They can be seen on campus, an inseparable team, traversing their way through throngs of students on the way to their destination. Casual observers may glance up and see only a woman in a wheelchair with her pet, a loveable golden retriever called Cappuccino, cruising through campus. But this duo is much more than that. They are an extension of each other -- a team -- working together to overcome any obstacle placed in their path. For Cathy Carver, a senior elementary education major at UNL, having Cappuccino (nicknamed "Capp") this past year has meant a life with more independence and mobility. "You don't get a manual about how to live with a disability," she said. In fact, after hiring several students to assist her in getting around campus for her first three years here, Carver decided that a less expensive, more reliable alternative was needed. After a friend suggested getting a service dog, Carver submitted an application to Kansas Specialty Dogs, a Washington, Kan., nonprofit school that specializes in training service and guide dogs. "As life goes on and things progress," she said, "I just thought a dog might be something I might really need." Indeed, public demand for the animals has led to a year-long waiting list for service dogs from KSDS, the largest breeder and trainer for the dogs in the Midwest. Founded in 1990 by Bill Acree, executive director and president, KSDS has placed 168 service and guide dogs in homes across 20 states in the last five years, with only three placements needing re-evaluation. "We try very hard to match the dog with the needs and wants of the owners," Acree said. "The dogs show the staff during training what areas the animals can excel at." Acree, along with five staff members, breeds and trains the retrievers solely for the program. And with training costs at $10,000 per service dog and $15,000 per guide dog, KSDS receives all its funding from charitable contributions. Some corporate sponsors even provide food to the owners for the dogs. Puppies aged eight weeks to 18 months receive special, more relaxed training by volunteer "foster parents." In addition, all of the dogs receive intensive instruction regarding the individual tasks they will be expected to perform, Acree said. During this more intensive period, animals are matched with their prospective owners, Acree said. After applicants submit a complete medical history and a videotape including an interview and tours through the home and work place, KSDS trainers use the tapes and information to tailor instruction specifically for that client, he said. Finally, owners must attend classes ranging from one week to 24 days at the school site, where they learn the best way to work with and care for their special companions. But Carver describes Capp as more than a pet, more than a companion. The basic commands taught by KSDS has allowed her to train Capp to pick up items, turn lights on and off and close and open doors. "He's really an extension of me," she said. In fact, there are few places they don't go together. They go to classes and movies together, and they travel together -- even on airplanes. But aside from the numerous barriers Carver's teammate has helped her overcome, she said people sometimes inadvertently cause problems by coming up and petting or talking to Capp. "One of the largest barriers to using service dogs is the amount of distraction the dogs are expected to deal with," Carver said. "The dogs work for their owner because of love, affection, and caring. People don't understand that by distracting the dog, they're putting that person's life in danger." Unwelcome attention from strangers has caused obedience problems with Cappuccino in the past, Carver said, including an episode where the dog ran into the grass dragging Carver and her wheelchair behind him. "He (Capp) did go through a period where he did not want to work," she said. As a result, Capp had to be almost entirely retrained. Acree agreed that public distraction of the dogs is a major problem with many of the school's "graduates," and that adults by far are worse than kids about respecting the dog and owner's autonomy when out in public. "Kids just seem to understand about these things," he said. "It really comes down to having respect for others." After Carver graduates from UNL in May, she said she hopes to incorporate Capp and the lessons to be learned about service dogs and disabilities into a kindergarten curriculum. "Kids are so open-minded," Carver said, "I tell the kids what Capp's job is, that he's at work when we're out, and then they correct other kids about what not to do around him." And because the KSDS donates its animals for the duration of the dog's lifetime, even in the event of a recovery from the disability, Carver and Capp will continue to rely on each other as life presents new obstacles to overcome.
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