Excuse me Ty, do you mind if I smother you with kisses?

I was matched with NEADS Hearing Dog Delancy, and my life was changed. I had been told about the bond between service dogs and their partners, but never imagined how amazing that would be. Delancy is more than my partner, he is an extension of me, and the reason I keep going forward each day. Delancy does the usual hearing dog tasks, such as alerting me to the oven timer, a door knock, dropped items, my name being called,a smoke detector, and more. I watch his body language, his ears and his eyes and know from those cues when an airplane or flock of geese flies overhead, or when a child starts crying, or a car pulls into my driveway, or if someone enters a room. Little things that hearing people might take for granted are now a part of my world again. Beyond those immediate things, Delancy provides a healthier life for me because I now walk every day, get out of bed when I don’t feel like it and am overflowing with happiness just by looking at his adorable face. He has changed me in so many ways and I will always be grateful to him and to NEADS.— Amy Reay

Justice says, “If you think I’m cute, give me a like!”

Big Al is loving this big, beautiful day!

]]> http://assistancedogs.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/11am-cute-puppy-big-al-is-loving-this-big-beautiful-day/feed/ 0 lisabrownneads (2012-10) al enjoying the outdoors http://assistancedogs.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/the-worcester-fire-department-in-their-own-words/ http://assistancedogs.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/the-worcester-fire-department-in-their-own-words/#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 06:00:21 +0000 NEADS/Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans http://assistancedogs.wordpress.com/?p=3709 Continue reading →]]> A Donor’s Story

The Worcester Fire Department 6K Road Race began in 2000 following the December 1999 Cold Storage Fire where six of our firefighters were lost. In their memory we seek to give back to the community that supported us so well through that tragedy. In 2011 we identified the NEADS Puppy Program as one of our charities. Since our initial introduction to the program, we have been able to see very directly how uniquely positive and valuable this program is. In 2011 following our initial donation we named and quickly met “Blaze.” During his training we were updated with pictures and his progress and really experienced his training firsthand. He has attended our race and we have had the pleasure of meeting him and watching him grow into the mature assistance dog he will become. In 2012 we again named another two puppies, “Rescue” and “Maurice,” and are excited and proud to have the opportunity to follow them through the program on their way to providing invaluable assistance to a deaf or disabled person. The WFD6K Race has donated to over one hundred charities since its inception but NEADS stands out to us through regular updates and firsthand knowledge of how our donation is being put to use. All of the people that we have met through the program have been wonderful to work with and it has been a great experience to become part of the NEADS extended family. We look forward to many years of continuing to support the NEADS program and look forward to watching their excellent work result in greater independence for people in need.— Lt. John Franco, WFD6K

Blaze was matched with Angela Mullally, a special education teacher at Rochester’s School 19. She and Blaze have together initiated a therapy dog program for the school, and Mullally has a lot of support from the administration. Below, you can see Angela and Blaze together.

Read below about how the person who named little Django picked his unique name!

I thought that the true story of guitarist Django Reinhardt might be inspiring for the person who NEADS matches with the puppy Django. Born in the early 1900s, Django Reinhardt was such a talented guitarist that he was already making a living playing guitar by the time he was 13. When he was 18, he was severely burned in a house fire. Two of the fingers on his left hand were paralyzed and his right leg was paralyzed. Doctors believed he would never play guitar or walk again. Despite the doctors’ misgivings, he not only walked, but he also taught himself to play the guitar all over again, playing his solos with only two fingers in a completely new way. And how did this affect his life? Django Reinhardt went on to become one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

Django’s story resonates as an example of how overcoming the greatest limitations can itself inspire greatness.

My hope is that the puppy Django will inspire this same kind of resiliance, hope, and determination in the person he is matched with.

Cash says, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!”

(And a very special happy mother’s day to our Weekend Puppy Raiser mamas!)

Get comfortable, Cappy. Have a seat!

You’re such a beauty, Max!

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