Woman with multiple sclerosis trains with guide dog at Children's Village

By STACY A. ANDERSON
THE JOURNAL NEWS
 

(Original publication: July 18, 2007)

DOBBS FERRY - With the help of a 26-month-old golden retriever, Elaine Laffan plans to start gardening again.

Laffan, who has multiple sclerosis, said she rarely has been able to take advantage of beautiful sunny days, instead staying immobile inside, gaining weight and raising her blood pressure. Now, with her service dog, she can resume all the outdoor activities she once loved.

Laffan, who uses a wheelchair or walking cane, also can rely on Lunar, the service dog with whom she has been training at Children's Village for almost two weeks.

She already notices a change in her mood.

"Since I've been here, I feel so much better," said Laffan, 54, who lives near Boston.

The service dogs are trained at Children's Village, a residential treatment complex in Dobbs Ferry for boys, most of whom are sent there due to mental-health issues or family crises.

The residents do most of the training themselves, instructed by professionals and volunteers from East Coast Assistance Dogs. The nonprofit organization has trained more than 100 dogs since its inception in 1995.

Laffan said her illness, a progressive disease of the nervous system, hit 22 years ago as she was coping with years of domestic violence.

Laffan, who said violence began in her home when she was 4, said the youths she has met in the past two weeks will benefit from Children's Village, which takes them out of their home situation for an extended time.

"I love the kids' environment here," she said. "It exposes them to a lot of things. These kids are lucky because they are out of that environment, and the staff is great.

"Dogs give the additional love," she added. "And with the loss of family, dogs give them comfort."

Training dogs properly can cost upward of $30,000 and take at least 400 hours. At the end, recipients come to Children's Village for two weeks of training before taking the dogs home.

Laffan and Josh Adams, 16, are now at Children's Village. Adams received funding for his trained dog, Virginia, through family and friends' donations.

Lunar's training was sponsored by The Tower of Hope, a foundation that funds service dogs to veterans and the disabled. Cathy Carilli founded the organization after seeing the comfort her own pets provided after losing her husband, Tom Sinton III, in the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

"I was very depressed," Carilli said. "My friends and family would come by every day. But your support system has to go home. After a few months, I was alone and suffering from anxiety and depression. My cats calmed me; having the sound of another living thing helped really calm my nerves a great deal."

Carilli said dog training teaches the residents of Children's Village about community service at a young age.

"They have to be reminded to give back, not just with donating, but with a hands-on contribution," Carilli said.

Laffan and Adams will graduate in a ceremony at Children's Village at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

Fun facts

Lunar, or "moon doggie" as Elaine Laffan affectionately calls the golden retriever, is part of a family with technological names including Lunar's mother, Radar, and siblings Laser, Sonar, Sonic, Blitz and Doppler.
In addition to training with Lunar, Laffan attended lectures about K9 learning theory and dog psychology.
"The K9-human dimension is unbelievable," Laffan said. "It's helpful in customizing a dog for what you need and when you need it."
Laffan said the dog will assist her with balance and picking up items. She said the dog also helps to brighten her mood.
"We are sometimes isolated," she said. "Dogs help you feel better."

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Daniel Boone

by JestDucky Kelley Smith

I have 5 cats and a dog. This story about our newest cat, Daniel Boone, whom unexpectedly and most naturally has become my Service Animal.

 I was at our little supermarket buying... cat food. The cashier started talking with me; I mentioned I always wanted a long-haired cat (like a Persian) but guessed it'd be years before I got one. OF COURSE she had 2 kittens ready for good homes AND hmmm-- one was long haired. Amazingly enough, her phone # was on my receipt!  It took some convincing my Hubby, but I went over the next day with a pillowcase to carry Cat home in.  When I arrived at the woman’s home, she greeted me with a tiny kitten, white, short haired, with patches of gray stripes. He kept staring at me. While he was NOT the “Persian” I thought I was getting, I put him in the pillow case so he wouldn’t get under the pedals while I was driving. He barely moved, just purred.

My other cats aren’t affectionate and are jumpy and terrified of old Brutus (our dog)... he loves it. This new kitten was extremely cuddly. Never even cried from leaving his home. The other pets accepted him, well, Fluffy was indignant but lol.

Right from the beginning, this cat would climb all over me kneading me, then settle every time on my sorest spot, just purring and gently kneading. He actually brings noticeable relief to wherever he's lying.  The nonstop purr is so relaxing as is his warmth.  He rubs his nose against mine so often I know his smell well. (Each cat has his own smell.)

My sleep has often been interrupted from different muscles pulling; I move alot. Good ole Daniel goes spot to spot and hones in on the worst of it, gently kneading, kneading kneading away. I really think his purr is meant to relax me as much as state his pleasure. He hasn't grown much compared to the other cats. It would be awful if he got heavy enough to cause me extra pain. I think he'd know it.

Daniel loves to have me put my hands on both sides of his face and push back, flattening his ears-- lol. He really loves to rub face to face.

Theres no lonely when you're getting love like that.

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