She trains her dogs for special roles
Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bvwv/News/6301/
Anyone who follows the police reports in Bella Vista knows there are barking dogs in the area. And to some they are annoying.
But when resident Rene Pardue’s dogs bark, it could mean something’s wrong, or someone’s in trouble.
Buck, Braveheart, Molly and Jake are all service dogs — or in training to become service dogs — that help Pardue overcome her disabilities, she said.
The dogs routinely help Pardue complete everyday activities, such as standing upright and walking on inclines, that would normally be challenging to her due to a disabling orthopedic condition she developed while serving in the U. S. Army years ago, she said. The dogs can also alert people if a serious fall or injury were to occur, she said.
The animals are more than “ pets ” and Pardue is more than an “ owner ” — which are both considered slightly offensive terms, she said. The animals are more like companions and Pardue is their handler.
The four canines were taught to perform a variety of tasks by Pardue, who has been training service dogs since 1995, she said. She works with each dog to develop a beneficial skill set that jibes with the dog’s individuality.
“ I don’t train robotic dogs. I let their personality shine, ” she said.
If a puppy likes to dig, she tries to teach the animal to dig holes on command, which can be utilized to weed gardens, she said. If a dog likes to pull forcefully when on a leash, Pardue focuses on training the dog to pull it’s handler only when appropriate, like when traversing hills or when helping one get off the ground, she said.
While some disabled individuals get their dogs from training institutes or other agencies, Pardue finds most of her dogs at the local shelters, she said. She typically chooses animals that have been abused or neglected, but retain a good heart, she said.
By rebuilding a depressed dog’s spirit and giving it love and a sense of purpose, such as a service dog, Pardue feels like she is salvaging two lives at once, she said. Pardue has also previously taken a number of her rehabilitated, trained canines to veterans hospitals to allow them to serve as therapy dogs temporarily, she said.
While some members of the community are accustomed to seeing Pardue out with her dogs, many others are not, and that can lead to some misunderstandings based on ignorance.
Although the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 has helped members of society become more familiar with the presence of service dogs, Pardue said there are still many individuals in the community that are uneducated on the topic.
“ Hospitals and medical centers are the worst, ” she said, noting that churches also rank high on the list.
The fear that a service dog contains germs, will bite somebody or make a mess are the most common concerns, she said.
“ I usually tell them ‘ My dog is cleaner than your hospital. ’ ”
The ADA requires establishments to allow service animals access to public areas, and even though no attire or indicator is necessary for the animals, Pardue said she normally incorporates something on her dogs to help avoid confusion.
“ My disability is what they call a hidden disability, because I don’t walk around with a white cane and red tip, and I’m not in a wheel chair. ”
A special harness for her animal, an identifying button, or a informative business card are just a few of the methods Pardue uses to help satisfy the curiosity of onlookers, she said.
Unfortunately, without this gear her somewhat inconspicuous condition causes the occasional insensitive comment or glance from a stranger, she said. Such things are offensive, she noted.
“ It violates my civil rights just as much as discriminating against someone for their ethnic background. ”
Proper etiquette also suggests that one ask a handler for permission before petting a service animal, she said. This will allow the handler to inform the animal that it can stop “ working”, she explained.
Service and therapy animals can have tremendous benefits, including saving one’s life, Pardue said.
Individuals looking for more information about service or therapy animals should visit the Delta Society’s Web site at www. deltasociety. org. The Delta Society is a nonprofit organization which promotes the important role of animals in people’s health, according to the information found there.
Get information on the ADA by calling (800 ) 514-0301.