Most of us are familiar with Seeing Eye Dogs because they have been used for many years to provide independence to the Blind; but we aren’t as familiar with Service Dogs who provide a wide range of services to the elderly or to people who experience physical or mental challenges. Skills that Service Dogs learn include picking up dropped articles, carrying belongs, fetching telephones, opening heavy doors and providing stability for those who walk on unsteady legs. Slugger is one of these amazing companions.
In October of 1992, Leigh Brill is a young woman pursuing a Masters’ Degree in Community Agency Counseling at James Madison University. Hurrying to class one morning, she decides to take a shortcut through the grass. Leigh falls on the uneven surface spilling the contents of her backpack across the lawn. Instead of coming to her aid, a fellow student riding a bike zooms past her with sarcastic remarks. In a flashback, we get a glimpse of her as a child. It’s a life filled with multiple surgeries, dozens of doctors, loss of modesty and privacy for personal hygiene, and constant physical pain – all resulting from being born with Cerebral Palsy. Her prayer is to find an answer to her need for help that doesn’t include wheelchairs, canes or walkers - things that would make her feel like even more of a freak. She wants a solution that is right for her.
Weeks later, Leigh is introduced to a new student and her canine companion, Caesar. Once she sees Caesar in action, she begins a quest to have a Service Dog of her own. Following an interview process with Caring Canine Companions, it is determined that a Service Dog would meet Leigh’s needs for assistance and the search begins to find the perfect companion for her. That search leads to a Golden Retriever named Slugger.
As this autobiographical account continues, we follow Leigh and Slugger through twelve years of companionship. Their story is both heartwarming and poignant. It’s a partnership which allows Leigh to do things she would have never been brave enough to attempt on her own. But you’ll need to read the book to see where the wings of independence allow her to soar.
