CANINE COMPANIONS

Service dogs, clients graduate from canine training program in Winsted

WINSTED — ECAD, Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities, a Winsted-based nonprofit, just completed the largest team training session in its 23-year history.

After two weeks of intensive training by the newly paired teams of clients and service dogs, graduation ceremonies at Camp Wahnee were held Thursday, and the eight teams were presented with their public access certificates. Lu and Dale Picard, co-founders of ECAD, presided over the ceremony.

The eight clients, ranging in age from 5 to 49, came from as far away as West Virginia and Maine, and as close as Shelton and Burlington.

All three of ECAD’s programs were represented. Four of the teams graduated from Canine Magic, a program designed for children with autism. Three of the graduates have mobility and other disabilities and graduated from Open Doors. And one, a Veteran of combat in Iraq, graduated from Project HEAL, a program for Veterans who have post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, and other ailments.

Connecticut was represented by two teams: Tristan Lupton, 5, and his dad, Michael Lupton, of Shelton, who graduated from Canine Magic. Tristan went home with service dog Tomm by his side.

Gordon Shafer, 61, of Burlington, has both spinal issues and stage 3 cancer. He will be

assisted by Tuesday, well known to many as the “Tuesday” of the bestselling books by Capt. Luis Carlos Montalvan. Tuesday was retired following the death of Montalvan in 2016, and had become a therapy dog. Because of Shafer’s health needs, Tuesday, now 11, bounded out of retirement and went right back to work, remembering exactly how to assist his “person.”

ECAD was founded by the Picards in Granby, and has placed 300 service dogs with clients from around the country. It regularly receives the highest rating from Charity Navigator and Guidestar. A new, state-of-theart ECAD Education and Wellness Center is scheduled to open in Winsted this summer.

For more informatio, visit www.ecad1.org

Erica Kasper / Contributed photo Eight newly paired teams of clients and service dogs, together with Lu Picard, co-founder and director of programs for Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities, and her instructors gather for a class photo prior to graduation ceremonies at Camp...

Erica Kasper / Contributed photos Tristan Lupton, 5, and his dad, Michael Lupton, of Shelton, cuddle with Tristan’s new service dog, Tomm, during ECAD’s team training session. Tristan and Tomm are participating in ECAD’s Canine Magic Program for children with autism.

Heather Bring, 35, of Westerly, R.I., with her new service dog, Marea, during training. Marea will help Bring deal with balance and other problems.

Otis Mac McMillan, 49, of Wells, Maine, relaxes with his new service dog, Swiss, who will help him cope with PTSD, anxiety and other issues.

Tuesday will help Gordon Shafter, 61, of Burlington, cope with issues caused by a rare spinal disease and stage 3 lung cancer.