From the Editor
Sandy Siegel

The Doug and Kazu Reunions at the Ross Correctional Institution
Monday, June 23, 2008 and Monday, July 20, 2009

Over the past two years, Kazu, Pauline and I have shared in a remarkable and wonderful experience.  We have had the honor and privilege of being able to visit the gentlemen who perform the amazing work of raising Canine Companions for Independence (CCI)puppies at the Ross Correctional Institution. 

Kazu had been placed with Pauline in August 2007.  Kazu is a CCI Service Dog.  Kazu was born in California; he is one of Meeko’s puppies.  Meeko is cared for by a wonderful family in California.  The CCI breeding program is located near their headquarters in Santa Rosa, California.  This family also cares for Kashi who happens to be Kazu’s sister.  These kinship relations are pertinent to our story.  The puppies from California are delivered to the five CCI regional centers around the country.  When Kazu was two months old, he and Kashi hopped a plane to Delaware, Ohio.  The regional centers have a legion of volunteer puppy raisers.  After the puppies arrive at the regional centers, they are distributed to the puppy raisers.

Denice is an employee at the Ross Correctional Institution (RCI).  She is just an incredible human being!  She initiated and manages the puppy raising program at RCI for inmates who are in an honors unit.  They receive these puppies when they are two months old, and they will have them until they are just over a year old.  They teach the puppies about 30 commands, they socialize the puppies and they care for them during this critically important, formative year.  There are four or five CCI puppies being raised by four or five handlers at a time at the prison.  The puppies live with the inmates in their cells and are with them all day long, every day of the week.  Some of the inmates participate in the program as alternates.  These men care for the puppies when their handler has some obligation that requires that he be away from his puppy.  The puppies are with a handler or an alternate at all times.  Occasionally, one of the employees of the prison will take the dogs out for a trip to the store or to a mall or to their homes.  The puppies need to be socialized, they need to have experience being out in public and exposed to the different sights, sounds and smells outside of the prison, and they need to develop comfort with being in a car.  There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into training and socializing the puppies during the first year of their lives.  All of this work and love and care serves as the foundation for the advanced training that occurs when the puppies are turned back into the regional centers when they are from a year old to about 14 months. 

Kazu went through advanced training at the regional center in Delaware, Ohio.  The dogs learn their advanced commands during this training, which includes turning on and off light switches, pushing and opening an automatic accessible door, tugging open doors and closing them, picking objects up off of the ground, carrying things and many more amazing commands.  The dogs know more than 50 different commands by the time they complete advanced training.  And the advanced training serves as the basis for additional commands that these service dogs can be taught.  There is a CCI graduate liaison who is available to work with the graduates and service dogs for this training and to help with the dogs in a multitude of other ways, including any health or behavioral issues.  Since she has had Kazu, Pauline has taught him to bring objects to our recycling bin for her, to empty the clothes dryer and to drag a wagon of clothes into the living room where she can do the folding.  She’s also taught Kazu “go to Sandy” and “go to Pauline” so that Kazu can find either one of us in the house if we are needed.  

In addition to all of the commands, there are very high expectations set for the dogs’ behavior.  The dogs must exhibit acceptable behavior to be able to receive public access licensing and they must be able to remain focused on their companion while they are working.  When Kazu is given a down command, he is expected to remain in this down position for up to four hours without having to give him any other command.  And he knows this, because if he looks like he is going to get up, all you have to say is no and he remains down.  Only 40% of the dogs that come into the CCI program are able to graduate to become service dogs.  The foundation for these behavioral expectations is set while they are with their puppy raisers. 

Kazu was raised by Doug.  Pauline and I met Denice and Doug’s parents at the CCI graduation ceremony.  This was a very emotional experience for all of us.  Just before Christmas, I wrote a long letter to Doug about Kazu and Pauline.  The letter chronicled the advanced training experience and the relationship between Kazu and Pauline after bringing him home and into her life.  Doug wrote back and told us all about his incredible year with Kazu.  That exchange of correspondence became my editor’s column in the TMA Journal Vol. III.  Doug and I have been writing to each other regularly and I communicate with Denice by phone and emails.  Through our conversations, we decided to visit RCI so that we could meet Doug, see Denice, meet the other people raising CCI puppies, and create an opportunity for a Doug and Kazu reunion. 

