Bush was reassigned to Norfolk Naval Base (Norfolk, Virginia) where he trained new pilot until he was discharged in September of 1945.

For his wartime service, Bush received three Air Medals as well as a Presidential Citation.

Sully Arrives at Bush Home

“Hello Sully, welcome home,” were the first words spoken by President Bush, according to Sully’s trainer who delivered him to the Bush home on Walker’s Point.

Like all service dogs, Sully is specially trained to be helpful to the person to whom he is assigned. For the former president, Sully can pick up a dropped item from the floor, open doors, and summon help.

But as President Bush well knew when he first accepted Sully, the dog also provides loving companionship and many laughs.

Publicly, @georgehwbush tweeted: “A great joy to welcome home the newest member of our family, “Sully,” a beautiful and beautifully-trained lab from @AmericasVetDogs.”

Readers who have followed the Bush family through their lives know that dogs have always been important family members for the Bushes. First Lady Barbara Bush wrote a book with her Springer spaniel, Millie. The funds raised went to her favorite cause, improving literacy. Millie was also mother to a First Dog owned by President George and Laura Bush. But their most famous dogs were the Scotties—Barney and Miz Beazley. These short-legged black bundles of fur provided ceaseless fun for the family, and they willingly shared with the public via a website and a YouTube fee.

Based on the long history of Bush family dogs, it is clear that Sully has found a welcoming home.

For those of you who enjoy dog stories on Twitter, check out Sully’s feed: @sullyhwbush on Twitter.  While Sully must take his responsibilities seriously, the Twitter feed shows that there is plenty of time for him to have fun. His antics undoubtedly bring President Bush tremendous joy.

To read more about about the Bush family and their dogs, click here.

About America’s VetDogs

America’s VetDogs was created in 2003 by the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind began in 1946 to help visually impaired students including veterans who were returning from the battlefields of Europe and the Pacific.

In 2003, the organization recognized the continuing need to help veterans by training and placing guide, hearing, PTSD, and service dogs.  For the veterans, these dogs increase independence, enhance mobility and offer companionship to veterans with disabilities from all eras.

In 2015, VetDogs opened its programs to first responders, including fire, police, and emergency medical personnel.

America’s VetDogs is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that is donor supported. Its mission to help those who have served our country continue their lives with dignity and independence.  The dogs are provided to qualified individuals at not charge. For more information, see America’s Vetdogs.

To read about another veteran who fully benefited from a service dog, read about Slate.

When Jen Nance Yost became a speech pathologist six years ago, her first position involved working in a private pediatric practice. She never dreamed that at some point she would head up a speech team of two—herself and a four-legged assistant.

Now she and her dog Pita are “co-clinicians,” as Jen sometimes describes them.

How Pita and Jen Became a Team

In the private practice where Jen began, one of the other speech pathologists had a facility dog who worked with her to help the children. It was apparent that the pathologist and dog were great together, and the children enjoyed the fact that a dog was part of the process.

Jen’s colleague recommended Jen apply to Canine Companions for Independence for a dog. (CCI’s headquarters are in Santa Rosa, but they have a large office in Oceanside, not far from where Jen lives.) With this encouragement, Jen decided to put in an application.

Making a Match

The process of reviewing applicants and matching the right dog with suitable candidates requires time, but within a year, Jen received a call from CCI. They believed they had a dog for her. She was invited to participate in one of their two-week training classes.

The final pairing must be done during this training period. While CCI staffers have ideas of which dogs might be right for each accepted applicant, the chemistry between dog and human is the determining factor.

Over the course of the two weeks, Jen worked with five different dogs. Jen explains: “I fell in love with Pita right away and hoped I would be matched with her. But I had faith that the trainers would match me with the right dog. I was so happy when that dog turned out to be Pita.”

About Facility Dogs Like Pita

Pita, a lovable, calm golden lab, is trained to be what is known as a facility dog. (There are different categories of assistance dogs.) Facility dogs are expertly trained to partner with a human facilitator in many types of environments. Most facility dogs respond to about 40 commands and are great at offering love and compassion.

One of the new uses of facility dogs is in some courtrooms. Training organizations have worked for several years to obtain permission to bring in facility dogs into courthouses. It was felt that the dogs could be particularly beneficial with children who may have to testify about abuse or custody issues.

Speech Therapy Dog

Initially, Pita joined Jen Yost in her work in the pediatric practice. When Jen was offered a job as a speech pathologist at a public school in Orange County, she had to make sure that Pita was included in the deal. Fortunately, Pita was.

Today, Pita and Jen operate in two spheres. During the school year, they are busy with the schoolchildren who are referred to them for speech therapy. She and Pita see about 60 kids per week.

During her off-time, Jen still sees some private clients.  Her clients range from about 18 months to 15 years.

