Owners Celebrate New Life With Free Service Dogs

Growing up, Megan Minster said she enjoyed dancing, whether it was at her Irish Dance Academy or on the poms team of her school. When Minster turned 16, however, she was diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder, which with time has made her dependent on a wheel chair.

To make her life easier, Support Dogs Inc., a non-profit agency that trains service dogs, gave Minster a free black labrador retriever named Branson to help her with daily tasks, but first they had to complete training.

Minster, now a  social-work student at the University of Wisconsin, was one of six people recognized at Friday night's Assistance Dog Recognition ceremony at the in . The ceremony marks the end of training with their support dogs and the new owners, including Minster, were officially given the service dogs to take home with them to begin their lives together. 

"Many people with disabilities many times are on a fixed income, and with government spending being cut, it can be hard for them to afford constant care," said Ann Weinerth, development director for Support Dogs. "In the morning that person may have a caregiver, but in the evening that dog can help them remove their clothing, get their eye glasses, help them get the laundry, open the refrigerator, everything you can imagine."

The whole effort is a volunteer one from start to finish, said Weinerth. Though the cost of raising and training the dogs is approximately $15,000, the disabled clients receive the companions a no cost. The puppies are raised with special care and then donated to be trained for about two years. After a that, the dogs are paired with the people who need them and both dog and owner are trained in their new life.

Bill Dahlkamp, executive director of Support Dogs, attends about four graduating ceremonies every year. Since 1981, he has participated in the events and says every time it moves him to see the new owners happy with the dogs.

"I always say that you should always leave the world a better place than when you came in," Dahlkamp said. "You are providing the dog a good life and in turn the dog is really changing the life of the client we place them with."