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WAGS Service Dog
Ezra was born on February 14, 2006 (Valentine Puppy).
His breeders are Al & Cindy Weintraub.
Ezra was born with a beautiful blaze down his face
that, fortunately, stayed with him until this day.
He started his training with WAGS on April 26, 2006
when Al, Cindy and their daughter, Lindsey, brought him from
Macomb, IL to WAGS.
He met Cosmo and Lucy and played tug of war with
Cosmo while Lucy did what she does best – kept them in a
group. Sarah
Orsted (Executive Director) and I, Kelly O’Ferrell (Program
Director) spent the day playing and loving on Ezra until it
was time for him to start his training the next day with his
first
Puppy Raiser, Judy Campbell.
He lived up north with Judy, her husband and their
sledding dogs in Birnamwood, WI.
Judy had trained several other Service Dogs for WAGS
before moving up north from Madison.
Ezra received lots of great socialization and skills
before returning to the Madison area to live with me and my
pet dog, Lucy, for three months until his final Puppy
Raiser, Mike Croft was available.
Ezra then lived with Mike and Sonjia and their three
mules and pet dog, Lacy, until he was placed with his
person-for-life, Kathy Rust, as her WAGS Service Dog.
In addition to normal outings with his Puppy Raiser,
Ezra also attended the Madison Area Technical College (MATC)
with Mike when he had classes.
They supported the
2007
WAGS Annual Golf Outing
and Ezra was the hit of almost all
our demos
that year. When Ezra needed to be “boarded”, he would go and stay with a
WAGS approved
Volunteer Sitter –
usually Leslie Frank-Taylor and her family.
They, too, loved Ezra’s spirit.
Mike and I introduced Ezra to Kathy in May of
2007. As you can
see, it was love at first sight when Ezra gave that head
toss, backed into her for petting and looked up into Kathy’s
eyes. Mike told
Kathy many wonderful stories about Ezra living in Fitchburg
with the three mules and room to run and play.
Kathy needed Ezra to help her when her knee locked up.
He knew the skill – Tug – but the equipment didn’t
exist. As an
occupational therapist, Kathy had the knowledge, skill and
motivation to create something that would work for Ezra.
As Kathy wrote in an article for the
Spring 2008 PawPrints Newsletter:
"I am an occupational therapist, clinician turned
academic, and finally now, a researcher.
I try to religiously avoid squatting, but on one occasion I
didn't think ahead when I went to put Ezra's just washed
blanket in his kennel.
My knee locked up on me - very painful until I get it
straight - but then I can't move my leg. Ezra came running when he heard my yelp.
When I had my leg straight and could calm down, I
told Ezra to go get his vest – one of the tasks Ezra was
trained to do to help me.
I took the strap (a tool I developed for Ezra to use)
out of the zippered pouch on his vest, wrapped it around my
ankle and told Ezra “TUG”!
He took the strap and he tugged – just like we had
practiced. Such
a fine boy! I was able to rotate my knee back into place.
Later, I returned to the work at hand;
Ezra sitting at my feet.”
With this skill Ezra is helping to delay future knee
surgeries for Kathy, and picks things up for her. When
she does have those surgeries he will be doing “extra duty”.
Ezra also carries their emergency cell phone in his vest.
On June 5, 2007 we sent Kathy an email letting her know
about the exciting schedule for her Team Training with Ezra.
Prior to Team Training, Kathy had her yard fenced in
to give Ezra a place for more exercise. We started the week in her home with lectures and training
about dog psychology, care (teeth, coat, ears, nails, weight
management and exercise), skills (go get your vest,
retrieving) and going for walks in the neighborhood.
Later that week, we went to Kathy’s workplace at the
University of WI in Milwaukee (that included, of course, a
“potty” break for Ezra) and to lunch.
Ezra was ready for a nap on our drive back to
Madison.
On June 25,
2007, after a week of Team Training, we had to stop and talk
with Kathy about surgery that was necessary to repair Ezra’s
medial luxating patella.
We’d begun to notice Ezra limping sporadically and
after x-rays at
Spring Harbor Animal Hospital learned that
Ezra would need surgery and recovery for eight weeks. Kathy said that she was sad and disappointed but to give Ezra
a hug from her.
