Program helps Valley residents train own service dogs

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Maura J. Halpern
The Arizona Republic


If John Neyer needs juice to stabilize his blood sugar, Holly darts to the pantry. If the hallway is dark, Holly will flip on the light. When Neyer drops the TV remote or phone, the 5-year-old chocolate Labrador places it back in his hand.

The Glendale resident is diabetic and had his left leg amputated three years ago due to infection. And the painful neuropathy in his hands makes it even harder for him to complete daily tasks while his wife, Kathe, is at work.

Both Neyer and his dog are well-versed in training techniques. Unlike most assistance-dog programs, which breed and train puppies before placing them in a home, Neyer certified Holly himself.

The pair graduated from Happy Tails Service Dogs Inc., a Valley organization that educates individuals with disabilities to train their own dogs to become certified service animals.

"You've already bonded with your dog, so it makes the experience even more enjoyable," Neyer said. "I helped train her, she helped train me, and I'm very proud of my dog."

Neyer and Holly attended free weekly classes for 15 months.

At the end, Holly had to complete a series of "real life" tests to earn her certification, such as a visit to a Wal-Mart and a home exam to ensure she could follow everyday commands.

"Chocolate labs are usually hard to train, but Holly passed with flying colors," Neyer said. "Each time I put on her certification vest, I feel so satisfied."

Statistics regarding how many Valley residents use assistance dogs or need them are hard to pinpoint, said Happy Tails founder and director Joyce Weber, because many dogs are trained out of state through national programs and because multiple agencies can provide service-dog licenses. But she said the need for such animals is always growing.

"People with disabilities are integrating into the community more," Weber said. "So they'll need assistance dogs to help with everyday tasks like opening doors and retrieving things from shelves."

After his amputation, 61-year-old Neyer considered applying to Canine Companions for Independence, a national organization that places trained dogs with those in need. But he couldn't even make it onto the three-plus-year waiting list.

This lack of local options drove Weber to create Happy Tails in 1996. The closest training of its kind was in Tucson, and the program had a difficult time graduating Valley residents because of the long commute.

"Now we've become our own little family," said Weber, who has graduated 17 dog-student pairs since she started Happy Tails. "Students call me when their dog has learned something new, and it's very rewarding."

But Weber adds that the program isn't for everyone -or every dog.

Some individuals fail to graduate because of the intense commitment (training can last more than 18 months, depending on progress) or because the dog is unable to become certified.

"There's a lot of responsibility involved, both to the dog and the community," Weber said. "And dogs (not previously trained) can be unpredictable."

June Clifton experienced this firsthand when she began to train Roxy, a German shepherd she acquired from owners who had given her up. After dropping off the animal, the owners sped off and Clifton realized the dog had been abused.

The 71-year-old Phoenix resident signed Roxy up for behavior and socialization classes before enrolling in Happy Tails.

"It was difficult, but she really turned around," said Clifton, who lives with severe arthritis, leukemia and neuropathy. "It was quite an accomplishment."

The 5-year-old dog accompanies her to Wal-Mart and Costco stores, where employees know both by name. Roxy retrieves items from shelves and opens and closes doors, among other tasks.

"You talk to her like she's a person, and she really understands," said Clifton, who graduated from Happy Tails in 2002. "I couldn't live without her - she goes everywhere with me."

Funding for the free program comes from contributions and grants, such as one Glendale's Commission on Persons with Disabilities awarded to Happy Tails last month. The organization will use the $500 to purchase tapes and CDs for students to use at home to reinforce training techniques.

"The disabled community is sometimes forgotten," said Vickie Loya, commission chairwoman. "We can't fix the person's disability, but we can direct them to an agency, such as Happy Tails, that can help."

This year, Weber plans to incorporate a hearing dog program with the help of another grant. These dogs would assist their deaf or hearing-impaired owners by alerting them to such sounds as doorbells and fire alarms.

In the future, Weber hopes to establish a facility for Happy Tails to house classes and serve as a gathering place for graduates like Neyer, Clifton and their respective canines to reunite.

Inside the building, visitors will see a dog sculpture where they can look into its face and read about what a service dog does.

"People will often approach someone with a service dog and ask, 'Who trained dog for you?' and he or she can say, 'I did it myself,' " Weber said. "You can't match that."