After reading about Doug’s emotional good-bye to Kazu, I wanted for Doug to feel like he didn’t need to say good-bye to Kazu at all.  My heart moved me to make a personal commitment to have Doug and Kazu remain a part of each other’s lives.  When I suggested to Pauline that this is what I had in mind, she looked at me like I was asking her to make a visit to a men’s maximum security prison.  I got the same look when I sent a ballot out with our wedding invitations asking our wedding guests to vote on what they thought we should adopt as our last name.  As I thought it was unfair for Pauline to take my last name, the ballot included a variety of symbols such as the one Prince adopted for his name.  Fact is, I get this look from Pauline fairly often.  Life is short … can’t be deterred by the look.   

With a lot of very hard work on Denice’s part, the arrangements were made for Pauline, Kazu and I to make this visit to RCI on Monday, June 23, 2008.   

Denice sets the standards for the men in the program that match the very high expectations that are reflected in the CCI program.  She wants men involved in the program who understand the responsibility required in working with these dogs, and who accept that having the puppies is something more than having companionship or having a pet.  While it is not possible for every puppy to graduate to become a service dog, Denice expects that all of the puppies coming from RCI are going to have a good opportunity to graduate.  There is no doubt that the men’s lives are significantly enhanced by having these puppies; the love and companionship between the men and the dogs is just so intense and powerful.  The men benefit greatly in so many different ways from working with these dogs, and Denice ensures that the work is channeled into creating a good chance that the puppies from her program will graduate to become service dogs.

Before Kazu, Pauline and I made the trip to RCI in the summer of 2008; no one had ever made the trip to RCI to visit with the inmates and to bring one of the service dogs back to see their puppy raiser.  When a student graduates and receives a dog from CCI, they meet their puppy raiser at the graduation ceremony.  The students and the puppy raisers have breakfast together before the ceremony.  Also, before breakfast, the puppy raiser is given about a half hour to be alone with the dog.  There is a framed photograph of the student and service dog that is given to the puppy raiser at breakfast.  During the graduation, the puppy raiser ceremoniously hands the leash of the service dog over to the student.  It is hard to imagine a more sensitive and caring way for CCI to treat this situation than the way they do.  If you are a dog person, I have no doubt that you can empathetically feel the emotions of this situation and of this moment.  CCI communicates no expectations whatsoever about any contact or relationship between the student, their service dog and the puppy raiser.  The puppy raiser is instructed not to make contact with the student.  The choice of contact is entirely up to the student and this decision is very personal and the circumstances are different for everyone.  Some people have no contact with the puppy raiser, some people have regular contact, and some people are in contact on only very special occasions.  I am making no judgments about how people make this decision.  I am making no judgment whatsoever about the comfort level a person might have about making contact with an inmate in a prison. 

Before Pauline and Kazu came to prison, the inmates in the puppy raising program had never seen a dog that had completed advanced training.  They never had a chance to witness the more than 50 commands that are taught during this training.  They never had the chance to watch how the dogs work with a person who has a disability.  For the years they had been involved in the program, the men participating in the puppy raising program never had the opportunity to see the very special bond that develops between the service dog and the person with whom they are working. 
 
Denice arranged for us to have a three-hour visit at the prison from noon until 3:00.  RCI is located near Chillicothe which is about an hour drive from our house in north Columbus.  Pauline spent the morning brushing Kazu and getting him ready for his big day.  We had no idea how much walking we would need to do at the prison, so we brought both Pauline’s wheelchair and her canes.  I got the car loaded, and we headed to Chillicothe.  As we got close to the prison, Denice called and told us that she would head to the main entrance so that she would be able to help us through the security process. 
When we arrived at the prison, I unloaded the car, set up the wheelchair, and Pauline took Kazu to hurry.  The moment Kazu got out of the car, he knew where he was.  He put his nose up into the air and sniffed around and then got a very excited and stressed look on his face.  Kazu remained entirely unrelaxed for the next three and a half hours.  He was so excited, he could barely contain himself.

