John Lavender & Mobility Assistance Dog Spirit
Author: Colleen McFarlane
John Lavender, of Savage, Minn. was in need of some assistance in his everyday life due to his progressive multiple sclerosis. “I’m not so good at getting down and getting up again,” he explains. After seeing a photo of a Mobility Assistance Dog in a Can Do Canines posting online, he quickly made room for a new friend in his life. With a bit of patience and a lot of training, his new friend would change his life in the most positive way. Spirit, a two-year-old black Labrador Retriever, is always eager to help. Through their hard work together, it hasn’t taken long for her to become part of John’s family.
Along with her daily duties, Spirit has brought joy to John’s everyday life. He finds himself smiling more. “I’ll be in here throwing the toy, and while she’s getting it I’m just laughing out loud by myself,” he jokes. “She’s a goofball, spinning in circles before she brings it back to me.” Her sense of humor is just a small part of how she helps John. Spirit is constantly assisting him using her sharp retrieving skills. “She picks up anything I drop, which is nice,” he says.
“When something falls on the floor, she’ll get it before I realize it’s down there.”
John says that he brings Spirit everywhere, including work, running errands, and even going out to dinner. She has had a positive effect on everyone in John’s life. “One restaurant we go to, our waitress knows Spirit,” he shares. “If my friend gets there first she’ll ask, “Is Spirit coming tonight?” he laughs. “Not me, just Spirit.” John says upon her arrival she will immediately be greeted with a bowl of fresh water.
John attributes much of Spirit’s success to the strong support system he has around him. His Mom was involved in every step of the way, accompanying him to outings and events throughout the training process. His co-workers have been supportive as well. “They love her!” John exclaims. He says they take her on walks throughout the work day and have silly nicknames for her. Most importantly, they respect the job that she is there to do.
With all of these amazing moments to look back on, John expresses gratitude for Can Do Canines and everyone who helped him along the way. “It’s awesome and incredible,” he says of his new friend’s skills. “I’ll show my family everything Spirit can do and they’re shocked.” He admits having a little bit of difficulty on the journey, and advises anyone thinking of getting a Mobility Assistance Dog for themselves to “stick with it,” and focus on the repetitiveness. With his new sense of freedom and independence, John has found the entire process has been more than worth it.
“She makes everything easier, she’s my friend who is always with me.”
Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:
Great Start Home – Emily Jenkins
Puppy Raiser – The Inmate Handlers at the Federal Correctional Institution at Waseca
Special Thanks – Stephanie & Josh Thorsen
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