Service Tails Read online

  In 1991, after graduation and as he prepared to find a way to attend college, Tim saw a picture of a dog standing with his front feet beside a cash register while holding a wallet in his mouth. The caption explained that the animal was trained to do everything from pulling his owner’s wheelchair to giving a store clerk a credit card to pay for goods and services. This seemed to be the answer for Tim’s desire to reclaim some independence. With a service dog assisting him with all things others took for granted, he might even be able to go to college. A few telephone calls connected him with Canine Companions for Independence. As he nervously explained his situation, he prayed the organization would not be overwhelmed with his seemingly insurmountable needs.

  By training a canine partner to do the things people with disabilities could no longer do for themselves, for more than a generation, Canine Companions had been helping people much like Tim live a full life. During that time, thousands of dogs had been placed, and as many people had regained some of their independence. Once Canine Companions understood Tim’s needs, they went to work finding and training a dog that could help the young man reach and even surpass his goals. Yet this marriage of dog and man would not happen overnight. For Tim, who wanted everything to happen now, this wait would be a test in patience. It would also mean more months he would have to look to those around him to complete even the most trivial of chores.

  It would be a full year before Canine Companions called with the good news that they had found the right match for Tim. Now it was time for two intense weeks of bonding and training at the school’s California center.

  Yaz was a huge yellow Lab. He was the canine equivalent of a plow horse. Unlike a thoroughbred born to run, he was a plodder. He moved methodically, with precision and power. As the two bonded and learned to work together, Yaz’s focused personality also came into play. Yaz had a servant’s heart, and fulfilling Tim’s needs brought him obvious joy. Pulling his wheelchair, opening a door, picking up a book, or paying for an item at a store seemed to be more than just jobs to Yaz; they were acts of compassion. It was as if the dog lived for those moments! As the training moved forward and Tim began to understand the walls the dog was capable of breaking down, the young man was overwhelmed. Yaz was a life-changer, and his potential seemed unlimited! Tim could hardly wait to show off his skills to his family.

  After graduating from the training school, it was time to get back on the University of Utah campus where the dog’s real impact would be felt. In the past, Tim had been on an island. Most were uncomfortable approaching or talking to him. So the injury had done more than take away his ability to move; it had also isolated him from most of society.

  Tim understood the reasons those around him were intimidated. They were scared that they would ask the wrong question or say something that would hurt his feelings. Unlike high school where the same people were around him all day, in college, connections were liquid. During the day he rarely saw anyone more than once, and few of those meetings led to meaningful conversation. So in midst of a social world, it was easy to be awash in loneliness. Hence, the paralysis not only had taken away much of who he had been but also had affected Tim’s perception of his place in the world. Because of people’s reactions to his condition, he stayed home as much as possible. But Yaz’s curious nature, stamina, and desire to work forced a change of the college student’s point of view.

  As the big yellow Lab led Tim to his classes, those who had once avoided him now rushed up to meet him. Complete strangers even searched for ways to start conversations. It seemed that everyone wanted to know all about Yaz and what he did for Tim. As he explained the dog’s specialized training, the strangers quit being strangers and became friends. Many told him about their pets, and some began to feel so comfortable they asked Tim to explain what had happened to him. Suddenly the world was not nearly as intimidating as it had been.

  Back in his apartment, there was something much deeper going on. Not being able to move is tough. It weighs on the spirit as much as it does the body. It brings with it a depression that can cripple the mind. This happens most often when the person with a disability is alone. Beyond the dozens of commands needed to meet Tim’s physical needs, Yaz had also been trained to be a companion. He had earned his place at Tim’s side because he could pick up on mood changes as easily as he could open a door or bring the man a telephone. When Yaz sensed the gloom creeping in, he’d grab one of his toys and demand Tim play with him, or he would find a way to get the young man out of the house. This led to exploring new areas of campus and participating in events Tim would have never considered attending in the past. In these experiences new opportunities for relationships opened up.