We went in the front door and three security guards had us sign in and turn in our driver’s licenses.  As we were completing the sign-in process, Denice arrived.  Kazu saw her and without a “release” he began spinning in circles.  He looked like he was about to jump on her and then in a split second, a minor bit of sanity prevailed.  But as Denice was petting him, Kazu continued to spin and vibrate.  Pauline and I had never seen Kazu this excited.  We got Kazu settled down some and headed out of the security area.  Denice took us outside into the yard area.  The entire prison complex was in front of us.  Stone buildings for as far as the eye could see. 

A short distance away, we arrived at the visitor’s building and went inside.  We looked down the short hallway to the large visiting room, and there was Doug.  Pauline told him that it was okay for him to call Kazu, which he did.  He called Kazu’s name twice before Kazu heard him.  Kazu had to have been very confused.  He knew this room very well.  This is the room where Doug worked with him, this was their training room.  It was a large room.  There were benches to practice “up” and “jump.”  It was no wonder that Kazu didn’t hear Doug at first.  And he was still reeling from his excitement of being with Denice.  Finally, he picked up his head, looked down the hallway and saw Doug.  He was off.  He charged Doug and began spinning wildly and running back and forth in front of Doug. 
 
Pauline said that if the room hadn’t been crowded with chairs and tables, Kazu definitely looked like he was going to take off running (like he does at home when he is very excited).  Doug was obviously thrilled that he was remembered and that Kazu was pretty out of control with excitement.  He left Kazu to do his spinning and running, and then he got down to showing all of the love he has had for Kazu for all of this time and had no way to express.  Kazu just loved every single minute of the petting and loving that he was getting from Doug. 

The love between this man and this dog was palpable.  Denice and Pauline and I just left the two of them alone for a while to be with and to enjoy each other.  It was totally awesome!

Finally, Kazu settled down and Pauline and I introduced ourselves to Doug.  We spent some time saying to each other many of the things that we had been communicating to each other about in letters.  Pauline thanked Doug for all of his love, dedication and care for Kazu.  And Doug thanked us for writing to him, for staying in touch with him and for coming to RCI to visit him.  We talked a lot about our experiences with Kazu, the team training, Kazu’s time with Doug at RCI and then Pauline’s time with Kazu in school and at home.  It was a wonderful visit with Doug. 

I brought copies of the Journal for Doug, Denice and for Doug’s mom.  Denice had arranged for us to have about a half hour to visit with Doug before anyone else arrived at the visiting area.  The rest of our time was going to be shared with the other handlers, their dogs, and nurses from the prison who help with the puppy raising program. 
Before the other puppy raisers arrived, Denice suggested that we take Kazu out into the yard to “hurry” and she also took the opportunity while we were outside to show us the rest of the prison.  She pointed out where the cells were located and also the unit where all of the puppy raisers stayed.  Denice explained that all of the puppy handlers stay together in cells in the same unit, because she wants them all in the same area where she works.  It makes it much easier for her to coordinate their activities.  The guys have also bonded with each other and they work together in raising the puppies and teaching them commands.  They definitely learn from each other, and as one develops a good technique for training, they all use it.  They greatly benefit from their close relationship, working together and living in the same area. 

Kazu pooped, and Doug had a bag handy and took care of it.  Like old times!  We all shared a good laugh about it.  As Kazu was finishing his business, a group of guys came walking through the yard with their dogs.  The other puppy raisers approached us outside.  We introduced ourselves and went into the visiting area.  We began talking to each other and the dogs began the process of checking each other out. 

Doug and another handler received puppies just the previous week from CCI.  Doug had turned in Fancy about two months ago, so he had been without a dog for two months.  He was very excited to have Dali, a male who was just over two months old.  He was already working on the hurry command (potty training) with Dali.  Denice had the guys put a crate up so that the puppies would have a place to stay while there was so much commotion going on in the room.  But for most of the time, the puppies were in the visiting area romping around and visiting with everyone.  Kazu had not the slightest bit of interest in the puppies.  Doug told us that Kazu never showed any interest in puppies.

