New member of the family

Thursday February 12, 2009




New member of the family
WHEEL POWERBy ANTHONY THANASAYAN

The passing of a faithful service dog ... and the arrival of a new one.

A FORTNIGHT ago, I wrote about the death of my first service dog Vai, I never imagined the response the article would elicit from readers. My e-mail, Facebook and blog were inundated with messages of condolences and words of comfort.

Among the first to react to Vai’s passing were the heads and staff of the planning and health departments of the Petaling Jaya Town Council (MBPJ).

Even though many of them have never kept dogs as pets, they deeply sympathised with my loss. They had seen Vai in action on video, helping me to get out of my bed in the morning, opening the door for me, and running up and down the stairs as he carried important items in his mouth at my instruction.

The video was screened at MBPJ’s board meeting shortly after I became councillor.

The video screening was used to highlight the special role that canines play in the lives of the handicapped. Dogs with special training can help the disabled achieve a higher quality of life through animal-assisted therapy.

My dream is to see people with disabilities being accompanied by their service dogs in public so that they do not have to depend on human help all the time.

These canines should be regarded with the same respect and rights given to police dogs, search-and-rescue, and drug-sniffing dogs.

MBPJ is looking into giving free dog licences to the disabled and elderly whose pets play a therapeutic role in their lives. The Shah Alam Town Council is giving disabled pet owners free dog licences and a 50% discount for the elderly.

Many advised me that one of the best ways to work through the grief of losing a pet is to get another one. The process of healing is faster if we focus our attention on caring for a new dog.

Last week, I drove down to Seremban to visit a dog farm. It was love at first sight when I met a four-month-old Alsatian whose parents are German imports. Named Zeus VK Haras, I could tell that this was the one for me. Except that he wasn’t going to be all mine, but shared with my pal Andrew Martin.

Zeus will play a dual role of being with Andrew during the night, and staying with me during the day. For more than a week now, the pup has taken to his new job brilliantly.

He is currently attending wheelchair-etiquette classes in my home. This includes getting out of the path of my wheelchair but staying close by me at all times. He is also learning to pick up all sorts of things, including my valuables which he quickly hides in his crate.

When Zeus is not looking, Biman III, my now senior service dog, will dash into his crate and retrieve all the items for me. Each time he does that, it will be accompanied by vehement protests from the pup.

Soo, my Golden Retriever, is happy to have a new pal as long as he doesn’t occupy his favourite place in my room, which is under my bed.

Reba, Andrew’s Shetland Sheepdog which I babysit daily for him whilst he is at work, is thrilled to have a new “boyfriend” to take home with her each night.

Vai had been her companion over the past six years after I retired him from his service dog duties.

Reba is, however, cautious about Zeus’ size. The pup is almost as tall as Soo. In order to sniff at him when she checks on him, Reba has to wait till the pup is asleep.

Sleep on, Zeus, my little pal. There is a great task ahead of you as you learn to fit into the giant paws of Vai, my canine hero.