Dogs have the reputation of being man’s best friend, and this is because, for the most part, that is the role they play. They are companions and loyal subjects. For junior Grace Lindsey her dog,Walker, is much more than simply her best friend.
Grace’s family had wanted a therapy dog for a long time, but the process of finding a therapy dog is much more involved than it would be to go and find a new pet.
“It was an initiative started by her family,” Navigator teacher Courtney Weber said. “Grace was on the waiting list quite a while to get Walker. The service has to wait for a dog that will be the right fit for the family and for the person he is serving.”
The extra time that it took in order to find Walker was well worth it for Grace with everything he is able to do for her.
“He [Walker] helps me with my seizures and with my anxiety,” Grace said. “He tells me when I am having seizures and can help cheer me up when I feel bad or anxious.”
Walker is able to help with Grace’s health, a job that is not to be taken lightly.
“Grace has epilepsy and he is trained to detect the onset of Grace’s seizures,” paraprofessional Caitlin Wills said. “She does not have the kind of seizures that most people think of and she can usually talk through hers. He is just there to sense when they will occur so that she can recognize it sooner.”
Although being able to detect seizures is a crucial part of Walker’s job description, it is only half of what he does.
“As a therapy dog, his [Walker’s] job is to literally sit, and let Grace pet him,” Weber said. “Anybody that has a dog knows what it is like to go home after a long, bad day and hang out with your dog. Walker is there to help Grace with her stress and anxiety and to help cheer her up when she needs it. One of his commands is actually ‘give hug’.”
Whenever Walker is around Grace, he is working. Helping to relax her and detect seizures is a full time job, which is part of the reason why she is able to bring him to school with her.
“Last year, Walker came to school two days a week,” Wills said. “He will probably be up here at least two days a week, if not more this year. That all depends on how well he obeys her commands and how other students handle him being here. In other words, they need to respect that he is a working dog and approach Grace about petting him.”
As long as Walker is fulfilling the job that he is trained to do, he will be able to begin coming to school more often. He definitely has a positive influence with Grace and the class.
“Walker is a great companion for Grace,” Weber said. “Walker is a great ‘social tool.’ Kids come up to Grace and want to meet Walker and ask about him and usually start conversations with Grace, which can sometimes be hard [for Grace] to do. So, it provides great opportunities for her.”
Along with helping Grace in school, Walker also follows Grace almost everywhere she goes.
“Walker is with me all of the time at home,” Grace said. “He sleeps in my room by the door like a guard dog. He goes to
church with me sometimes too. He does the same stuff at home as he does at school. I work at a pool, though, so he can’t really come to work with me.”
Walker is constantly being trained, but there is no doubt he has been very beneficial to Grace since she got him last fall. Even though he still has some trouble listening, she is still able to appreciate everything he is able to do for her.
“Sometimes he doesn’t listen and it’s frustrating,” Grace said. “But I love Walker.”