The inmates all had dogs of different ages and at different stages in the training process.  Besides the two puppies, there was Dune and Davida who were both about a year old.  Both Dune and Davida were exceptionally well trained.  They spent most of the time in the visiting area visiting with everyone and also checking out Kazu.  Kazu was so much more interested in Doug and the other people who were paying attention to him; the other dogs weren’t getting much notice. 

Davida is Kazu’s niece.  She is the daughter of Kashi who is Kazu’s sister.  Davida is being raised by Bud.  Uncle Kazu pretty much ignored Davida until the very end of our visit.  Just before we left, Davida was sniffing Kazu and trying to get him engaged in some kind of play and Kazu went into a play bow.  We thought he might take off running, but then he went immediately unenthusiastic about the play idea.  By the end of our visit, Kazu was totally exhausted from all of the excitement and all of the attention. 

Denice had purchased a beautiful cake for us to celebrate the occasion.  It was, of course, a chocolate cake with purple flowers and decoration!  It is, after all, all about Pauline.  Denice is really a sweetheart! 
As we were sitting in the room enjoying the cake, Doug told Pauline that he had a gift for her.  He went over to a bag and took out an absolutely beautiful purple quilt that he had made for Pauline.  He said that Denice got the pattern for him.  Denice told me that he had been working on the quilt for the past two months from the time that he turned in Fancy until he got Dali.  Pauline was just totally overwhelmed.  And Doug was really moved by Pauline’s very emotional reaction, and so pleased.  Some of the men are also involved in a quilting program.  The quilts they make are donated to nursing homes. 

Pauline and I were so impressed with these men.  They were kind, sweet, sincere, genuine, and respectful.  They had such nice things to say to us.  All of them had read the letter that I wrote to Doug and they each took the time to thank me for writing and they let me know how much they appreciated what I had to share.

We next turned our attention to talking about the training program that the handlers are using to work with their puppies.  These guys do an exceptional job of training the dogs.  Nate took Dune through all of his commands for us. 

As we are very aware of the appropriate way for the commands to be done, through our experience with team training and Kazu, we knew how well Dune was trained.  He went through Nate’s commands perfectly.  It was so impressive.  He did each of the commands in the correct way, without any hesitation and exactly the way it was supposed to be done.  Pauline told Nate that he did a great job and never saw anything better than what Nate just demonstrated for her — even during team training.  Nate was very proud. 

Dune was so focused on Nate while they were going through their routine.  All of the commands are done with voice.  The handlers do not use their hands at all when giving commands.  As these dogs are going to be trained as service dogs for people with disabilities, they have to learn to respond to commands by a person who may not be able to use any part of their bodies to communicate.  All of the commands begin by saying the dog’s name, and the response from the dogs is to lock their eyes onto the handler.  When this focus is established, the command is given. 

The RCI nurses came to the visitor’s center to see Kazu and to spend some time with the new puppies.  Of course, Kazu enjoyed another round of attention from the nurses.  The nurses are a tremendous help for Denice with the program and provide medical assistance to the puppies that saves some trips back to a veterinarian.

Pauline then described her experiences to the nurses and puppy raisers.  She talked about her team training experience, she explained the different things Kazu did for her, and she talked a lot about her experiences with Kazu at her school.  The guys asked a lot of questions about her experiences.  It was a great exchange. 

When Pauline was finished with the discussion and answering questions, she showed the guys some of the things that Kazu learned in advanced training after he left RCI.  She had Kazu get a credit card from the floor, she had Kazu do light and switch, she had Kazu open and close the door (tug and push) and she had Kazu tug a bag across the floor for her.  She also had Kazu pick up her canes for her.  The guys were all very impressed.  And Doug was so proud of Kazu!

Kazu had been on his feet for almost the entire time we were in the room.  He was exhausted, but too excited to know it.  At around 3:00, Denice announced that we were going to have to end our session.  So, we took a couple of group photos to remember the occasion, and we said our good-byes to everyone.  It was very emotional.  I told Doug that we weren’t going to say good-bye and we didn’t want for him to say good-bye to Kazu either, because we were all going to see each other again.   

