Success Stories
Robin and Ace

In June of 1992 while living in California, I was injured during the Big Bear/Landers earthquake. I received a serious back injury from being thrown backwards over a bed footboard from the force of the quake. The injury required surgery and after 4 years I was able to walk with the assistance of another person and a four-pointed cane. However, as is the case with so many back injuries, my condition worsened over time and I was eventually confined to a wheelchair.

I did not go out alone because I have difficulty maneuvering my wheelchair in tight spaces and up even small inclines. I also have great difficulty opening and getting through doors. Many public places are impossible for me to get into by myself because the doors are so heavy that I cannot pull them open. I tend to drop things due to weakness in my arms and hands stemming from my back injury. I am not able to pick things up off of the floor. My husband is a wonderful help to me but I must spend a great deal of time alone due to his work schedule. It is so easy for me to end up in situations that I can't get myself out of, and I lived with the constant fear of this happening. I spent a lot of my time alone just sitting and watching television. I always had to keep my cordless phone in my lap so that I can call for help if I get into trouble.

One of my doctors brought up the subject of an assistance dog, and in pursuing it I found New Life Mobility Assistance Dogs, Inc. in North Carolina. I chose NLMAD because they have a relatively short waiting list. They have also placed other dogs on the west coast and one actually right around my home in Portland, Oregon.

My assistance dog, Ace, has been a godsend. Ace is a black lab mix who was rescued from the Wilkes County animal shelter where NLMAD is located. He was in training for just under a year and knows about 40 commands. Ace is able to help pull my wheelchair, pick up dropped items, retrieve the telephone, bring me a soda from the refrigerator, and many other things. Ace is also a wonderful companion. He has given me the most independence I've had since my accident. I am now confident enough to go out by myself and to be by myself without worrying about getting stuck. Ace has also been a great social icebreaker for me. When I am out in public I can hardly go five feet without someone commenting to me about how handsome my dog is or how well-behaved he is, and any time I stop Ace is sure to draw a small crowd of people who are interested in learning what an assistance dog is. Ace has given me back a part of my life that I lost during the earthquake.