 What Does Pita Offer?

“Pita serves as a playmate for my interactions with the children,” says Jen. “She is also loving and totally nonjudgmental—two wonderful qualities for working with any individual.”

In speech therapy, the desire is for a child to use his or her words, and Pita is a big help. The youngster can command her to stack blocks, pull a small wagon, or put oversized coins in a plastic piggy bank.

This process also teaches children social interaction. To command any dog, one needs to look directly at the dog and give a clear command. This teaches children how to interact with people, too. All people respond best to those who look directly at them and then speak clearly.

Children can also step into the “teacher role” and quiz Pita about various things. For this game, Jen brings out her tablet with the “yes” and “no” buttons. The children ask Pita a question and Pita then answers them by pointing with her nose to the “yes” or the “no.” (No one will ever question whether or not Pita tells the truth every time!)

Other Jobs Pita Does

For children still learning their body parts, Pita helps. Pita can identify nose, eyes, and mouth, and the kids then do it with her.

Pita also “draws.” Holding a marker in her mouth, Pita creates a picture on paper.  Then Jen encourages the child to talk about what the picture looks like. This offers opportunity for conversation but it also sometimes opens an avenue for a child to express concerns.

With autistic children, Pita can have a calming influence. Jen Yost notes that in her experience, autism symptoms are sometimes lessened by a calming level of pressure, so being able to snuggle up to Pita and hug her can help bring calm to a child.

Pita is also good at helping with tantrums. A friendly nudge of the child’s arm with Pita’s cold nose, is enough to halt the crying. With Pita’s calm presence, most children begin to feel calmer quite soon.

Games Pita Plays

Games require conversation and social skills. For example, the child who likes Jenga can play it with Pita, who is pretty good at removing pieces without knocking over the tower. This game—and others—requires turn-taking. Pita is a model citizen when waiting her turn. A child has a much easier time waiting for a dog to take the next turn than they do waiting for another child. It’s a positive way to teach an important social skill.

Pita, of course, loves being read to, and even reluctant readers are willing to give reading a try with Pita. As for page-turning, sometimes Pita turns the page; sometimes the child does.

Some children love to act out stories, and for this, Pita is a natural. Jen Yost’s storage baskets are filled with a full wardrobe of costumes for Pita. Pita can be anything from a princess to a bunny rabbit… whatever the child wants her to be. Crafting the story encourages verbal interaction as the child explains what Pita must do.

Pita at School

At school, Pita is very popular… Children and adults alike love seeing her in the hallways. And who wouldn’t love a dog who is a great sport? Pita willingly dons pajamas on Pajama Day and crazy socks on Crazy Sock Day.

She also helps remove the possible stigma when a student must leave class for speech therapy.  Jen describes her process: “Both Pita and I will go down the hallway to pick up a student, but only Pita goes into the classroom. She enters the room and sits at the front of the class until the teacher acknowledges her.”

The teacher then releases the child who has the honor and pleasure of leaving with Pita. Jen meets them outside the classroom, and the three of them journey together to her office.

Time with Pita is sometimes offered as a reward for hard work. If a child overcomes a big obstacle, then he or she may be invited to join Jen and Pita in the speech office for lunch.

The principal has found that kids who do not need speech help often ask to be sent to speech so that they can spent time with Pita.

Occasional Challenges

Have there every been problems?

In one case, a child had significant allergies so Jen worked with the child in a different room without Pita. (Training organizations such as CCI have carefully outlined regulations about bathing and brushing assistance dogs. For that reason, allergies are must less likely to be a problem.)

Occasionally, Jen and Pita must overcome fear of dogs. Jen says that with children, the fear generally starts with the parent. When Jen is told a student is anxious about coming into the room with a dog, then she makes certain that Pita starts out in her bed, far from the student.

When the child is ready, he or she may call Pita over.  “But that may not happen that first session,” Jen Yost notes. When Pita arises to come to the child, she is a gentle giant. There is no bounce or bark… Pita calmly comes over, wagging her tail, and then she sits.

More About Pita

Pita has a Facebook page with many more photos. (You’ll note that Jen Yost is a new mother, and her 18-month-old has discovered that Pita is part dog and part Big Pillow.)

Yost also posted birthday wishes to Pita a couple of months ago. Her words sum up what she feels about their relationship:

“Happy 5th birthday to our angel, Pita. You have been such a blessing to our family and to the many children you serve. I am in awe of your patience, kindness, and your innate ability to know when someone needs your love. Thank you for all that you do… you make the world a better place.”

What more need be said?

***

To read about other assistance dogs, click on Whistle, A Very Important Service Dog, or A Hearing Dog Named Heather.  Or to read about a dog who has helped not just one but two veterans, read about Slate. 

The bond between a person and his/her service dog is strong and special. They are a unit. They are a team. They are an almost inseparable pair.