Denice walked us out to the car and we got everything loaded in just before a rain storm began.  The guys returned to their unit.  We thanked Denice for an incredible day and a wonderful experience and promised to remain in touch with her. 

When Pauline and I first heard that Kazu had been raised in a prison, we both had the same reaction; we were concerned that Kazu didn’t have the same puppy experience that he might have had in a family.  Our concern was that he didn’t have as good an experience; that his life in prison might not have been as comfortable or that he might not have received as much attention or love.  As we drove away from the prison, Pauline turned to me and said, “Wow, Kazu had the most incredible and positive life with Doug and with these men.  He had such a great life in prison.”  And I totally agreed with Pauline.  He was the focus of Doug’s existence for more than a year.  He lived with Doug in his cell.  He got attention from Doug almost all day long, every single day.  He was the center of attention by everyone, everywhere he went in the prison.  Everyone knew him and loved him.  From the other inmates, to the guards, to the nurses, to the staff, Kazu was the focus of so much care and love.  We saw it for ourselves during our visit; everyone loved Kazu!  And Doug loved him and took such wonderful care of him.  And he trained Kazu as well as a person could train a dog.  It is hard to imagine that Kazu would have or could have received this kind of attention in a family.  There is no family that I am aware of that has the time or the focus to give to a puppy what these men are able to provide to these dogs in prison.  We came home and wrote thank you cards for Doug and Denice, and two days later, we received a letter from Doug.

Pauline’s and Kazu’s visit to RCI was so important for Denice and for the men in this program.  By being able to observe the product of their hard work, their dedication, their focus and the love and care they provide to the dogs, they were significantly affirmed in the purpose of their work.  Each of these men also observed, first-hand, that the work they were doing was transforming a person’s life in the most meaningful and positive and profound ways.  Before we left, one of the men approached me and thanked us for coming to visit all of them.  He told me that our visit and our communications have totally re-energized him in his work with the dogs. 

Denice arranged another visit for Pauline, Kazu and I with Doug and the other puppy raisers in July 2009.  The visits always have to be arranged on a Monday because we meet in the prisoner visiting area.  There are no visitations on Mondays, so we are able to have this room to ourselves.  Denice made contact with another person who had received a service dog who had been trained by Jack at RCI and invited her for a visit at the same time that Pauline and Kazu were coming.  I have no doubt that by being able to explain that someone else would be there with them, and that this was a return visit, made this invitation easier for her to consider.  We were thrilled that Suzanne accepted the invitation and came with her service dog and with the help of her mother.  Suzanne was going to have the opportunity to meet Jack, her dog’s puppy raiser.  Jack is a veteran in the RCI puppy raising program and has helped Denice by sharing his experience with the other men. 

We arrived at the prison just before noon and this time, Denice came outside and met us in front of the prison gate.  Again, Kazu recognized Denice immediately and was very excited to see her. 
Kazu is just amazingly disciplined.  At the time we visited RCI this summer, Pauline had been with Kazu for about two years.  Their bond is so strong.  When Kazu is with Pauline he is so focused on her; his eyes are often just locked onto her.  So, when Kazu is overwhelmed by some outside stimulus, he sometimes becomes confused.  Confusion would be a mild characterization of what I observed in Kazu while he was trying to remain composed and focused on Pauline, who had not given him the ‘release’ command, and thus release him from his work mode, and his being in Denice’s presence and being way too excited to remain composed.  Finally, Pauline gave Kazu the release command and he spun around in front of Denice while she gave him a full body rub. 

We went through the security procedure and once signed in, Denice took us to the visitor’s center.  We were in the center for only a few minutes when Doug came through the door.  Pauline released Kazu and he bolted toward Doug.  If anyone has any doubt about what a dog remembers, let me assure you that they have excellent memories.  Kazu loves Doug and you can see his connection to this man every time he is in his presence.  Doug turned Kazu into CCI for advanced training when Kazu was about 14 months old.  He saw Kazu for the first time when Pauline brought him back over a year later.  Kazu’s reaction to seeing Doug in July of 2008 and then again this past summer leave no doubt that he remains totally attached to this man.  I have no doubt that he has memories of Doug and that they will forever be a part of each other’s lives.