  As Tim and Yaz made new friends, they were invited to the student center for coffee. That led to invitations to social outings. In these casual settings, with the dog at his side and new friends talking about everything from basketball to the latest movies, Tim’s wit, charm, and positive attitude had an opportunity to shine. His spirits were soaring.

  Once people were given the chance to look beyond the wheelchair, they found they had a great deal in common with the young man. And Tim’s companionship offered a bonus that no one else on campus could match. Being his friend meant you had a chance to pet Yaz’s big head. So a relationship with Tim was a two-for-one deal.

  As the negatives in his life became positives, as he discovered that people could appreciate him and even love him in spite of his disability, Tim began to challenge himself. He was no longer content just to get a degree; he was going to find new ways to expand his world. He got involved in wheelchair sports, and, in 1996, with Yaz leading the way, Tim carried the Olympic torch. In the span of a few months, Tim’s life had gone from being empty to being so full he had trouble fitting everything into his calendar. And just when it seemed things could not get any better, they did.

  Nurses regularly came by Tim’s apartment to help him with needs that even Yaz wasn’t trained to do. One of these visitors stirred emotions that Tim had figured would never be a part of his life. Every time he was around Karen, the young man’s heartbeat accelerated. Initially, as he studied the woman, he thought, “If only I wasn’t paralyzed, I would ask her out.” In the past the “if only” thoughts would have won out. He would not have had the confidence to suggest a movie or dinner. Yet Yaz had brought something completely unexpected into his life. He accepted Tim and saw his potential. It was also the dog who pushed “if only” from the man’s college experience. Because of Yaz, he went everywhere and did almost anything. Could that self-confidence and value be extended beyond school and into the realms of love? The look on Yaz’s face when Karen visited seemed to say, “Go for it!” Willing up all his courage, Tim asked the nurse out on a date, and she shocked him by accepting. Within weeks Tim discovered, that just like Yaz, the nurse saw beyond the wheelchair and into his heart.

  As the big yellow Lab rebuilt Tim’s life and paved the way for love, it seemed only natural for Yaz to be the ring bearer at Tim and Karen’s wedding. Surrounded by scores of friends, embracing the most incredible celebration of acceptance he had ever known, Tim was able to say, “I do,” because of what a dog had done.

  The best moment in Tim’s life was the day Yaz walked into it. The worse moment was when Yaz was felled by an infection. Tim was with the Lab as he breathed his last. After he said farewell to his old friend, the brokenhearted young man wheeled himself from the room, swearing he would never have another dog.

  When Canine Companions presented Tim with Yaz, he was near the lowest point of his life. As the dog helped him gain independence, Tim was lifted out of despair and given a second chance at life. Now he had Karen to depend upon, so it seemed a service dog was not as necessary as it had been five years before. He figured he could get by without one. Besides, there could never be another Yaz; he was one of a kind, and it was time to move on. With time he figured that his broken heart would find a way to heal. Yet as the weeks became months, as Tim went back to work
and plunged into his life, he discovered that loneliness and grief created their own kind of paralysis. He could no longer ignore the fact there was still a huge hole in life that nothing could fill. Worse yet, without Yaz leading the way, the old pattern of people avoiding the man in the wheelchair resurfaced. During those lonely days, Tim realized once more the dog had been more than just a servant and best friend; he had been the icebreaker needed to build new relationships. Thus, though initially it felt as if he was showing disrespect to Yaz and all that he had brought to his life, Tim again connected with Canine Companions and asked for another dog.

  The organization once more examined Tim and where he was in life. Their study led to them picking out a different type dog. Ehreth was a golden retriever and yellow Lab mix that was smaller and more energetic than Yaz. Why the change? Because Tim’s life had changed. He was now married, so the dog’s role would be a bit different.

