(l-r) Ramos and Katie Couch, Ruth and Gabe Murfitt. Courtesy photo.
Ruth, a two-year-old black Lab, belongs to Gabe Murfitt. The Woodinville teen, who is currently a sophomore at UW, relies on Ruth for a variety of tasks to help him be more independent in his daily life.
Gabe was born with a rare birth defect that prevented his arms and legs from growing properly. His arms are three inches long and his legs are malformed because the tibia and femur bones are fused.
Though he can walk on his knees, he uses a power wheelchair to get around most of the time. With the assistance of aides and various modifications, Gabe has led a completely normal life, attending Northshore schools and graduating from WHS in 2008. He now lives in an apartment in Seattle near campus.
"I have a roommate," says the teen, "as well as an aide who comes to help me in the mornings, but I am trying to do more on my own. With Ruth by my side, this is possible. She’s a service dog I received from Canine Companions for Independence."
Gabe continues to explain that Ruth opens and closes doors, turns lights on and off, picks up objects off the ground and is learning to assist him with his dressing process. The dog knows 50 commands, each of which Gabe had to learn during a two-week training session in California last August.
"It was hard work because new commands were introduced each day and then we had to take quizzes and pass a final at the end — both a written test and a practical one."
Gabe felt an instant connection with Ruth when he first met her and the bond between the two has grown stronger over time.
"She’s really smart," he says. "If she were a human, I’d describe her as a combination of a class president and a cheerleader. She’s very affectionate and she loves people. She’s also very energetic because she’s still got a lot of puppy in her. But, as soon as you put the vest on her, she settles right down. She takes her job very seriously."
Ruth goes everywhere with Gabe, including his classes, where she lies down on the floor next to him. He takes her for walks along the Burke-Gilman Trail, which is conveniently located near his apartment.
"She even goes to the bathroom on command!" he adds.
The teen is obviously delighted with his dog and is looking forward to having her be an integral part of his life for many years.
He comments, "Ruth is helping me become more efficient and independent, but she’s more than just a service dog. She’s a great companion."
At the same time that Gabe received Ruth, another Woodinville teen, Katie Couch, got her dog, Ramos, also from Canine Companions for Independence. Though trained similarly, the two dogs serve somewhat different purposes. Whereas Ruth is a service animal, Ramos is regarded as a skilled companion dog.
"Our daughter Katie was born with chromosome deletion syndrome," explains Susan Couch, Katie’s mom. "As a result, she is developmentally delayed. Her motor skills aren’t where they should be and she has social skills issues. We got her a skilled companion dog to help give her confidence, especially in public places. She gets anxious in crowds and in places like airports and malls, for example. Ramos has a steady nature, which is very calming for Katie."
Couch adds that Katie, who is 16 and a junior at WHS, cannot take the dog to school with her. She can’t go anywhere with him unless either Susan or her husband Dennis are present.
"We were trained as a team," says Couch. "When we’re out together, Ramos is attached to Katie via a companion leash, but either Dennis or I are in control of him."
A cross between a golden retriever and a Lab, Ramos is a playful and happy dog that aims to please. He quickly became a part of the Couch family.
Just like Ruth, he has an exuberant nature which immediately changes when he wears his vest.
"He realizes Katie is his responsibility," explains Couch, "and he stands near her so she can sense his calming presence. We’re working on getting Katie to give the commands, as opposed to us. She’s a quiet person, so it will take some time for her to form a solid bond with Ramos, but I’m confident in time that will happen."
Both the Murfitt and Couch families speak highly of Canine Companions for Independence. The nonprofit organization, which was founded in 1975 in Santa Rosa, Calif., has placed 3,200 graduate teams to date and has 3,000 active volunteers nationwide. People with physical or developmental disabilities who can demonstrate that a Canine Companions assistance dog will enhance their independence or their quality of life are qualified to apply for one of the animals.
There is no charge for an assistance dog. All costs involved in the lengthy process of breeding, raising and training each dog are incurred by the organization, which in turn receives funds from private donors, businesses, civic groups, service clubs and grants from corporations and foundations.
Canine Companions for Independence uses golden retrievers, Labs and crosses of these two breeds. And most of the dogs come from the organization’s selective breeding program.
Volunteers raise the puppies and take them to puppy classes, as well as teach them house manners and public etiquette.
When they are old enough, the dogs enter the organization’s formal training program at one of five regional training centers.
"It’s an outstanding program," comments Couch. "We have several friends who have dogs from the organization and we knew we wanted one for Katie. We waited two years, but it was worth it."
For more information about Canine Companions for Independence, visit www.cci.org.
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