By CLARE MARIE CELANO
Correspondent
Nick and Terri Despotidis of Morganville wanted what every parent wants for those entrusted to them — to grow up to be polite and kind to others, be able to get a job and make a difference.
The very proud parents have happily raised their charges, nurtured them, fed them, cared for them and taught them how to be a friend and help others. They watched them grow, sent them off to school and rejoiced like any proud parent when they completed their education. Then the couple experienced the bittersweet blessing of having them move out.
In addition to their two adult sons, Nicholas and Gregory, the couple considers themselves “parents” to “Brubeck,” a hearing dog they raised for Canine Companions for Independence.
The couple, who say they are “mid-50s empty-nesters,” have seen their sons move on and have also seen young Brubeck, a two-year-old Labrador/Golden Retriever mix, do what he’s been taught to do. He’s working, he’s happy and making a difference in the life of another, being a “politely mannered companion,” in Nick’s words.
September is National Service Dog Month.
Brubeck now lives in Oregon and works with teacher Tracy Weakly and makes a difference every day for the hearing-impaired single mother of three adult children.
Weakly was born with branchio-oto-renal syndrome, an inherited genetic disorder that caused severe hearing loss in both her ears. Her mother, twin sister and oldest son are all hearing impaired.
According to John Bentzinger, a public relations representative for the Northeast Region Canine Companions for Independence, hearing dogs help some people manage their hearing loss. Each Canine Companions hearing dog is trained to detect environmental sounds and independently alert their handler to the sound and its location.
The organization provides highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities, and, at no cost to the recipient, thanks to the generosity of donors. Bentzinger said it costs in excess of $50,000 to raise and train each dog. Ownership of the dog is retained by Canine Companions. The organization has its own breeding program at its national headquarters in Santa Rosa, California, where they breed Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and crosses between the two. The dogs are weaned at about eight weeks and then flown to regional headquarters where they are adopted by volunteer puppy raisers.
“The puppy raisers are really the backbone of our organization, and we couldn’t serve without them,” Bentzinger said. “The volunteers take the pups into their home, raise them and teach them basic commands and socialization skills.” He added that the dogs need to be exposed to any and all types of surroundings.
When the dogs reach about a year and a half, they are returned to regional headquarters for six months of advanced training with instructors to learn over 40 commands useful to a person with disabilities. The dogs are evaluated and, based on the dogs’ different strengths, a person with disabilities on the waiting list is invited to attend two weeks of Team Training at regional headquarters. Here, they can be matched with an assistance dog. Only about four out of 10 dogs actually make it through the program.
“At the end of the Team Training there is a graduation ceremony. Diplomas are handed out and leashes are ceremoniously handed over from the puppy raiser to the new graduate team. It is incredibly emotional,” Bentzinger said. “It isn’t easy for puppy raisers to give up their dog, but when you see the tremendous difference the dog is making in the life of someone who really needs it, it makes it all worthwhile.”
Placements for assistance dogs also include facilities, such as hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Others have been placed in the criminal justice system, giving comfort to children of violent crimes as they give testimony. Assistance dogs also work with disabled veterans.
Nick and Terri raised Brubeck for a year and a half. He was then sent for nine months of training before he went to Weakly.
“Part of Brubeck’s training included making sure he did not shake or bark. We had to make sure the dog was as ‘invisible’ as possible in public so they don’t disrupt anything,” Nick said, adding that the dogs must learn they are not the center of attention, especially in public places.
“People are not allowed to pet the dog in the store. They must walk beside their owner in silence and be invisible. They wear a cape which tells the dog and others they are working. They must be docile and calm. They are there to serve and be a politely mannered companion.”
Nick said the job of a hearing dog is more demanding than other jobs assistance dogs do.
“The hearing dog has to give commands, in addition to taking commands,” Nick said. “Trainers saw that Brubeck had the ability to give commands and as well as take commands, such as alerting its owner if a baby cries, the doorbell rings, an alarm rings or the smoke detector goes off. He nudges you alerting you to the sound.”
