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Chuckie, Chester and The Block Institute
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Two Career Change Dogs That Will Make a Big Difference
- Published in: Update - Issue 1 - 2010
- Listen to Article
Chuckie poses with a few of the children that attend The Block Institute. Along with his brother Chester, the dogs have been a positive influence on both the students and the staff.
Many people haven't heard of Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC). EIC is a genetic disease that is seldom fatal, but can cause a dog to weaken and become uncoordinated when physical exertion is combined with extreme excitement. Dogs with EIC are not candidates for guide work.
2009 marked the first time that a test for EIC was available, and Leader Dog's entire breeding colony was tested to see if they carried the EIC gene. Several of the dogs did. Consequently, any litters that were the result of two parents that had EIC had to be career changed.
Two black Labradors, Chuckie and Chester, belonged to one of the career changed litters. And though they were not destined to be Leader Dogs, both Chuckie and Chester had an important job ahead of them.
Through a collaboration with The Block Institute in New York City, a school for children and adults with developmental disabilities, Chuckie and Chester are training to be therapy dogs for the students. "We have already seen a significant change in the children who interact with or see the dogs," says Gina Maranga, director of program operations at Block and "mom" to Chester. "Everyone just lights up when they see the dogs, some of the adults in particular. They know their names and call to them. Some of the children that don't speak very often are vocalizing more and are given to very spontaneous reactions when the dogs are present."
The students are not the only ones who have been positively affected by Chuckie and Chester. "They've had a remarkable impact on the staff," reports Gina. "The dogs put everyone more at ease and have made everyone more approachable."
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