SSD Rockwell

Rockwell: a Susquehanna Service Dog

I am a 61 year old woman who has spent most of my adult years in pain at all levels of my body. My spinal column is in big trouble and I was told at a very young age that my senior years would come early and be even more painful. About 5 years ago I happened to be at the right place at the right time and was introduced to Raven. That would be SSD Raven to be correct.

I was already spending most of my time in a wheelchair and his talents were so exciting to me. So I began the process to have a service dog of my own. Finally my day came to “meet the dogs” and two years ago after his training and mine I was partnered with SSD Rockwell. We brought him home and my life as I knew it began to change. I spend a lot of time on my own as my husband was still employed and our children are grown and married.

Rockwell most importantly, picked up everything I dropped which is a lot since my hands are painful. (In the past I either risked falling from my chair or my husband went all over the house to fix up all my messes when he returned.) The best part of that was if I dropped something like a pill he also knew not to pick it up with the correct command. He could bring the phone to me incase I was in trouble. He opened doors, and was even taught to get me a bottle of water from the refrigerator, bring it to me, go back and close the door. Amazing!

After being together a couple months Rockwell started showing me some days he would rather be a dog instead of a service dog. I spoke to Susquehanna Service Dogs and asked for advice, just as they said I should do. His trainer actually came to my home and helped me get back on track. Rockwell has been learning and helping ever since.

Today SSD Rockwell has learned to do so many more things to help me to be as independent as I can be. Today he helps me pull off my socks and slacks and picks up my shoes and clothes around me. He seems to know what I am about to do the minute I begin and quickly follows me to the bathroom and stays there with me until all is well and I am back in my chair. He has not only learned to pick up each piece of clean laundry from the basket as I fold it, he also takes the laundry from the dryer as I fold it. He never stops until the job is done. The list goes on and the very best part of this is that I know that as my needs change he will continue to learn. He is so eager to help. He just fills my heart, and everyone he meets, filled with love. I feel so much safer and so much more independent each day at home and out in public. My husband feels like I am never alone while he is away. This experience with Susquehanna Service Dogs has been a true blessing for me and my family.