Success Stories
Warren and Taxi

My name is Warren Moore. When I was 20, I was forced off the road by a drunk driver. Four of my vertebrae were pulverized to the size of rice and my spinal cord had to be cut, preventing me from ever walking again. Chronic pain became a permanent obstacle. It is described in medical books as "red hot, burning rods repeatedly stabbed in and out of the thigh bones." Pain medicines would only take the edge off. The biggest relief would come not from a pill but from my Golden Retriever. Leo could sense my discomfort as I tried to hide it as stoically as possible. Nothing helped more than Leo resting his head over by broken back. His warmth and touch were magical in a way that's hard to describe, as if he were sharing my pain. After many years, I lost my most loyal companion.

I found I could return to college and then back to work for an aerospace company as the first engineer in a wheelchair. This opened many doors for me and others in a job I loved. I was on cloud nine with all my dreams coming true. Then one day all I had worked for came to an abrupt end when I was re-disabled from a serious accident working at a new plant. My career was over and life would never be quite the same. A blessing came in the form of a gift: an 8 week old Golden Retriever was given to me from a local breeder who was going to donate him to an assistance dog organization. Instead they gave him to me and my prayers were answered. Buck was blessed with a gift of understanding. He always knew how and when to help, even pushing my wheelchair when I got stuck.

One Sunday after church as I was on my way to visit a close friend, my second motor vehicle accident in 25 years happened. I lost my left leg below the knee and incurred countless fractures. I healed in time with Buck by my side. Once my health was restored, I lost Buck very suddenly when his spleen ruptured. It was as if he had held on for me so I would get well. I even have a painting of him in my room.

Now I'm close to 50 and my arm and shoulder joints have paid the price of joint-degeneration. At times I can't even push my wheelchair. I've wondered how I could continue to get around without a motorized chair. Well, I found a way! Not only can I continue being part of everyday society, but I will gain a new best friend: another dog, named Taxi. He's a 2 year old Yellow/Chocolate Lab who has been trained to pull my wheelchair and much more. Taxi lives in North Carolina at New Life Mobility Assistance Dogs, Inc. I was able to meet him in September along with Karen and the trainer, Ann-Marie, who showed me what these dogs can do. Just awesome! Taxi will be able to provide me with the mobility and assistance I need to live alone. Taxi will also be able to pick up things that I drop, retrieve a cordless phone, brace for me to get up from a fall or transfer to my chair. But best of all will be the unconditional love and companionship of my new Best Friend, Taxi. Woof!

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Taxi is a big, friendly, Yellow/Chocolate Lab mix who was rescued from the shelter in August 2002. Taxi presented us with a bit of a conundrum, because he walked out of the shelter knowing how to sit, down, stay, recall, and retrieve various items.