  Ehreth was with Tim when he opted to go back to school and earn his master’s degree in social work. In fact, the University of Utah saw to it that Ehreth wore a cap and gown just like Tim’s at the graduation ceremony. The dog would also be by the man’s side when he began his new job as a vocational counselor. And for the next seven years, Ehreth would open the doors to countless professional and personal relationships.

  The impact of dogs didn’t stop there; Sakai and Irish followed. Sakai was a black Lab/golden cross whose athleticism pushed Tim to become even more active in sports, while Irish took the young man on incredible trips to places most people only dream about. So each dog, using its own special gifts, dramatically influenced and expanded Tim’s world.

  When he speaks to groups, Tim says, “When you’re going through a difficult transition trying to accept being disabled and you have a dog trained to be there for you, you have a wonderful relationship with the dog helping you. My first service dog, Yaz, gave me confidence and something to talk about. These service dogs are amazing, spiritual gifts from God. I think Canine Companions deserves applause for what they’ve been able to do with these magnificent animals. They’ve made me a much better person.”

  More than two and a half decades after having Yaz come into his life, Tim is a happily married, successful professional who has traveled all over the world. Through his work, he has helped hundreds of damaged people rebuild their lives; through his life, he has been an inspiration to even more. And by his side, each step of the way has been a dog trained specific-ally for his ever-changing needs.

  When Tim Daynes was injured, he was using his swimming skills to help with what looked like a very simple act of service. For twenty-five years, Tim’s life has been enhanced, impacted, and dramatically changed by four dogs that have proved there are no simple acts of service. Each one makes a mighty effect in helping those who are down to again rise up.

  A Ticket to Ride

  My motto in life is take risks; you don’t have a voice if you don’t. You have to venture outside your boundaries. That’s what life is all about.

  Kelly Wearstler

  You don’t have to view the road in front of you to have the vision to see the potential of those around you. But to travel that road and share your vision, you must have a guide.

  George Kerscher was born in 1950 and raised in inner-city Chicago. He grew up close to Wrigley Field and, on summer days, rode his bicycle to the home of the Cubs. With an awestruck gaze, he watched as many future Hall of Famers strolled in and out of the fabled ballpark. He got the chance to see those same baseball heroes in action by helping clean up the stadium after games. His hours of picking up old programs, empty drink cups, and peanut bags earned him a ticket to the game the following day. From his bleacher seats he watched hometown superstars such as Ernie Banks and Ron Santo as well as visiting all stars such as Stan Musial, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron. For the budding athlete, seeing scores of National League baseball games flooded youthful dreams with thousands of unforgettable memories.

  When it wasn’t taking him to Wrigley Field or school, George’s bike carried the boy to almost every part of the city. During these trips, he saw people who had moved to Illinois from all over the world and listened to them speak a dozen different languages. Through their stories, dress, and lifestyles, he gained a deep appreciation of different cultures as well as a thirst to see the width and breadth of the world with his own eyes.

  In his youthful explorations of the Windy City, George also witnessed the plight of those suffering with disabilities. Because of birth, accidents, or war, these people had been marginalized and pushed aside. For them, pity was an everyday facet of life, and the struggle just to survive was a monumental challenge. In a city that fueled passions and dreams, these folks were denied both.

  At home the boy was surrounded by love and constantly encouraged to use his God-given talents. George’s father was one of the many in Chicago still practicing an old-world skill. As a sausage maker for Oscar Mayer, he was a man of great imagination. Each day, using a huge array of spices, the family patriarch created new recipes for the company’s meats. The best of his work was tested on management. If approved, the blends ended up wearing the Oscar Mayer label and were sold in stores all around the globe. Although George never followed in his father’s footsteps, he did inherit the man’s great creativity. Yet when he graduated from high school, his intelligence and curiosity took a backseat to his athletic talent.

