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The Service Dog Project helps deaf Epping woman
After a long career of training animals for television, movies and commercials in the New England area, Carlene White started her own charity, and became president of The Service Dog Project. She now raises, trains, and donates Great Danes to people with balance handicaps, many of whom have multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease, or to others who are blind or have autism. Epping resident Melissa Dickerson, who is deaf, was the first person to receive a dog, a 4½-year-old Great Dane, "Annie."
White remembers when Dickerson first received Annie back in 2003, especially because Annie was the first dog ever donated through the program. Annie's mother and all of her sisters are also trained dogs as well.
"Annie and Melissa are fantastic together. Melissa just had a baby, and Annie is able to alert Melissa that the baby is crying. I taught her that if there is a repetitive noise she is to go and get Melissa," White said. "We teach the dogs that if there is a repetitive noise they go and touch the person, because they may be asleep, and then the dogs bring the person to the noise," White said.
Dickerson said because she is profoundly deaf and suffers from vertigo, Annie has been a great asset to her life.
"Annie has saved me many times," Dickerson said. "While walking, she lets me know when a car is coming. At home, she hears someone knock or ring the bell. She also lets me know when my baby is crying and awake, or when the food is done in the microwave or the dryer buzzer goes off. She is very noise sensitive and alerted easy. I become very dizzy and I used to fall down the stairs a lot, and Annie helps me go up and down and I have not fallen."
Dickerson said Annie is well behaved and everyone she meets loves her. Now, Dickerson has the freedom and security to know that Annie can hear sounds for her and give her support when she gets dizzy or is about to fall. Dickerson said Annie is so intelligent it is like having another person in the house.
"Having a service dog has improved my life by giving me the freedom and security to know that Annie hears sounds for me and is there when I need support," Dickerson said.
"Great Danes are very smart, they think and communicate well and learn quickly. Annie has allowed me to feel free from the barriers of being deaf and having vertigo," Dickerson said.
White came up with the idea for The Service Dog Project back in 2003, and currently she has placed 14 dogs with owners from throughout Boston's North Shore and southern New Hampshire.
"Great Danes love to do work and be attached to one person, because the dogs are so well trained, I figured I should fill the need. I enjoy the dogs and helping people, so it is a win-win situation," White said. "They get people out of the house, back on their feet, and talking to people again. They are social magnets."
To match other individuals with disabilities with service dogs like Annie, a fund-raiser is slated for Saturday, May 3, at the charity's home base in Ipswich, Mass., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Training and donating a dog costs about $15,000, and after a hard winter and the collapsing of the training room roof, the charity decided to hold a family fund-raiser.
"We are having a family fun day at the farm, with a tour of the kennels, children's games, a real tepee, a cookout with hot dogs, and 'chicken poo' Bingo, in which the winner will receive $1,000," White said.
Tickets for the fund-raiser are available the day of the event for $5.
After a long career of training animals for television, movies and commercials in the New England area, Carlene White started her own charity, and became president of The Service Dog Project. She now raises, trains, and donates Great Danes to people with balance handicaps, many of whom have multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease, or to others who are blind or have autism. Epping resident Melissa Dickerson, who is deaf, was the first person to receive a dog, a 4½-year-old Great Dane, "Annie."
White remembers when Dickerson first received Annie back in 2003, especially because Annie was the first dog ever donated through the program. Annie's mother and all of her sisters are also trained dogs as well.
"Annie and Melissa are fantastic together. Melissa just had a baby, and Annie is able to alert Melissa that the baby is crying. I taught her that if there is a repetitive noise she is to go and get Melissa," White said. "We teach the dogs that if there is a repetitive noise they go and touch the person, because they may be asleep, and then the dogs bring the person to the noise," White said.
Dickerson said because she is profoundly deaf and suffers from vertigo, Annie has been a great asset to her life.
"Annie has saved me many times," Dickerson said. "While walking, she lets me know when a car is coming. At home, she hears someone knock or ring the bell. She also lets me know when my baby is crying and awake, or when the food is done in the microwave or the dryer buzzer goes off. She is very noise sensitive and alerted easy. I become very dizzy and I used to fall down the stairs a lot, and Annie helps me go up and down and I have not fallen."
Dickerson said Annie is well behaved and everyone she meets loves her. Now, Dickerson has the freedom and security to know that Annie can hear sounds for her and give her support when she gets dizzy or is about to fall. Dickerson said Annie is so intelligent it is like having another person in the house.
"Having a service dog has improved my life by giving me the freedom and security to know that Annie hears sounds for me and is there when I need support," Dickerson said.
"Great Danes are very smart, they think and communicate well and learn quickly. Annie has allowed me to feel free from the barriers of being deaf and having vertigo," Dickerson said.
White came up with the idea for The Service Dog Project back in 2003, and currently she has placed 14 dogs with owners from throughout Boston's North Shore and southern New Hampshire.
"Great Danes love to do work and be attached to one person, because the dogs are so well trained, I figured I should fill the need. I enjoy the dogs and helping people, so it is a win-win situation," White said. "They get people out of the house, back on their feet, and talking to people again. They are social magnets."
To match other individuals with disabilities with service dogs like Annie, a fund-raiser is slated for Saturday, May 3, at the charity's home base in Ipswich, Mass., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Training and donating a dog costs about $15,000, and after a hard winter and the collapsing of the training room roof, the charity decided to hold a family fund-raiser.
"We are having a family fun day at the farm, with a tour of the kennels, children's games, a real tepee, a cookout with hot dogs, and 'chicken poo' Bingo, in which the winner will receive $1,000," White said.
Tickets for the fund-raiser are available the day of the event for $5.