By Joan B. Guertin
Sondra and Evie
In early 1991, I was approached by Canine Companions For Independence about breeding my dog, Oliver, to one of their Hearing Program breeding Corgis. I had attended a number of training seminars with Ollie, and CCI representatives, also in attendance, had been taken with his intelligence and spirit. And, that is how Am/Mex. Ch. Cypress Red Ryder, CD, PT, CGC became the sire of the litter that produced Evie. I had been flattered to have been asked and proud of the opportunity to see Oliver's very special characteristics become a part of the program. My only request was that in return for donating the breeding, I wanted to raise one of the puppies for the program. Thus, at seven weeks of age, Evie (later registered as Hi-Desert Evening Star), became a member of my household for fifteen months of her life.
My job during that period was to make sure that she was thoroughly obedience trained and socialized in public before sending her back to CCI in Santa Rosa, California for her Signal Training. That was a busy time, to say the least. Evie went almost everywhere with me. Being self-employed as a trainer, I didn't have a work place to take her to, but she learned to lie quietly under my desk when I was working on the phone or writing.
She ran all my errands with me and as her training progressed and she became more mature (and when she was thoroughly housetrained) we went to more challenging places. We started with simple outings to places such as the bank and progressed to theaters where she learned to ignore the popcorn on the floor and was capable of lying quietly under my feet through an entire movie. We eventually visited restaurants and grocery stores. She learned to walk quietly beside the basket as we strolled the aisles, ignoring the challenging scents. She would lie quietly while I shopped and mulled choices. The interesting thing about the outings was that there was no such thing as a "quick trip." There were always questions to answer as to why a dog was allowed in places where dogs generally didn't have access.
That was one of the most intense years I had spent with a dog up to that time. However, it was well worth it and it paid off handsomely the day I walked Evie to the stage as she graduated and I passed her on to Sondra's waiting hands. The moment the transfer was made it was as if she knew that she had achieved her destiny. Of course, that day didn't happen until after she had spent six months of intensive training at CCI learning all the signal work.
I was very fortunate to forge a bond with Sondra so, for the past nine years, I have been able to visit with Sondra and Evie in their home and she would visit with me when I still lived in Sacramento. I will never forget the evening that Sondra and her mother, with Evie along, of course, took me to dinner at an upscale restaurant. It was Evie and Sondra's first anniversary and Sondra presented me with a portrait of Evie. It was then that she shared what that year had been like. It was the first time that I realized just how powerful Evie's impact was on Sondra's life.
A new CCI team, Sondra and Evie in 1993 - Photo by CCI
As we strolled by moonlight along the banks of the Sacramento River, Sondra shared her joy at being able to indulge in such strolls now that Evie was at her side. Prior to Evie coming into her life, Sondra would avoid going out alone, particularly at night. Evie's presence and her unfailing skill at alerting Sondra when anyone else was around, particularly people approaching from behind, relieved Sondra's concern. Just the confidence of knowing that a pair of ears was picking up the sounds made Sondra feel secure and allowed her to enjoy a simple walk, an act that the hearing community takes for granted.
When Sondra first received Evie from CCI, the pretty little red and white Corgi accompanied her daily on the job. One of the first discoveries at the workplace was Evie's willingness to alert Sondra when another worker would call her name. She would then lead Sondra to the individual who was paging her. A job change in 1997 barred Evie from the workplace and although Sondra was working the late shift and there was no security in the parking garage at night and no one to walk her to her car, CCI refused to intercede. In addition, the State Labor Commission was not compassionate. Sondra opted not to fight what was actually an illegal act under the Americans With Disabilities Act. The company indicated that fighting for inclusion of Evie in the workplace would have jeopardized Sondra's job. That proved a frustrating time for Sondra, and it was hard on Evie having to remain at home without Sondra. In the past few years Sondra has been able to move to a job which supports her right to have her service dog at her side.
Often when Sondra and I would lunch or shop, Sondra would be challenged because of the dog. Having lost her hearing at a later age, Sondra possessed excellent verbal skills and was adept at reading lips. Those confronting her were often obnoxious and when she would show her dog's ID and explain that Evie was a working service dog, the response was often a reference to the fact that Sondra obviously was not blind or crippled. Sondra would explain that she was deaf and the demeanor of the other individual was often disrespectful. Sondra's favorite comeback was "I am deaf, not stupid!" Such encounters made us both realize that public education was definitely lacking when it came to invisible disabilities. It made me more determined than ever to become an advocate for the hearing impaired.
One of the pleasures Sondra has experienced during her relationship with Evie is the joy of traveling. They have visited Disneyland numerous times over the years. Sondra also has a delightful imagination and as a result, patient Miss Evie has countless costumes appropriate to various holidays. Dressing up is something she seems to enjoy. Then again, it is understandable as Corgis take great delight in being the center of attention and they love to entertain.
When Evie joined Sondra's family in July, 1993, it was a great relief to Sondra's parents. Both were elderly and not well. Since Sondra had been living with them and helping to care for them, they were concerned as to how she would manage once they were gone and couldn't function as her "ears." With Evie on the job their concern lessened. When they did pass on within a relatively short time of each other, Evie grieved as much as Sondra did.
Sondra and Evie go everywhere together - Photo: J.B. Guertin
Over the nine years that Evie has been part of Sondra's life, the pair have experienced many things together. For Sondra, a very private person, there is security in knowing that she is not alone. At this time, Evie is enjoying good health and she is still working consistently. She and Sondra have their little games and rituals around wake-up time during the week and then on the weekends. And the pair is inseparable. Sondra describes Evie as a clown with a marvelous sense of humor. She can elicit a smile or chuckle with little effort. However, she can also be gentle, nurturing and compassionate if Sondra needs that from her.
However, Sondra knows that Evie is aging and there is concern over what happens next. Sondra has expressed the desire not to have another dog from CCI and will most likely opt for a privately trained dog when that time comes. At this time it looks as though Miss Evie is training her own replacement. One of Evie's great buddies over the years has been Sondra's brother's dog, a Border Collie called Maggie. Maggie has lived with Sondra and Evie for a number of years now. The pair have a long time relationship and being the mimics they are, Maggie has become very adept at alerting also. The pair also play some interesting games. Evie is a tattletale and will alert when Maggie and the other dogs that visit are doing what they shouldn't do. Evie also will block the doggie door when she wants to prevent the other dogs from entering or she might block the exit from the family room to prevent the other dogs from entering the rest of the house. Ahh, yes, being a true Corgi, she is still full of games. Being a service dog hasn't hurt her sense of humor at all.
During my most recent conversation with Sondra I learned that most of her 1993 CCI graduating class are either gone or retired. Evie appears to be the last one to actually be working full time.
Having been a great part of her life from conception on, Evie has a big hold on my heart. I still have her puppy cape. Her original collar and tags, the ones she wore while I was raising, socializing and doing the early training on her, hang with those of her Daddy, Oliver, on my rear-view mirror. She'll ride with me forever.
There are two more hearing dogs that I will introduce you to in the next issue of the Newsletter. Piper is a dog that I acquired for a client, and trained all the way through his signal work. And Jean York is also the proud breeder of Missy, a Corgi that has gone on to become a signal dog for owner Liz Arnold whom I will be interviewing. In the final installment of this series I will bring you up to date on Jackie LaMarche and her new Hearing Dog, Teddi Bear (who is now starting her Signal Training), as well as information on Signal Dogs in general.
Published in the PWCCA Newsletter Spring 2003
Reproduced with the kind permission of the editor Marian Johnson Your.
25.04.2013
