By AVIVA LUTTRELL
Recorder Staff
GREENFIELD — Dax isn’t any ordinary dog — he can turn light switches on and off, open the refrigerator door and give checks to the bank teller.
But one of his most important jobs is to provide constant companionship for Ayla Cadwell, a 20-year-old Greenfield resident who was born with spina bifida and has used a wheelchair since she was 3. The pair were matched earlier this year by Canine Companions for Independence, a national nonprofit organization that provides assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities.
Now, the two are settling into their routine in Greenfield.
Dax is a 2-year-old Labrador/golden retriever cross who has been trained to respond to more than 40 advanced commands. He’s a successor to Cadwell’s first service dog, Landon III, who she had for nine years, and goes everywhere with her — including Greenfield Community College, where she’s studying liberal arts.
“It’s special to have him in my life and to have another service dog in my life again after losing Landon,” she said. “It’s been really tough because my mom has basically been my service person ever since Landon passed away, so it’s really nice to have Dax. He’s very comforting when I’m alone at the house, when my mom goes out.”
Cadwell said Dax helps her with everything from taking her shoes and socks off to handing the teller checks at the bank.
“She can’t reach, so they give her a little zipper bag, she puts the check inside it and he gets up and gives it to the teller who takes it, does the transaction and gives it back to him,” Cadwell’s mother, Sue, said.
They returned to Greenfield earlier this year after completing Canine Companion’s Team Training Class, an intense, two-week course held at the nonprofit’s Northeast Regional Center in Medford, N.Y. — one of six centers nationwide.
The training, which takes place four times a year, teaches students to work with their canine companions through daily lectures, exams, practice and public outings.
It costs more than $50,000 to raise and train each dog, according to Canine Companions spokesman John Bentzinger, but donations enable the nonprofit to provide them to clients at no cost. Ownership of the dog is retained by Canine Companions and the dog must undergo yearly re-certification tests — also at no cost to the client.
The organization breeds Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers and crosses between the two at its national headquarters in Santa Rosa, Calif.. At about 8 weeks old, the puppies are flown to Canine Companion’s six regional headquarters throughout the United States, where they are adopted by volunteer puppy raisers who take them into their homes, raise them and teach them basic commands and socialization skills. Because they will eventually go everywhere with their human partners, they need to be exposed to all types of surroundings and can’t show fear.
Dax was raised by a student at the University of Delaware, so Cadwell said he’s used to being on a college campus. At GCC, he’ll pull her through the hallways so she can get to her classes quickly.
“When I go to class and we get settled in, he usually will (lie) underneath the table, but when I’m ready to go he’s up on his feet and ready to go,” she said. “His temperament is get-up-and-go and calm at the same time.”
After completing her core courses in Greenfield, Cadwell said she plans to transfer to Holyoke Community College for its veterinary technician program.
“I really love animals,” she said. “It’s something that I always wanted to do, even before I had service dogs, because I grew up with animals around me.”
At a year and a half old, Canine Companion dogs are returned to their regional headquarters, where they begin six months of advanced training, according to Bentzinger. During that time, instructors give a detailed evaluation of each dog and find potential matches from the waiting list of disabled clients based on their different strengths.
Those clients are then invited to attend two weeks of team training at their regional headquarters and are matched with an assistance dog.
Cadwell and Dax were matched, she said, because of his ability to pull her wheelchair, which he was trained specifically to do.
“I think we got the best of the best,” her mother said.
The program is highly selective, with only about 40 percent of dogs making it through, according to Bentzinger.
Cadwell and her mother raised a puppy for the program several years ago, while they still had Landon. Although their dog didn’t end up making it through the program because she was too easily excitable, they said it was such a good experience they’re considering doing it again once Dax is settled in.
On a recent afternoon, they took a trip to the YMCA, where Cadwell has been working out with a trainer to develop enough upper body strength to drive. She hopes to save up enough money to buy an adaptive vehicle with hand controls, and has started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost — which she estimates will be about $29,000.
Like having a service dog, Cadwell said being able to drive would greatly increase her independence. Her mother drives a 25-year-old van that’s on its last leg, and has to lift her in and out of it every time they go anywhere.
“It’s getting very difficult,” Cadwell said.
She’s also started another GoFundMe campaign in honor of Landon to give back to Canine Companions for Independence. So far, she’s raised just over half of her $1,200 goal.
“It’s just really nice to have a four-legged best friend again,” she said.
Cadwell’s adaptive vehicle campaign can be found at gofundme.com/29r9pws. Her memorial fund for Landon, with donations going to Canine Companions for Independence, can be found at gofundme.com/e7rg8s.
You can reach Aviva Luttrell at:
aluttrell@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 268
On Twitter: @AvivaLuttrell