Another Language: Writer Jeanne Braham Explores the Relationships between People and Their NEADS Dogs

We are thrilled to announce the forthcoming new book Another Language: Portraits of Assistance Dogs and Their People by Jeanne Braham, which will be released on March 15, 2012. Photographs by Robert Floyd.

Here is a description of the book:

The profiles in Another Language celebrate the healing bonds between service dogs and their people. Through these oral histories, and backed by the power of photographs, sixteen people who have worked with the NEADS/Dogs For Deaf and Disabled Americans program in north-central Massachusetts tell their own stories in their own words. You’ll meet an Iraq war veteran, people who use wheelchairs or who have balance problems due to debilitating disease, trainers who raise service puppies and others who work with NEADS’ human clients, and more. Writer/interviewer Jeanne Braham, along with photographer Robert Floyd, bring the stories to life in a way that’s respectful, compassionate, and compelling.

Advanced Praise:

The importance of assistance dogs cannot be overstated, and Jeanne Braham has done a wonderful job of describing them.  The photos are spectacular, and no one will read this book without gaining insight into the relationship of these dogs and the people who benefit from their good sense and loyalty.  It’s a must read for anyone who has such a dog, and even more a must-read for anyone who needs one but does not have one.  Congratulations to Braham for putting this all together, and congratulations to the dogs she describes. —Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
Anthropologist and author Elizabeth Marshall Thomas’s books include the best-selling The Hidden Life of Dogs and The Social Life of Dogs.

In crisp and lucid prose Braham records the lives of a dozen individuals and their canines, ranging from hearing dogs to walker dogs for balance to trauma dogs for returning vets with PTSD. Those of us who have dogs for pure pleasure marvel at the skills these animals have mastered and their intense loyalty to the humans they care for. A rich story, well told. —Maxine Kumin
Pulitzer-prize winning poet Maxine Kumin’s most recent collection is Where I Live: New and Selected Poems 1990-2010.

Jeanne Braham’s book Another Language profiles independence, hope and opportunity.  These portraits highlight our mission of matching the very best trained assistance dogs to our client’s individual needs, whether our Canines for Combat Veterans, Dogs For Deaf and Disabled Americans, or our new program Trauma Assistance Dogs. We at NEADS are thrilled to see the work we do every day portrayed so eloquently in these pages.  —Gerry DeRoche
Gerry DeRoche is Chief Executive Officer of NEADS/Dogs For Deaf and Disabled Americans

For more information, or to make an advanced purchase, visit the Bauhan Publishing website or Amazon.com

8-year-old Cassidy Learns she is Matched with an Assistance Dog — Video

Cassidy is an 8-year-old girl with autism who has been waiting to be matched with the perfect NEADS assistance dog. This is her reaction when her mom tells her that NEADS has matched her with a yellow lab named Trixie.

Assistance Dog in Training Hope Visits the Big Apple!

NEADS trainer Christina Rossetti had a fun weekend in New York City — and brought assistance dog in training Hope to experience the sights and sounds of the Big Apple! As you may know, it’s important that our assistance dogs in training have all kinds of experiences while they’re in training. This way, when they grow up to become working dogs, they will never be startled or surprised by unexpected noises or events. What better place to test Hope’s skills than the city that never sleeps?

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NEADS Dogs Spend the Day at the Massachusetts State House

On Wednesday, November 2, 2011, ten dogs spent the day at the Massachusetts State House for a “Dogs at your Desk Day.” Ten house members were each joined by a service dog in training as a way to raise awareness about service dogs — with the added benefit of teaching the dogs what it is like to be in an office environment. You can read more about the visit and watch video at CBS Boston, The Daily Free Press, Wicked Local, and WWLP 22News.

November 2, 2011 -- With leashes in hand, members of the House of Representatives adopted a service dog in training for the day, allowing the canine to shadow them throughout the State House as part of the assistance dog training program NEADS. Pictured from left to right: Carl Richardson, State House ADA Coordinator; Kathy Devin assisted by her own guide dog from the MA Office on Disability; Kevin M. Lambert, Specialized Population Outreach assisted by a NEADS dog from the Executive Office of the Department of Veterans' Services; Gerry DeRoche, NEADS' chief executive officer; Speaker Pro Tempore Patricia Haddad; Rep. Kate Hogan, Rep. Kimberly Ferguson; Rep. David Linsky; Rep. Cory Atkins; Rep. Sean Garballey; and Rep. Sarah Peake. Photo courtesy of Rep. Cory Atkins.

