With the hand-off of a dog leash, 12 people with a variety of disabilities are getting a new lease on life.
On Thursday, The Ability Center hosted the Assistance Dog Graduation at Parkway Place in Maumee.
During the celebration, folks were matched with an assistance dog meant to offer support and companionship. The dogs are trained to pick up dropped items, open doors and help with daily tasks.
It’s part of the Assistance Dogs for Achieving Independence program (ADAI).
The program serves children and adults with disabilities such as autism, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, muscular dystrophy, and other congenital birth defects.
Service dogs help people with mobility disabilities, while therapy dogs help with emotional support for children or adults with developmental disabilities.
Maumee resident Tom Dussel received his four-legged friend, Ginny, to help him deal with post-polio syndrome.
“For me, she keeps me on a better schedule,” he said. “I've been retired now for a few years. So she's making it a good idea for me to get up plenty early in the morning. And we take a walk down at Side Cut [Metropark] every day. We do about 3 miles down there. I'm on my scooter, my wife is walking. So that works out really nicely for us. And keeping us going.”
To foster a puppy or donate to the program, visit www.abilitycenter.org.
First Published November 22, 2019, 10:48 p.m.