But a sad fact is that a dog’s working life is generally only about ten years. The dog may tire more easily, and the tasks may seem more difficult. For the person involved, it’s time to start again despite the fact that their hearts are bonded with their current service animal.

So how does the person get through a transition from one dog to another?

“With great difficulty” would be the very likely response from almost anyone.

In San Clemente resident Mary Hill’s circumstance, it was made slightly easier by the fact that after the transition, Indy, her first service dog, could come back to live with her.

She also received excellent advice from Canine Companions for Independence before starting the transition.  They said: “Come with an open mind and an open heart.”

The year was 2015, and she and Indy had been together since 2005.

Hill’s Need for a Service Dog

Mary Hill was teaching middle school in 1985 when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. For five years after her diagnosis, she was able to continue teaching—a job she loved. But as her symptoms became more numerous, full-time work became impossible.

In the early 1990s, her brother in Sacramento suggested she apply for a service dog. She grew up with dogs and liked them, but she wasn’t sure it was what she needed.

By 2001, she saw the wisdom of her brother’s suggestion. She put in an application to Canine Companions for Independence.  After a somewhat lengthy application process, she was matched with Indy, a golden Lab mix.

For ten years, Indy served Mary Hill with absolute devotion.

What the Dogs Can do for Hill

Safety, of course, is the number one responsibility of any service dog.  Service dogs are trained not to bark unnecessarily in order to save the bark to be an alert.

Mary Hill is always at risk of falling at home or when transitioning into her scooter. Mary Hill’s partner, Richard Leste, is often at home with her, but on occasion, she may be alone.  Britt, her new service dog, knows that if Mary falls, the dog is to bark loudly to summon help. (The neighbors are clued in to the fact that this is a signal.)

In addition, Britt is now learning an advanced command that Indy knows: In Mary’s case, the command, “GET HELP,” means that the dog is to fetch a portable phone (always kept in the same spot) and bring it to Mary.  (Instructors from Canine Companions also provide in-home advanced instruction for commands that are specifically for that individual.)

On a day-to-day basis, Britt helps with public access doors by pushing the handicap plate, and she is on tap to pick up anything that Mary drops. At home, Mary Hill uses a walker, but stooping to pick something up would be dangerous for her. “In the bathroom, I may drop a towel or my brush, but Britt is right there to pick it up.”

“When out of the house, I also have difficulty reaching across a service counter,” says Hill. “Britt helps here, too. She takes my library card or credit card from me. Then she puts her paws up on the counter to drop the card on the surface so that our transaction can be completed.”

Making the Transition

In 2015 when Mary was accepted into the residential training program to receive a second dog, a representative from Canine Companions offered her further advice: Tough as it would be, Mary was asked to find someone else to take Indy for 3 months. She was told the new dog would do better operating alone at first, and it would be less stressful for Indy.

Mary Hill’s sister lived nearby and could take Indy for the specified time. Then Mary and Richard were able to focus on the selection and training of a new dog. (Partners are included in the training so that they will understand the methodology of the work.)

At first, both Richard and Mary found it very hard to adapt to the

idea that the perfect dog for Mary was not simply a younger black dog like Indy. But they soon fell in love with a golden Lab named Britt, a buttered-toast-colored dog that had the skills Mary needed and was easy for her to work with.

Mary says that when her sister brought Indy home, Indy was puzzled about why the “young whippersnapper” was carrying out all her tasks. Then Indy realized that she was still a part of the family so it was just fine to nap while another dog worked.

The day I met them, Indy served as an eager nonworking dog, who was able to come up and greet me. Britt remained under command until given the release, and then she stepped forward to meet the person whom Indy greeted so warmly.

Two Service Dogs Are Just Fine

Today Mary Hill and Richard Leste (and of course, Indy and Britt) have a very active schedule, much of it focused around volunteering for Canine Companions.  The former teacher is often asked to speak to various groups about service dogs. Mary Hill frequently addresses school groups. Recently, the four of them arrived to talk to the attendees of Beaglefest, an event attended by Peanuts collectors. (The Charles Schulz foundation has given generously to Canine Companions for Independence.)

As you see from the photographs, they are all excellent representatives for the cause. Oh, and Mary’s sister has gone on to become a puppy raiser!

If you’d like to read about how the wheelchair was invented, click here. 

When chemistry students at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California, enter their classroom with big smiles, one might presume their faces represent their enthusiasm for learning chemistry.

Their professor, Dr. John Terhorst, knows otherwise. He is well aware that the huge smiles, and certainly the hand-waves, are actually for his service dog, Yan.

Terhorst received Yan from Canine Companions for Independence in 2015. This was just a couple of years after Terhorst accepted a teaching job at Vanguard. Since that time, the two have become a well-known team on campus. Terhorst says that Yan’s usefulness to him is immense but that it’s also nice to see smiles on people’s faces just because they see the two of them out and about.