After Doug and Kazu had their time together, Doug’s puppy, Dali, was brought into the room.  Doug had wanted a short visit with Kazu before the two dogs had to share Doug’s attention.  The little two month old puppy in Doug’s arms in the group photograph from 2008 was now larger than Kazu.  Dali was scheduled to be turned in to CCI for advanced training in August, so Doug only had another month of time with Dali. 

As had been the case with Kazu, Doug was entirely devoted to his training of Dali.  He was totally focused on Doug and followed every command when it was given by Doug.  There is no doubt that Dali will also become a wonderful service dog after completing advanced training.  We talked about Doug’s feelings about having to turn in Dali in a short time.  Doug explained that we’d definitely helped him with these good-byes.  He said that after Kazu, they remain difficult, but they are not as painful.  Because he has been able to stay in touch with us and with Kazu and has a better idea about what these dogs’ lives are like with their companions and what the dogs are doing for their companions, it is easier for him to handle the emotions of the separation. 

We had a short visit with Doug while Denice went to the security gate to welcome the other family.  Suzanne and her mom entered the room with their service dog as the other puppy raisers came into the room.  It was a wonderful reunion for her dog and Jack.  And there was yet another reunion taking place this day.  Dune had gone to advanced training at CCI but did not graduate because of a physical problem.  When Dune was released from the program, one of the employees at RCI adopted Dune.  Denice asked the employee to bring Dune into work and to bring him to the visitor’s center.  Nate had the opportunity to spend time with Dune after not having seen him for a year.  It was a fantastic reunion for Nate and Dune, as well.

As I described from our first visit to RCI, Nate had done an exceptional job of training Dune and preparing him for advanced training.  There was no doubt in either Pauline’s or my mind that Dune would have graduated to become a service dog had he not had the physical issue.  Nate had worked so hard and had developed such high expectations for Dune, that his being released from the program caused him more disappointment than he could handle.  When Nate explained to me that he was no longer in the RCI puppy raising program, we had a long talk about his experience.  I told Nate that he really had a gift and that we saw this in his relationship with Dune the previous year and in the discipline and devotion that they both had exhibited when he took Dune through all of his commands.  I also expressed to Nate that I made no judgment in regard to his decision to leave the program.  I acknowledged all of the emotional issues surrounding being in the puppy program and the separation from the dogs after a year.  I also assured Nate that he did all that he could to set the stage for Dune to succeed and that he had no more control over the physical issues that Dune developed any more than I had control over keeping Pauline from getting transverse myelitis.  Things just happen that are beyond our control or understanding and we have no choice but to accept these events and try to make the best out of them.  I only asked Nate to not totally close the door on his coming back some day.  I reminded him about how exceptional his talents were in regards to caring for and training Dune and that his talents could benefit someone like Pauline and Suzanne in the ways he was now able to see for himself. 

I received a letter from Nate about a week after our visit to RCI.  He thanked me for talking to him about his experiences with Dune and in helping him to find some closure on this difficult and emotional situation for him.  I remain hopeful that Nate will find his way back into the program.  I know that he greatly benefitted from being in the program, and he does have a gift!

Denice brought in pizzas for everyone, and we shared lunch with Denice, Suzanne and her mother, Nate and the six men from the RCI puppy raising program.  Three of the men are raising puppies and three of the men serve as alternates.  The three puppies being raised were going to be turned in for advanced training the following month.       

As this was our second visit with the men and we have been communicating regularly with Doug by letters, this visit truly did feel like a reunion.  There was a lot of conversation about the dogs.  Everyone wanted to hear about Pauline’s and Suzanne’s experiences with their service dogs and there was a lot of conversation about the puppies and the RCI puppy raising program.  But we also had a lot of time to talk to Doug about other than dog matters.

Doug had started college and we talked for a long time about his courses and his educational aspirations.  We also talked about his relationships with his children and his excitement about his daughter who had recently made a visit to see him.  Pauline and I were just thrilled to see Doug’s life moving forward in some really positive ways.

