TheraPETics

Living, Breathing, Tail Wagging Toolboxes

By Hugh Jones

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Riley races around the room, eyes fixed to a moving dot of light on the floor. When the dot stops at a shoe, the Golden Retriever freezes and waits. Trainer Gary Pauls, holding a laser pointer, gives the word. Riley picks up the shoe and follows the light to a clothes basket where he deposits it, followed by a set of car keys and a checkbook. Then he picks up a TV remote control and puts it in Pauls' hand.

Next, Riley runs to a door, stretches on his hind legs, presses the bell and opens the door. (Nice of him to ring first, and he politely shuts the door behind himself). He bounds to the other side of the room, grabs a draw string and pulls up the window blinds. Need more light? No problem, he tugs on a cord and turns on a lamp.

A most impressive demonstration...and Riley flunked.

He didn't meet the high standards demanded of service dogs at TheraPETics. No shame there, less than one percent do. Besides, the consolation is pretty good–he lives with founder and executive director Susan Phariss.

The headquarters for TheraPETics Service Dogs of Oklahoma looks like an ordinary country home on a rural highway south of Tulsa. What happens next door in the combination office-kennel is anything but ordinary. The nonprofit organization is the only one of its kind in the state, dedicated to training service dogs to assist people with physical disabilities, as opposed to guide dogs (which help the visually impaired) and signal dogs (which help the hearing impaired).

As Phariss puts it, "We provide our clients with a living, breathing, tail wagging toolbox they can use in their own environment to live with maximum independence."

To appreciate what these dogs do, you have to change your frame of reference. Try to imagine life in a wheelchair, life as many afflicted with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, paraplegia, quadriplegia, etc., face. Suppose you can't simply bend over and pick up an item you've dropped-something we do without thinking. You can't fetch a cold drink from the refrigerator, can't turn on the light in your room, maybe you can't even sit up straight without help. A closed door between you and your destination might as well be the Great Wall of China. Your life is welded to that chair.

What would you give for a new set of arms and legs? TheraPETics offers the next best thing: a dog that becomes your arms and legs, as well as a loyal and devoted companion.

The organization has 16 working service dogs placed, along with 7 social dogs (which have the same training but don't have access to public places). Several more are about ready to go, and they go mainly to Oklahomans. Before TheraPETics, state residents had to travel to the east or west coasts for this service-an expensive, time-consuming and difficult task. The recipients owe a great deal to Phariss for taking a big leap of faith...but what else could she do when hit by revelation?

"Seems like I've always trained dogs," she says. "Even though I felt I was gifted at it, I couldn't see how to make a living doing it. So I went to college, got an engineering degree and worked on large rotating equipment. While watching the news one evening, I saw a story on service dogs. It was like being hit by lightning. I knew instantly why I was here and why I had the gift. That was in 1989, the day everything changed."

Susan Phariss and Riley

She phoned the organization featured in the story, and the ball started rolling, followed by a lot of study and hard work. TheraPETics was formed in 1992. Chances are you've never heard of it, but it's well known and highly respected in the assistance dog industry. Phariss is past president of Assistance Dogs International, a worldwide coalition of service, hearing and guide dog providers. She has chaired the standards committee for seven years.

At the moment, though, something else has her attention. The petit, attractive brunette stands, hands on hips, casting a frown at Riley. "Why is his head wet?"

A muffled giggle arises from Pauls and other staff members gathered around two tables shoved together when they discover the culprit. "Uh, Gary was using hot dog bits from a plastic bag to treat Riley," goes the general reply. "He left the bag in the crack between the tables, the juice is dripping, and gee, looks like Riley can mop floors too–with his tongue."

Well, who can blame him. Even trained dogs will be dogs. (In fact, I haven't eaten, and the hot dog bits are looking pretty good to me.) And Riley is too lovable to scold. (I'd swear he smiled when I took his photo–see cover above and judge for yourself.)

TheraPETics uses retrievers exclusively–golden and labrador. Why?

"Because they're born for it," Phariss says in a tone that indicates the answer should be obvious. She takes a seat after rubbing Riley's rather greasy head and nods at him. "They're genetically hard-wired to do this. You can train other breeds but why? Why not use what has been given and is perfect for it?"

Here's an interesting historical morsel about the goldens. Simon and Schuster's Guide to Dogs says the breed probably developed from crossing bloodhounds with unspecified golden-coated dogs belonging to a Russian circus that visited England in the mid 1800s. (There you go, I knew Riley had a little clown in him.) Labradors are native to Newfoundland, also brought to England about that time. Both are prized for working in harmony with their masters. They're lively, affectionate, vigorous yet gentle-an admirable breed.

Still, with all their genes going for them, few qualify as service dogs. The testing and training are tough. Dogs come into the program at 12 to 18 months of age, and they must pass a temperament test and rigorous health exam. They have to be in top health. If they make the grade, they go into training for up to two years, and that takes a toll.

"Any training problems or unpredictable behavior, anything less than perfect, and they fail," says Phariss. "We must have predictable, reliable dogs. They can't work just when they're in the mood. These people's lives literally depend on them."

It's not over yet. There's training with a prospective client, who also has a tough course to plow. It's a pass/fail situation for both.

"First, the clients have to call us," says Phariss, "not well-meaning friends or relatives. They have to want one and want it pretty bad, because this is a major commitment. You're adopting a child for the next 10 years. Then they come and meet us, see the operation and decide whether this is something that agrees with their life-style. If so, they have to ask for an application; we don't offer it."

The application is several pages thick and requires personal and professional references. It goes before an applicant review committee which determines if a dog will be an asset or burden to the person. After passing that hurdle, the client is carefully matched with the dogs to find the best fit.

Then, the real work begins, 120 hours of training together. They have to learn how to deal with each other and the public in all relevant situations. The dog is custom trained with the skills needed by that individual, whether it's help with daily chores, like taking clothes out of the laundry, or help with maintaining balance.

Training takes place at the facility, in the home and in public-the workplace, school, shopping, restaurants, wherever the client may be using the dog (by law, disabled people with assistance dogs are guaranteed access to all places of public accommodation and modes of public transportation.)

It's still not over! The team goes home for a month, then returns for a strenuous four hour performance test. If they pass, they go home but report back regularly. A year later, they take the test again.

"At that point, we transfer ownership," says Phariss, "with a contract that says if there's any abuse, misuse or neglect, we take the dog back. We do protect them."

The result, a good solid team: a happy dog, an owner with a new-found friend and independence, and some very satisfied folks at TheraPETics. Phariss grins as she pets Riley. "There's not much in the way of negatives about this. It's hard to put into words the joy you feel. To see people able to live on their own because of these dogs, it completely changes their lives. It's awesome."

Editor's note: training these special animals is expensive, over $15,000 a dog. Applicants pay only a nominal fee to cover equipment costs. The rest comes from charitable contributions. If you want to donate (money, dogs or other items on their "wish list"), contact TheraPETics at P.O. Box 701707, Tulsa Ok 74170-1707 or phone 918-827-6051.

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Labrador getting clothes from dryer

Labrador opening refridgerator


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