Neighbor News
Man with Quadriplegia Gains Joy, Independence with Service Dogs
A Laguna Niguel man was recently partnered with his third service dog, provided free of charge, from Canine Companions for Independence
Jack, of Laguna Niguel, broke his neck in a diving accident in 1992. “After 40 years of pre-accident popularity, it was odd that for the first two years after my accident people just ignored me,” Jack recalls. “We were all taught not to stare at the poor man in the wheelchair.”
Then, Jack was partnered with a service dog from Canine Companions for Independence. Prudential, a handsome Golden Retriever, helped restore Jack’s sense of dignity and independence.
“With Prudential by my side, everything suddenly changed,” explains Jack. “We were approachable. The rest of the world and I had something in common again… something to talk about. I used to say that dog broke more ice than the whole US Coast Guard!” Jack smiles. Plus, he could count on Prudential to retrieve dropped items, open doors, activate light switches and more.
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After Prudential retired, Jack returned to Canine Companions and was partnered with another service dog named Samoa. Now, 21 years after receiving his first service dog, Jack holds the leash of service dog number three - Nisha. “After Samoa died, for months I felt like something important was missing – both emotionally and physically,” says Jack. “I was ecstatic to be offered Nisha! That familiar tug on my left arm is back. I don’t have to be paranoid about dropping my keys in a dark parking lot anymore. I’ve got my girl to pick them up! Sometimes, I drop the remote control on purpose, just to see that tail wag!”
Jack, like all clients of Canine Companions, received his service dogs free of charge thanks to generous donors. “The gifts that a Canine Companions assistance dog brings to its partner are too numerous to count and impossible to overstate,” says Jack. “My service dogs have been life-changing, if not life-saving.”
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About Canine Companions for Independence:
Canine Companions for Independence provides highly-trained assistance dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities. Established in 1975, Canine Companions has six training centers across the country. Canine Companions is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and the quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. For more information, visit cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.