And during our conversation, as Doug would periodically hug and stroke Kazu, the thought would enter my mind that Doug’s positive directions have no doubt been influenced by his time with Kazu and with Dali and with the incredible opportunities that have been made available to him by Denice.

Dali is exceptionally well trained.  Doug has done a fantastic job with Dali.  He is completely fixed on Doug and waiting for his next command.  His eyes almost never leave him.
Denice bought presents for the dogs; each of them received a hard rubber ball.  This ball has become one of Kazu’s favorite toys.  He loves chasing it around the house, but he also likes to hold it in his mouth and just prance around the house holding it in his mouth, periodically bouncing it off of the floor and catching it back in his mouth.  There was an enclosed yard area adjacent to the visitor’s room and the dogs went out to run and hurry after we finished lunch.   Everyone went outside to visit and to watch the dogs play.  And, of course, the dogs insisted on having a group photo.  The handsome guy in the middle is Kazu.

It was a wonderful visit with Denice, Suzanne and her mom, and the incredible men of the RCI puppy raising program.  We really have come to appreciate and to value our time with Doug, Bud, Jack, Nate and the other men.  And we continue to correspond regularly with Doug and Denice during the year by mail with Doug and by emails and phone with Denice. 

There was a very poignant moment as we all exited the visitor’s center.  There are a series of gates that we have to pass through to leave the prison.  As Suzanne and her mom and Pauline and I stood at the first gate with Denice, I turned around to see the men walking as a group with their dogs toward their unit inside the prison.  As we waved good-bye to each other, I was overwhelmed by the sense of freedom I had in being able to leave this place, and what these men experience every day by virtue of remaining inside.   

Kazu and Pauline have been together for about two and half years.  They have developed a very comfortable routine and Kazu, has, of course, become a member of our family.  In fact, it feels as though we’ve had Kazu in our lives for decades.  Kazu goes to school with Pauline every day and he remains by her side at home during his every waking hour.  Even when he is sleeping, he is often nuzzled up against Pauline while she strokes his soft floppy ears.  He is as attentive to Pauline’s needs as the day he completed his advanced training.

Pauline works with Kazu on his commands every day.  She doesn’t use all of Kazu’s commands regularly so she has to periodically review through all of his commands so that he remembers how to do them.  We had a very interesting experience with Kazu that reminded us as to why this practice with the commands is so important.  Pauline almost never uses the speak command.  Pauline doesn’t ever want for Kazu to bark in her school or in a public place, so she doesn’t often give Kazu the speak command.  For the entire first year she was with Kazu, he never barked and she never gave him the command.  One evening, I suggested to Pauline that she might want to give Kazu the command so that he remembers it.  We hadn’t heard Kazu bark one time since he had graduated from advanced training.  She then gave Kazu the speak command, and he looked at her, but didn’t do anything.  She gave him the command again, and he made some sound from the back of his throat that was really pathetic and not a bark.  Needless to say, Pauline and I were both totally freaked out and entirely entertained.  Kazu had forgotten how to bark!  Pauline gave the command a few more times and while Kazu would open his mouth and make some strange faces, nothing was coming out.  Pauline even gave the speak command and would bark herself so that Kazu could hear the sounds coming from her mouth.  We finally gave up, because we didn’t want to frustrate Kazu.  The next day, Pauline gave him the speak command again.  Kazu produced a weak bark … but it was a bark.  She repeated the command a few more times and Kazu really barked loudly.  Kazu has a really manly bark.  Doug had explained to Pauline that when he gave Kazu the speak command, he would encourage Kazu and he would continue barking until Doug would tell him to stop.  So, Pauline tried this approach and, sure enough, Kazu barked and barked until Pauline told him to stop.  Practice.  The commands have to be practiced; all of them.    

Kazu has a great life.  Kazu has a very exciting life and is very well traveled.

In addition to making the trip to visit all of his wonderful friends at RCI this summer, Kazu flew to Washington DC for a meeting of the Paralysis Task Force of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.  He had a great visit with Shelley and Cody Unser at the meeting and even found some time to see all of the monuments and buildings on the mall during his long morning and evening walks.

