Giving Garrett Hope

This is why I see a lot of hope. The science and success stories of service and therapy dogs had intrigued me for some time. Over the past year, that interest turned into a passion of finding ways to facilitate the successes in both schools and communities. When Garrett Gann first got his service dog Noah, I attended training with Garrett and his mother Jessica at the Wilderwood Service Dog Center. Wilderwood specializes in training dogs for individuals with disabilities. To qualify for a service dog, a prescription that a service dog was medically necessary for Garrett was required from a Neurologist . Over the course of the past year, Noah had been trained for his service dog job and the last several months specifically trained for Garrett’s needs. Information and videos from Jessica and school were provided to give insight to the center’s director that was used to design Noah’s training. Our training focused on Jessica and me becoming licensed handlers for Noah.

To assist the successful integration of Noah into Garrett’s world, we have focused on communication with parents and children and taught appropriate interaction with a service dog and his person. The children have been great at daycare, church and summer school. They are excited for Garrett, take great care in their interaction with Noah, ask good questions and then go about their own routines. Within Garrett’s community, it will be important that businesses and organizations also be aware of their responsibilities with service dogs.

During my 32 years of working in public schools as a teacher of students with special needs, special education director, principal and assistant superintendent, I have seen a lot of great and powerful things in the education of developmentally disabled children. Now working with Garrett and Noah, I am amazed. Positive growth in Garrett’s socialization, communication of needs and emotions, on-task behavior, wait tolerance and stress relief has already been seen. This is just the beginning of the teamwork between Garrett and Noah. As their bond grows, Noah will anticipate Garrett’s needs without command prompting and Garrett’s independence will continue to thrive. It is hard not to be excited and hopeful.

Trained, tested and certified through Wilderwood Service Dogs Center; Ms. Presnell’s involvement with service and therapy dogs continues as a consultant for schools, businesses and organizations in their responsibilities and opportunities for onsite visits and sessions, as well as her continued work with the Wilderwood organization. Contact her at 4PawsAtWork@gmail.com