The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
3 clients, their service dogs graduate from ECAD Canine Education Center
Three young people, ages 13-25, each with their very own service dog graduated from ECAD’s twoweek Team Training Session on May 8 and were presented with their public access certificates by Lu Picard, the organization’s co-founder and director of programs.
The ceremony was held at the ECAD Canine Education and Wellness Center in Winchester.
“You made it,” Picard told the graduates. “Sometimes you struggled, because it’s hard, but you saw it through. You learned that when you are confident, your service dog will be confident. The dogs know that when they are wearing the service dog cape, they are on the job of helping you to have a more independent life. And when they do this, it means that all of us at ECAD —the instructors, the volunteers, the home handlers —have done our jobs, too.”
Graduating from ECAD’s Open Doors Program were Hailey Giguere, 21, of Windsor, and service dog Honor; Caleigh Walker, 13, of Berwick Maine, and service dog Grit; and John Paladino, 25, of White Plains, N.Y., and Service Dog Smokey.
Both Giguere and Walker have disabilities that effect their balance and mobility, making it impossible to walk unassisted. For much of their lives, both young women have had to be attended by a parent or caretaker. Now, by holding onto a leash or a harness, they will be able to walk on their own, assisted by service dogs Honor and Grit.
As Giguere put it, “It’s embarrassing for someone my age to have to hold my Mom’s hand all the time. Now I will be independent and can take care of myself.” service dog Honor will accompany Giguere to college where she is studying to be a graphic designer.
For Walker’s Mom, Melissa Walker, service dog Grit means that “Caleigh will not have to be watched 24/7, because if she falls, Grit will be there to help her get up. I have been so afraid to leave her alone and also she is getting too big for me to pick up. She did trip when she was on her own, outside in Team Training, and I saw her pull herself right up. This is such a relief for myself and for Caleigh.”
Paladino suffers from, among other things, a crippling anxiety that restricted his being able to go places without his Mom. By the end of team training, he was venturing outside alone with service og Smokey, going into restaurants without his Mom, and interacting with salespeople in stores.
His Mom, Donna Paladino, knows that each day with Smokey will build her son’s confidence to be on his own, whether it is to go on nature walks that he loves and that she can no longer make, or even to go to work at a part time job.
ECAD is a non-profit organization founded in 1995 by Dale and Lu Picard. For the past seven consecutive years it has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. In addition to the Open Doors Program, there is Project HEAL for Veterans, and Canine MAGIC for children with autism. In addition, ECAD has placed Facility Dogs in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and courtrooms.
For those interested, ECAD offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities.
For additional information, contact Patricia Robert at patricia@ecad1.org, or 917-664-8092.