He next flew to Dallas to visit the new TM and NMO Center at the University of Texas Southwestern that was established by Dr. Ben Greenberg.  He thought the Dallas Aquarium was really beautiful and interesting.  He spent an evening at Billy Bob’s Bar and Rodeo.  While he found them to be really big and scary, Kazu was totally appalled at the treatment of the bulls.  But the highlight of the Dallas visit was his foray into Dr. Greenberg’s swimming pool.  That’s Kazu in the pool with Paula Lazzeri, her son, Jesse and Pauline.  And posed directly in front of Kazu’s face is Dr. Douglas Kerr.  Dr. Kerr most definitely loves Kazu; everyone loves Kazu. 

Kazu then drove down to North Carolina for his first beach vacation.  The big waves were a bit intimidating until he got the hang of running in and out of the surf.  Kazu is a mix of lab and golden retriever.  We know that he’s supposed to love water.  Someone is going to have to explain that to Kazu sometime. 

Our beach vacation was followed by a week at the TMA family camp at Victory Junction.  Kazu had lots of bonding time with Dr. Kerr and he had a wonderful time dancing after every breakfast and dinner at camp.  Kazu always loves his time at camp.  Victory Junction just totally rocks!

Kazu was exhausted by the end of the summer and was looking forward to beginning the school routine with Pauline.  We just love our routine.  Kazu and Pauline will have their public access testing in November.  I have no doubt that they will pass with flying colors.  Kazu does what he’s told when Pauline gives him his commands.  Kazu and I are equally responsive to all of Pauline’s voice commands.

Kazu is just amazing.  Kazu’s Mom, Meeko, and Dad, Baumann, have created some really wonderful dogs.  A large number of Kazu’s kin have gone on to become service dogs.  He comes from an incredible line of dogs.  The CCI breeding program is really exceptional.  The breeder caretakers are an amazing and devoted group; these dogs become a part of their families.  The advanced trainers are incredibly dedicated and disciplined and focused on their mission, and carry it out with great sensitivity, care and professionalism.  And the puppy raisers … they are such a wonderful and generous group of people.  They take a two month old puppy and do all of the hard work of leash training, and develop the toileting issues and work through the behavioral issues and teach the puppies about 30 different commands.  The puppy raisers create the foundation for the more complex regimen that will come with advanced training.  This takes just an amazingly selfless act of kindness.  What the puppy raisers have are the wonderful memories of their puppies and the knowledge that they have transformed someone’s life in the most positive ways.

What Denice does for these guys is really beyond words to describe.  During our visit, one of the guys said to me, “I never thought about helping any one in my entire life.  It just never occurred to me to want to help someone else.  And then I got involved in this program, and it has changed the way I think.  I love that what I’m doing is helping someone who needs this help.”  Denice has told me on more than one occasion that this program has definitely changed these guys.  I can’t imagine how it wouldn’t.  Pauline and I got the softest look at prison from the perspective we had on our visits.  It is a very hard place.  You can see it on these guys’ faces.  Prison is a very hard place.  The CCI puppy raising program gives them a meaningful and important way to spend their time.  Without this program, they would be just doing time.  I can’t even imagine what is like … but I often think about that moment in time as the men were heading in and we were heading out. 

Doug and the other men are so focused on their puppies and what they are trying to accomplish.  Their lives are so much better for this program and there is no doubt that the contribution they are making is exceptional.  They also got to see that when they met Pauline and Suzanne.  Pauline and Suzanne put a face and a real life in front of them to connect their hard work and their dedication and their love and care with their ultimate goals.  They work so hard to get a dog graduated.  They love their puppies; they really love their puppies.  These are good guys.  I am so glad that they are involved in the puppy raising program.  They are truly blessed to have someone like Denice in their lives.  It was an honor for Pauline and me to meet Doug and the other guys we’ve met on our visits to RCI.  Pauline, Kazu and I are looking forward to our next reunion with Doug, Denice and the other men in the puppy raising program in the summer of 2010!