  After fielding offers from several universities, in the late summer of 1968, the young man left the Windy City and moved to Wichita, Kansas. In the middle of the wheat belt, George put on pads and hit the gridiron. He quickly discovered that playing football for Wichita State University didn’t offer the same thrills he had experienced in high school ball. Even though his coaches, teammates, friends, and family urged him to stay in Kansas, after a year, he returned home. This change of direction would save his life. On October 2, 1970, an airplane carrying the Wich-ita State defensive squad football team crashed in the Colorado mountains, killing most on board.

  A shaken George mourned the loss of friends as he continued his education first at Benedictine College, then at Wright Junior College and the Chicago Circle Campus of the University of Illinois. Struggling to focus on a career plan, he finally graduated with a major in education at Northeastern Illinois University. Armed with a degree, he was ready to challenge the world, but an unexpected development put his career on hold.

  In the last few months of college, George noted that his field of vision was shrinking. He mentioned it during a routine physical, which paved the way for him to meet with a vision specialist. Tests revealed the unimaginable; the young man had retinitis pigmen-tosa (RP). With great sadness the physician informed his patient that RP was an incurable disease that would steal his eyesight within five to ten years. At a time when most were focusing on career options, George cashed in his savings in order to have a chance to see the lands he had heard about during his youthful bicycle trips through various Chicago neighborhoods. If he didn’t see those places now, he knew he never would.

  Through an always appreciative gaze and with a sense of desperation, George took in the sights of Paris, London, and Berlin. As he walked through art museums and stood on mountaintops, he did his best to deeply imprint each new view into the innermost recesses of his mind. He pushed himself to study detail, color, and contrast, to memorize what others hurriedly viewed as if this would be the last time he would ever see the Eiffel Tower, London Bridge, or snow-covered Alps.

  After returning to the United States, he employed the same tactic as he walked through his hometown, carefully observing the waves crashing on the shores of Lake Michigan, the shoppers rushing down the Million Dollar Mile, and even the humble hotdog vendors whose carts could seemingly be found on every corner. Even in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, a place he knew so well from his many visits as a youth, George studied every seat, rafter, and brick. Just like the Chicago icon Ernie Banks, who was now in the twilight of his long career, the young man’s sigh
t would soon be playing out as well, and neither the baseball star nor the recent college grad took the vis-ual gifts they were now seeing for granted. There would be no second chances. These were moments that had to be treasured for as long as possible.

  Though failing a bit more each day, his eyes were still functioning well enough to spot and know beauty. He had known Gail for some time. They had shared many adventures together. She knew his condition and accepted it. So it was no surprise when the recent nursing graduate returned George’s love. With his new bride in tow, he left the United States once more. This time it was to explore the wilds of Canada while teaching special education at the Buffalo Narrows School District in Saskatchewan. A few years later, as he and his wife welcomed their own children into their world, the couple moved to Stevensville, Montana. While maintaining his home in the mountains and forests around Darby, George took a position as a teacher of English and transitioned into the manager of the computer lab. He relished his new job and his students so much that he didn’t even mind the forty-mile daily commute; though, when the opportunity came up, George took a job at Stevensville. When the weather was pretty, he reverted to his youthful habit of riding his bike the ten miles to work. On these trips, seeing the picturesque landscape gave him a chance to imprint even more unforgettable images into his mind.

  Falling in love with the emerging field of com-puter science, George wrote a grade book program for his fellow educators. He also became one of the first teachers to instruct junior high and high schoolers how to write original programs using the logo language. Within a year of his arriving at Stevensville, his pupils knew more programming than many college graduates with computer science degrees.

  When he brought in audio recordings of books and had his students follow the words on the pages in their print editions, this evolved into the idea of a computer doing the synchronizing of text and audio. At the time, this was a revolutionary concept. George noted that the kids who never read books grew to love literature when a computer read the text to them. Overnight their test scores and course understanding jumped. Like an explorer searching for treasure, the teacher now had a passion to go where no educator had gone before. Each day, using his classroom as a laboratory, he pushed the learning envelope a bit further while building the foundation for a life of achievement.