Nick said he and Terri are “very” proud parents.
“Terri and I were excited to hear they accepted Brubeck for the program. It’s a personal pride that he is in a specialized program.”
The couple attended a three-hour orientation to learn basic care of the puppy. After receiving Brubeck at eight weeks, they worked from a manual for a year and a half learning and teaching commands. They reported to a head trainer in Long Island who helped with any problems.
“We never felt alone,” Nick said. “They were there if we needed them.”
The couple is now raising a second dog for Canine Companions for Independence. They received “Fers,” also a Labrador/Golden Retriever mix in August. The puppy accompanies Nick, an optometrist in Princeton, to his office every day.
“Our main job is to socialize the dogs,” Terri said, adding that she brought Brubeck to Target, Best Buy and the supermarket as part of his training. “We bring the dogs to as many places as we can.”
“We wanted to do something for others that Terri and I would enjoy,” Nick said. “Puppy raising has given us a camaraderie with other puppy raisers and a worthwhile purpose larger than ourselves. We love animals and wanted to do something to help others.”
Letting the puppy go was a bittersweet experience for the couple.
“We knew we were bringing him up for a purpose. It’s like dropping your kids off at school for the first time or taking them to college. It is very emotional. It’s the same thing, here, but with a lot of pride,” he said, adding that giving up Brubeck included “crying up a storm, but in a very proud way.”
“You brought up a service dog who will give comfort and help others for the rest of his or her life. It’s a nice life for them. Saying goodbye is emotional, but it’s the natural order, and he is now making such a huge difference in someone’s life. Our job is done, and we are so fulfilled knowing he is safe and serving a nice purpose. When you raise the puppy, he or she gives you more than you give them. Although it was very sad giving him up, we know he is helping someone else.”
And Weakly, who received Brubeck in April, can’t say enough about how much help he has been to her.
“He’s an incredible dog,” she said.
“I knew by the time Kendra, 17, left for college, I would be home alone and needed a dog to help me hear the sounds I miss and provide companionship,” said Weakly.
Weakly, who teaches first and second grade in a small private school in McMinnville, Oregon, wanted a dog that was good with young children to accompany her to school every day.
And according to Weakly, Brubeck is “amazing” with children.
“Everyone was ecstatic when Brubeck came to school,” she said, adding that Brubeck doubles as a therapy dog, with his calming influence.
“I’ve had hyperactive children lay down next to him to calm down. Children who have had a bad day or are sad will sit next to him and pet him.”
She added that children will also read to Brubeck and tell him their problems.
“Students who may not always like learning want to come to school so they can see Brubeck,” she added.
While in school, Brubeck will alert her to sounds such as the fire alarm so she can get children outside. She said most of the sound work she needs is at home which includes, waking her up in the morning by alerting her to the alarm clock, home phone, cell phone and kitchen timer.
“At home he is learning doorbell, door knock, clothes dryer and name call. He is also learning the fire alarm at home and at school. A few weeks ago, Brubeck woke me up in the middle of the night because the battery in my smoke alarm was dying and making a chirping noise. He knew the smoke alarm was important, but hadn’t ever heard it ‘chirp.’ I am amazed at how he transfers his knowledge to sounds he hasn’t been taught.”
Brubeck also goes on errands with her. At home, when she cooks and cleans, the dog alerts her to the kitchen timer and phone. He also sits at her feet when she practices piano, violin and guitar.
“Brubeck is almost always with me, and we are fast becoming a team. He is enhancing what I do and assisting with what I can’t,” Weakly said, adding that she no longer worries about sleeping through the alarm or rescheduling her life to stay near the phone or door when expecting someone.
“I don’t have to constantly check the kitchen timer to make sure food is not burning or be concerned about being alone at night or when I am out walking. Brubeck is devoted to me and I to him. Many thanks to Canine Companions for Independence for their vision, trainers and many people who work together to ensure independence for those of us who need it.”