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They can’t restore vision, hearing or the ability to walk, but assistance dogs can — and do — provide independence for thousands of people, including Shawnee resident Dawn Ramsey, each year.
Ramsey learned firsthand how beneficial canines can be after an automobile accident in 1984 left her dependent on the assistance of a wheelchair and a diagnosis of Meniere’s disease in 1990 left her with incurable hearing loss, dizziness and other symptoms.
At the advice of her physician, Ramsey enrolled in a sign language course near her home in Camp Pendleton, Calif. On the first day of class, a member of the Canine Companions for Independence team was giving a demonstration about assistance dogs.
“I stayed after class and asked some questions and then I volunteered at the center for three months,” Ramsey said. “Then I was invited to team training.”
Team training is a time when a person in need of an assistance dog meets with canines matched to their specific needs so the pair may bond and learn more about working with one another, Ramsey said.
Within one year of learning she had Meniere’s disease, Ramsey had her first hearing and service dog, Gittinger. The border collie remained with Ramsey until 2004 when he died.
Ramsey received her second hearing and service dog, Nero — a now 10-year-old Labrador retriever, in 2001.
“People around here know Nero very well,” Ramsey said.
Nero became ill with tumors about a year ago and the decision was made to place him in early retirement.
“He’s now in remission, but we had to retire him about one and one-half to two years earlier than we would have,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey, who had become familiar with having Nero’s assistance, had to go without a canine companion for about nine months while waiting for her new Labrador retriever/golden retriever, Penela II. Those few months, Ramsey was reminded of how much of a difference the dogs can make in securing one’s independence.
“I didn’t go many places during that time,” she said. “And when I did, I usually had to take someone with me.”
Penela II and Ramsey each graduated a two-week program, aimed at familiarizing them with one another, in June.
“I want to introduce her to everyone because they all know Nero and now they’ll get to know Penela,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey said she will keep Nero “until he dies.” When the dogs are ready for retirement, the graduates who have them are given the option to keep them.
“I’m one of the lucky graduates,” Ramsey said. “I am financially and otherwise able to keep the dogs once they’re retired. CCI owns them until they are retired.”
Ramsey, knowing the importance of assistance dogs, has become an active fundraiser for the CCI program and independently educates others about the importance of the canine companions each opportunity she has. Sometimes the education is through chance meetings while shopping and sometimes it is through meetings in a more structured environment, such as a gala planned for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28, at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center.
“It’s nothing formal or fancy, even though it’s called a gala,” Ramsey said. “People can come in their blue jeans and just let their hair down, learn and have fun.”
The gala, which costs $35 per person, includes a prime rib dinner, a live auction and magic show, music, a slide show with information about the CCI program and the service of the Oklahoma Victory Dolls female roller derby team members, who will serve as waitresses throughout the evening.
“This is the second gala,” Ramsey said. “The first one raised right at $7,000 and we would like to do that again this year.”
The event is open to the public.
Many assistance dogs will be on-hand at the gala to introduce guests to several of the abilities the canines have that make living independently a possibility for thousands of people throughout the country.
Ramsey will introduce Penela II to guests during the gala and will share information about how the canine training program makes a difference in so many lives, including her own.
For tickets or more information, call Ramsey at 275-3641.
They can’t restore vision, hearing or the ability to walk, but assistance dogs can — and do — provide independence for thousands of people, including Shawnee resident Dawn Ramsey, each year.
Ramsey learned firsthand how beneficial canines can be after an automobile accident in 1984 left her dependent on the assistance of a wheelchair and a diagnosis of Meniere’s disease in 1990 left her with incurable hearing loss, dizziness and other symptoms.
At the advice of her physician, Ramsey enrolled in a sign language course near her home in Camp Pendleton, Calif. On the first day of class, a member of the Canine Companions for Independence team was giving a demonstration about assistance dogs.
“I stayed after class and asked some questions and then I volunteered at the center for three months,” Ramsey said. “Then I was invited to team training.”
Team training is a time when a person in need of an assistance dog meets with canines matched to their specific needs so the pair may bond and learn more about working with one another, Ramsey said.
Within one year of learning she had Meniere’s disease, Ramsey had her first hearing and service dog, Gittinger. The border collie remained with Ramsey until 2004 when he died.
Ramsey received her second hearing and service dog, Nero — a now 10-year-old Labrador retriever, in 2001.
“People around here know Nero very well,” Ramsey said.
Nero became ill with tumors about a year ago and the decision was made to place him in early retirement.
“He’s now in remission, but we had to retire him about one and one-half to two years earlier than we would have,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey, who had become familiar with having Nero’s assistance, had to go without a canine companion for about nine months while waiting for her new Labrador retriever/golden retriever, Penela II. Those few months, Ramsey was reminded of how much of a difference the dogs can make in securing one’s independence.
“I didn’t go many places during that time,” she said. “And when I did, I usually had to take someone with me.”
Penela II and Ramsey each graduated a two-week program, aimed at familiarizing them with one another, in June.
“I want to introduce her to everyone because they all know Nero and now they’ll get to know Penela,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey said she will keep Nero “until he dies.” When the dogs are ready for retirement, the graduates who have them are given the option to keep them.
“I’m one of the lucky graduates,” Ramsey said. “I am financially and otherwise able to keep the dogs once they’re retired. CCI owns them until they are retired.”
Ramsey, knowing the importance of assistance dogs, has become an active fundraiser for the CCI program and independently educates others about the importance of the canine companions each opportunity she has. Sometimes the education is through chance meetings while shopping and sometimes it is through meetings in a more structured environment, such as a gala planned for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28, at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center.
“It’s nothing formal or fancy, even though it’s called a gala,” Ramsey said. “People can come in their blue jeans and just let their hair down, learn and have fun.”
The gala, which costs $35 per person, includes a prime rib dinner, a live auction and magic show, music, a slide show with information about the CCI program and the service of the Oklahoma Victory Dolls female roller derby team members, who will serve as waitresses throughout the evening.
“This is the second gala,” Ramsey said. “The first one raised right at $7,000 and we would like to do that again this year.”
The event is open to the public.
Many assistance dogs will be on-hand at the gala to introduce guests to several of the abilities the canines have that make living independently a possibility for thousands of people throughout the country.
Ramsey will introduce Penela II to guests during the gala and will share information about how the canine training program makes a difference in so many lives, including her own.
For tickets or more information, call Ramsey at 275-3641.
