Aug 14, 2008 issue
Doris and Rush Thompson: Puppy Raisers
Story by Amy Cooke
Doris and Rush Thompson love dogs and making a difference in people’s lives.
They raise puppies for people who need them and are enthusiastic about their organization, Canine Companions for Independence, CCI. The dogs go to help those who need assistance and include service dogs to help adults with daily tasks and hearing dogs who alert the deaf and hard of hearing to important sounds. The puppies also train to become facility dogs who work with professionals in visitation, education or healthcare settings and skilled companion dogs who enhance independence for children and adults with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities.
Denzel is the Thompsons’ fourteenth puppy. They love Denzel, but will be ready to give him up when the time comes.
Fifteen years ago Doris saw a demonstration and was very impressed. “Our youngest son had not had a positive dog experience so we thought this would be right for our family. I was so impressed that I can still play that whole demonstration in my head. I saw what that dog did for that lady—she was a paraplegic—and knew I wanted to help.”
CCI always needs good families to raise the puppies. “You can do it from here in Boone or anywhere in the country,” explained Rush. “You need to be able to follow the special diet and pick up the cost of the food and the toys and the vet bills, including extra x-rays.”
Those x-rays are needed to make sure that the puppy is healthy, and good hips are important. Special guidelines include no feeding from the table and getting specially qualified puppy sitters during a vacation.
Labrador and golden retrievers and some mixed retrievers become canine companions, and puppy raisers have the dog from time it is 2 months old until it reaches 18 months. From age 18 to 24 months, the dogs receive professional training and then become service providers. After their service, they retire and the organization makes sure they have homes with loving and responsible caretakers.
“When we started, it was not as formal but today there is a home visit to make sure you have the right kind of home for the puppy,” said Doris. “You don’t have to have a fenced yard or anything special and it is okay to have your own dogs or cats. You do need to make sure you have a lot of time to spend with them and follow their special diet. A lot of people think our dogs are too skinny, but that’s because a lot of people’s dogs are obese.”
Doris’ father grew up on Winkler’s Creek in Boone and her parents met at Appalachian State University. When she retired from education and Weight Watchers and Rush retired from working in the defense industry where he “made the bombs smarter,” they decided to build a summer house on inherited family land.
The Thompsons take Denzel with them to their regular activities. In Boone those activities include Boone United Methodist Church, the Shag Club, the hiking club and working at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, as well as daily errands like shopping.
“We have had some trouble in Florida, but Boone has been very, very good. We see our job as education and always are glad to talk to people about the puppies and to answer questions,” Doris said.
Doris and Rush have had a few problems when they’ve taken their canine companions in training out in public.
Someone at a restaurant in Florida called the police when Doris arrived with her dog, and the owners received a ticket from the officers. Wait staff have given Doris and Rush menus written in Braille, and they are used to receiving a lot of stares when they go out with the dogs. Their experiences have improved in the 15 years they have been doing this important volunteer work, and they hope public acceptance has also improved for the people who use the dogs.
“They can be used for so many things and can make a big difference in people’s lives,” explained Rush. “They can pull wheelchairs, pick up things dropped on the floor, turn lights on and off, open doors and get things out of the refrigerator.
“The little things can make such a big difference. If you drop your checkbook, the dog can pick it up and you don’t have to wait for hours for a neighbor to come and help you. They can empty the dryer and carry the clothesbasket. The dogs can even deliver a credit card or money in a store.”
More and more of the puppies are being raised to become assistance dogs for veterans. Through a special initiative, CCI is working to provide dogs to veterans with disabilities resulting from military service. They provide “unwavering discipline, steadfast loyalty, elite training...and a cold wet nose.”
People often ask Doris if the puppies ever get to just be dogs. “We tell them that when he has his cape on he is at work, but he gets to be just a puppy at home,” she said.
To find out more about getting a service dog for someone who needs assistance or to volunteer to raise puppies, contact CCI at 1-800-572-BARK (2275) or info@cci.org. For more info, click to cci.org.
“I enjoy raising each one a lot,” said Rush. “The first time we did it and had to give that puppy up when it was time, it ripped my heart out. It still does, but then we look forward to getting that next little 8-week-old puppy.”
When Denzel leaves the Thompsons to go to his institution for higher learning, they plan to get their fifteenth dog.
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