By Dr. Morris Samson, Kingston Road Animal Hospital, with Joanne Ingrassia
For Beach Metro – April 7, 2003 issue

Most of us appreciate how important pets are to us and our families, as companions and playmates. Yet for some of us, pets have become a very necessary part of allowing us to live more fully if we have any kind of limitation or disability. Dogs are particularly known for helping people who are blind, deaf, or disabled in some way. Even the simple act of petting cats or dogs has been proven to lower people’s blood pressure, and can also help elderly people with improving physical dexterity while providing a greater sense of well-being.

Unfortunately, as we have come to depend on animals to give even more to us in these special ways, it can be devastating when we lose them.

In my practice, I have several clients who share their lives with helper dogs. When one of the dogs died last year, the client was understandably sad, but worse, knew her world would suddenly change dramatically back to what it was like before she had a helper dog. Due to the lack of funding or ability for agencies to respond with trained dogs ready to go to whomever needs them, whenever they need them, this client became despondent, knowing there was going to be a very long wait before she would get another dog. It ended up taking eight months.

Yet I knew this is not always the case in every country. In recent travels, I have met with many groups that provide Seeing Eye dogs, and was impressed with how they operate. Some are able to ensure that anyone whose dog has passed away can get a new helper dog within a week, to help that person continue with almost uninterrupted assistance.

For my client, I loaned her my dog, Morgan, for a couple of nights a week, just to try to help her through this period. Even though Morgan had not been trained as a helper dog, his very presence and ability to understand at least some of what she needed, including grieving over the loss of her dog, was much appreciated. But it struck me that there was an urgent need to make sure no one had to go through this kind of agonizing wait for a helper dog again.

While there are some agencies around who are trying to provide this service, the demand for helper dog services is great and ever increasing. It is evident there is not enough support, whether financial or otherwise, to be able to respond adequately to all these needs.

That is why I am in the process of founding a new charitable organization for Seeing Eye Dogs. I have already made a commitment on behalf of my practice that a percentage of all our business will be donated to this worthy cause. As well, I will make further donations in honour of any pets in my practice that pass away. I want to do everything I can to try and make a difference, to help people who need specially trained helper dogs get them as quickly as possible.