As a dignified Canine Helper, I, Kenji, have an embarrassing confession to make.  My companion Susan calls me “Angel Paws”, it makes me blush…  Understand that she calls me that when I bring back the crutches that slip out of her hands sometimes, or pick up things like her pen, coins, etc… that her dystonic hands drop or just can not get a grip upon.  I open and close the doors for her when she is walking with her crutches or using her chair.  We go lots of places, to stores, the library, and physical therapy.  Some are just for me, long walks on wooded paths on nice days or the mall on those nasty ones.  Rich, our trainer, has taught me to get the phone or to pull the emergency help alarm cord if my companion needs help beyond what I can provide. 

     In January our garage door froze shut and we had to walk into the house, and we made it ok! The next day we did not make it back out to the Van. Susan slipped on the icy walk, her crutches flew into the snow banks and she ungracefully landed on the walkway. I checked her face to see if she was playing a joke on me … nope it was a real problem!  I got her crutches from the snow piles, and gave her the crutches and all the encouragement and bracing I could, but it was too icy!  Susan asked me to bark but no one responded so then she sent me off to find help and I went to the door of the shop across the street and barked until the guy inside came out. He followed me back and helped Susan up.

     For this my companion Susan thanks me with words, love, scratches, “cookies”, blankets, and a jazzy squeaky monkey and other toys.  And I provide her with my love, service, and my canine humor - because it makes Susan laugh. 

      Thank you to all at Canine Helpers for bringing us together: Beverly for her vision and persistence in making that vision reality, Rich for training us, the kennel staff for helping me grow up to be a good service dog, and Colleen who keeps track of the paper work. A special Thanks to all the individuals, Service Organizations, Businesses and Church Folks who have helped to raise support for our training costs.