At that time, we didn’t know if the surgery would simply
delay Ezra’s placement or end his career as a Service Dog
all together.
But, with the skillful surgeon and technicians at Spring
Harbor, underwater treadmill and specialized physical
therapy program at
4 Paws
Swim & Fitness and love and superior care
from Mike and Sonjia, Ezra was able to resume his Service
Dog training with Kathy.
Ezra’s last physical therapy appointment was on
October 11, 2007.
He had recovered wonderfully having only dog park
restrictions until the following Spring (to prevent any
playful bumps from another dog).
One thing that Ezra would NOT give up was his
enthusiasm for life that had always shown up in his Tigger
bounces!!
So, having already completed a week of lectures on dog
psychology and health, training within Kathy’s home and a
full day at her office
we resumed Kathy and Ezra’s final week of training in
October of 2007, going to the Dane County Regional Airport
(to work with
TSA Security on how to smoothly go through
security with a Service Dog), grocery store, PetSmart, State
Street and the Capitol and, of course, LUNCH!
At the end of the week, Kathy and I spent time
going over Ezra’s previous veterinary care, looking at
pictures of him (that brought back SUCH sweet memories for
me), WAGS contract and follow-up schedule.
Then, I left Ezra to spend his first night at Kathy’s
house on October 15, 2007.
Yes, I was sad, as I always am, but I knew that he
was home – for the rest of his life now.
And, when I returned the following day, I saw in
Kathy’s face and eyes the same thing – that she was his too,
for the rest of his life.
Kathy and Ezra were in a Christmas play at St. Luke’s
Lutheran Church in December.
Ezra was the mule in the nativity scene. Kathy likes Ezra’s “Tigger” bounces and even put them
on cue with words from her Team Training lectures – Happy -
Happier – Happiest!
Ezra leaps in the air in response to each word,
bringing love and light into Kathy’s life just by being
himself and by her accepting and loving this part of him!
Kathy wrote in an email to us the day after
Christmas: “Who taught Ezra to open Christmas presents?
We open presents on Christmas day, but sometimes a
few get opened on Christmas Eve.
It was decided there was a present for Ezra that
needed opening that night.
We humans had not opened any presents.
I put the box down on the floor and said, “OK Ezra,
this is yours” expecting he would maybe nose it around or
something. He
immediately started tearing the paper off.
We just grabbed the paper so he wouldn’t eat it, and
he had his new Bug (a grasshopper) out in no time.
I was amazed.
To all of his Puppy Raisers, you have given me an
incredible gift.
Thank you so much.”
Naturally, we send emails and pictures to Ezra’s
Puppy Raisers, Sitters and breeder to let them know what a
wonderful life Ezra has and how much he is loved!
Since Ezra was on “dog park restriction” from 4 Paws
Swim & Fitness, Kathy gave him lots of exercise in her
fenced in back yard and plenty of walks.
Ezra flew to California with Kathy in March 2008 for
an OT Conference, where he was one of several
Assistance Dogs.
They passed their Public Access Test on April
14, 2008 with flying colors!
And, come Spring time, Ezra was enjoying the open
pastures and waters of local dog parks.
We saw Kathy and Ezra at the
2008 WAGS
Annual Golf Outing this past June where she
showed us his Happy-Happier-Happiest skill.
Later that month, Kathy took Ezra to Mike’s farm in
Fitchburg where he rekindled his love for Mike and Sonjia
and played with Mike’s WAGS dog-in-training, Henna.
As we continue to be reminded, Ezra has brought a
quality to Kathy’s life that cannot be measured by how fast
he retrieves, how good he is on his leash or how quiet he is
at work or in a restaurant.
He was all of those things because of good breeding
and great training.
He has brought a peace to Kathy’s life.
As she wrote in the PawPrints Newsletter:
“At home, evenings are now the times I have for
reflection.
Mostly these days I reflect on this wonderful animal who has
joined my life.
Ezra brings me a sense of security and allows me to start
re-experiencing activities I had stopped doing. But most of all I treasure the play and laughter he has
brought to my life.”
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