Pets get called into service

By Marty Metzger
North Forty News

There is now an alternative type of service dog wearing that very recognizable work vest. It's the personal pet.

Not every individual with a disability was born with it; most are caused by injury or illness. And when such a malady occurs, the affected person needing a service dog might already own a dog. While devoted service animals are available through various organizations, a perfectly adaptable one might already be in the household in the guise of a pet.

Janet Bayless, a Berthoud grandmother, is a godsend to those desiring to train their own service dogs. Bayless, who lived in Denver from 1963 to 2006, began working with the animals as a volunteer for Canine Companions for Independence. Among her early assignments was puppy raising. She also trained two dogs for California-based Canine Support Teams. In 2002, Bayless founded Canine Partners of the Rockies. After four years, she separated from the group when she moved to Berthoud.

But Bayless only left her organization, not her zeal for service dogs. She knew there were a few groups around the country that, rather than providing a trained animal, instead worked with individuals with disabilities to train their own dogs. However, that service could cost the person up to $25,000 and require many weeks of training to learn to work as a human/canine unit.

Bayless recognized a need and devised a solution, although she doesn't claim it's necessarily an original one. She works with people to train their own dogs and does so without charge.

"It gives me tremendous pleasure to see how this affects their lives," she explained. "Lots of people can't do this on their own or afford fees from organizations. I'm retired and fortunate enough to not need the money. It's my way of giving back to the service dog world."

Her giving has thus far helped transform the dogs of approximately 20 clients into finely tuned personal assistants. But Bayless cautions that not every dog is suited to that role. An animal must learn all situations, including public places. They must be people-friendly, not stranger-aggressive, not fearful or prone to public meltdowns.

Similarly, the dog owner must be capable of functioning as trainer and be able to maintain a pet's added disciplines and behaviors.

Bayless said that some dog breeds work out better than others. Generally, Labs and golden retrievers have the size and fetching instinct required. Since many people with disabilities need occasional visits from medical professionals, such as EMS workers, the "protective" breeds like Dobermans or German shepherds aren't usually appropriate. Bayless said a social bridge must be created, and it's best to begin with a friendly creature.

There's no time frame in which to train a person to train his or her own dog, said Bayless. Every pair is different, and the process is unique to each. Tasks to be learned are based on the type of disability. Some impairments are unseen, and a dog's uncanny ability to sense trouble in advance (such as a seizure) must be coupled to proper responses.

One such dog that displays all astounding qualities is Ruthie, a 2 1/2-year-old mixed breed owned and trained by Mary Ann Durbrow. Ruthie came from Canine Bed & Biscuit, a no-kill shelter east of Windsor.

Durbrow was immediately captivated by the then 1-year-old pup's loving demeanor and interesting appearance. The red female is thought to be part red heeler, German shepherd amd possibly Basenji. Durbrow, who has a chronic pulmonary condition, adopted Ruthie with the intent of using her as a service dog. She found Janet Bayless via the Canine Learning Center in Fort Collins.

Bayless sometimes went to Durbrow's home where they'd work on a lesson plan. Eventually, they took the show on the road to practice skills out in public. A clicker and treats reinforced each desirable behavior.

But Ruthie came with a set of astonishing instincts. She somehow knows when Durbrow overdoes it and will push her away from the washing machine or other chore. Now a Fort Collins resident, Durbrow previously lived in Windsor and endured the ravages of the 2008 tornado. Ruthie pushed her into the bathroom just before the twister struck their house. River rock landscaping punched through its walls, glass flew everywhere, and a tree crashed into the bedroom. The bathroom and its two occupants escaped unscathed.

Ruthie and her owner bonded from the start. "When her vest's off, she's a pet," Durbrow said. "She knows the difference, but she'll always do her stuff."

About service dogs in general, Durbrow concluded, "These dogs are pretty amazing. They just know what to do.