Service Dog Awareness
Many friends who use wheelchairs are enjoying a new level of independence because they have service dogs. Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and people have seen me in my wheelchair and asked, “Joni, why not get a canine companion to help you?” Well, I could almost be convinced. Because recently, I saw the new service dog my friend Carmen got. He’s a cute, big goldendoodle named Rogan and, get this, he was trained by inmates in a prison. Rogan lived with his trainer, a prisoner, for 18 months, learning how to help Carmen in her wheelchair. I think it’s wonderful when an inmate in jail can teach a dog about responsible behavior. It’s great! Because I’m sure the training goes both ways. Hey, if you’d like to learn more about service dogs, or if you would like to provide foster care, raising and doing basic training for a puppy, we can connect you with great organizations. Just ask us at joniandfriends.org. I’m Joni Eareckson Tada.