Special thanks to everyone at the State House for hosting NEADS! Thank you to NEADS volunteers Mona Blanchard, Karen Irving and Sgt. Ann Regan Jones, and NEADS staff members Gerry DeRoche, John Moon and Sherrie Forest for attending this successful event!

Austin John Burchard Visits R.I. Prison where his Assistance Dog was Trained

NEADS client Austin John Burchard, who was recently matched with assistance dog Chase, visited the Rhode Island prison where Chase was trained — and met the man behind bars who trained Chase.

Click here to read the article from WPRI.

Here are some photos of Austin and Chase learning how to work together, when Austin came to the NEADS campus to be matched with his assistance dog Chase:

Chase brings Austin an item

Chase turns on the lights for Austin

Chase opens a door for Austin

Chase goofs off and makes Austin laugh

Chase fetches a pen for Austin

Austin and Chase have a bonding moment

Austin and Chase ride the lift to get into the wheelchair accessible van

Austin and Chase go to the mall to learn how to work in public together

A bonded pair!

Puppies in training visit Old Sturbridge Village

This past weekend a group of puppies in training visited Old Sturbridge Village with trainer Christina Rosetti for some good all around socializing! Socializing is important for these puppies so that when they grow up to be assistance dogs they can encounter any event or situation without fear or hesitation. This enables them to focus on the needs of their partner and continue working despite strange sights and sounds — like a bonfire or live music!

Trainer Christina Rosetti (with golden retriever Rosella) was joined by Rosella’s handler (and photographer) Joe Aurelio, Rich Briggs and golden retriever Buckles, Jenny Smith and yellow lab Princess, Terry McDonald and black lab Major. Also joining them (not pictured) were Dawn Anderson with poodle Laddie and Lee Smith.

The Gift of Naming a Puppy

This gallery contains 9 photos.

What makes our Name-A-Puppy program so special? Hear from Sherry, whose friends named a puppy in her honor: My friends named a dog in my honor; it was such a meaningful gift in so many ways.  Each time I got … Continue reading →

NEADS Goes to Medfield Day!

On Saturday September 17 NEADS dog instructor Christina Rossetti (with assistance dog in training Mighty) was joined by Carol Coffee (and assistance dog in training Graham) at Medfield Day in Medfield, MA.

Carol with Graham

NEADS Attends Holliston Autism Walk

On Sunday September 18, participants of the Holliston Autism Walk had beautiful weather… and lots of NEADS dogs! A large contingent of NEADS weekend puppy raisers joined in the walk to raise awareness for Autism and socialize their dogs in training.

Special thanks to: Christina Rossetti (with Mighty), Lisa Grandin (with Tess), Ed Bradstreet (with Gillis), Dawn Anderson (with Laddie), Lee Smith (with Sapphire), Terry McDonald (with Major), and Carol Coffee (with Graham) — plus everybody’s families!

NEADS Dogs Enjoy Charlie Daniels Concert — Indian Ranch

On September 11, NEADS attended the Charlie Daniels concert at Indian Ranch.

NEADS CEO Gerry DeRoche addresses the concert crowd

NEADS CEO Gerry DeRoche honors Indian Ranch with a NEADS award

A huge thank you to all our volunteers who came out this weekend to help, especially  Alexis & Jason Courneen, Janice Spellane, Dana Esposito, Lee Smith, Marie Lewis, Leslie Renuzzi, Lisa Grandin, Rich Briggs, Russ and Annemarie Pratt, Jill and John Moon, Barbara Lincoln, and Gerry and Kathy DeRoche. Thank you for manning the booth and spreading the word about NEADS. And of course, a big thank you to Indian Ranch!

As I’ve mentioned, NEADS has developed a wonderful partnership with Indian Ranch, the most intimate live-concert venue in the area and the Country Music Capital of New England.