John Terhorst’s Need for a Service Dog

As a child, John Terhorst had a congenital vascular issue that required several surgeries. But from age 6 through most of his high school years, he was able to live normally. By the time he entered college at the University of Redlands, he was having difficulty walking long distances but he solved the problem by buying a racer scooter. He used it to get across campus, to get to classes, and to keep up with his friends as they walked along.

In college, Terhorst decided he wanted to teach chemistry, and therefore, he would need an advanced degree. When he was accepted into Yale University’s Ph.D. program, his family was very excited for him, but there was the issue of mobility.

“What about a Segway?” his dad suggested.

John was able to navigate his first four years in New Haven with the aid of a Segway. In 2008, he received his Master of Science in chemistry, and in 2009, he was awarded the Dox Research Fellowship by Yale University for excellence in academics and research.

Unfortunately during this time his health was worsening.  His doctors there suggested experimental surgery. To everyone’s great disappointment, the surgery affected nerves feeding into the spine. His mobility issues grew worse.

With only a couple of months to go to finish his Ph.D., John Terhorst met with his doctoral advisor. Together they worked out a plan that would let John complete his dissertation, earn his degree, and return to his home in Southern California.

Getting Hired

While most academics balance research and teaching, John Terhorst

knew he wanted to work at a liberal arts college where the focus for professors is more heavily weighted toward teaching. When he was hired to be an adjunct professor of chemistry at Vanguard University in 2012, he knew it was a perfect fit. Dr. Terhorst now teaches multiple levels of chemistry, and he coordinates the Summer Undergraduate Research Program.

To navigate campus, he chose a power-assisted wheelchair. It was small enough to fold and put into a regular car, and yet the power boost from the attached motor makes the going a little easier.

As Terhorst began to settle into his new life, his family suggested he might like to apply for a service dog.

“At first I didn’t see how a service dog would benefit me, but as I thought about it, I realized it was a good idea,” says Terhorst.

Applying for a Service Dog

The application process at any of the service dog organizations throughout the country tends to be a lengthy one. Not every applicant can be accepted. There are a limited number of dogs with the proper training, so each organization must select those applicants who will benefit most from having a service dog. In addition, human and canine partners need to be matched on many levels, and it takes time.

The process begins once a person submits a written application. The needs of the applicant are assessed through phone and personal interviews. Then the organization needs to select a few possible dogs that might make a good match. In some cases, the ideal dog may not yet have completed training.

Canine personality and exercise requirements are also taken into account. John Terhorst spends long hours in a classroom and at his computer, and he lives in a condominium without a backyard. For that reason, the ideal dog for him was a calm dog that did not need an excessive amount of additional exercise.

In all cases, the connection between the dog and the person is all important. The potential in the relationship is evaluated over several training sessions when applicants are paired to work with several possible dogs.   Canine Companions hosts a residential program to train and observe their possible teams.

In early 2015, John Terhorst received the good news that he would be included in the next Canine Companions training program. He was one of 12 people in this particular application group. Over the course of the two weeks, the applicants worked with 17 dogs. (The greater number of dogs does not mean organizations have “dogs to spare;” it is the way Canine Companions makes certain that each person gets a good match. The five dogs that were not matched will be considered when the next applicants come in.)

Service Dogs: The Excitement of Match Day

“On the day the matches are announced, there isn’t a dry eye in the room. The relief among everyone is palpable,” says Dr. Terhorst. “Everyone is thrilled to see the new teams.”

In Dr. Terhorst’s case, Yan, a golden-Labrador mix, has been perfect.

Yan responds to 40 different commands. Two of his most important responsibilities are picking up things John has dropped—anything from John’s cell phone to bottled water that has rolled away— and helping with doors.  At school, of course, Yan is expert at tapping the buttons to open the automatic doors throughout buildings. But Terhorst explains the challenge is at home:

“In order to be self-sufficient, I need to close the front door as I leave my house,” explains Terhorst. “When you think about how doors open and close and where a person is in a wheelchair, you see that it’s almost impossible for the person to do. We’ve added a rope to the front door at my condo, so after I go through, Yan goes back and pulls the door closed behind us as we leave.”

Terhorst needs his hands free to maneuver his chair. As a result, Yan is important for carrying small packages or items that John worries might fall out of his lap.

John Terhorst’s condition also can result in unexpected leg spasms, and Yan is trained to cover John’s legs with his body so that it can keep John safe and help the spasm pass.

In addition, John notes that Yan makes his life better. “It’s easier to be out with Yan. I get a more friendly reaction from people because of having him with me.  While Yan can’t be petted when he is working, people still smile when they see a service dog at work.”