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Four-legged 'Little Ferry' helps
Darlene cruise through the islands
posted 11/01/00
I adore my dog, MacKenzie the Multi-Breed. She faithfully bounces about each time I roll up the driveway in my rumbling Island car. OK, she's probably just excited because soon she'll be getting her ears skritched, playing fetch or taking a walk before easily earning a treat.
I know her image of her master is something like this: "Short guy. Hand. Treat." In spite of her lip-licking as she greets at me, I am still extremely fond of her. Our relationship is simple, but it works: I provide her with food, shelter and affection and she gives comforting companionship. She earns her cozy keep with little effort.
As wonderful a pup as Kenzie is, she is a lethargic hound when compared to a canine cousin on San Juan Island. Fayette, a gorgeous German shepherd, helps her visually-impaired master Darlene Wahl lead an active life. Appropriately, Fayette means "Little Ferry" in French.
Darlene recently gave the San Juan Lions Club a better picture of a service dog and master team. A guest speaking about sight was fitting since Lions are one of the major supporters of sight-improvement causes. The local club helps several islanders each year.
Growing up in Madison, Wisconsin. Darlene knew she would one day have a canine companion. Her mother, who lost all her vision, had a German shepherd guide dog. "I much prefer puppies to the white cane," Darlene says.
Darlene has almost no depth perception and her eyes are "incredibly light-sensitive. I'm also quite a bit color blind: The change in the Wizard of Oz from black and white to color never meant anything to me." Her vision is not blurry, "the details just are not there."
That doesn't prevent Darlene from being an active person -- she nordic skied 510 miles across Lapland with a National Geographic expedition and enjoys hiking, canoeing and whitewater rafting. "I definitely like to get out a lot," says Darlene, who recently hiked in Olympic National Park's Hurricane Ridge.
She wanted more independence though and asked for a service dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind. The donation-supported organization provides the dogs and training -- which costs more than $50,000 -- free to qualified people.
While Darlene's request was being processed, her future helper was born from American and Canadian parents. So, Fayette should feel comfortable living on an island on the two countries' border.
Fayette was bred to serve. Only the best of the service dog pups are selected for breeding and Fayette was nearly selected for the duty, Darlene boasts. Of course, Fayette's master is also glad her pup didn't make the breeder cut. "Fayette's healthy and sound," Darlene says. "She wants to work and really wants to please."
At about 15-weeks-old, Fayette was assigned to a volunteer puppy raiser. A year later, she began her service dog boot camp at the Guide Dogs For the Blind's kennel in San Rafael, California. About four months later, Fayette passed her exam and was ready to be paired with a person. Darlene and Fayette went to school together, living in a dorm in San Rafael, California for one month. The two worked in all sorts of conditions from the quiet school campus to San Francisco's bustling commuter rail system BART.
Training in different environments makes Fayette "very adaptable," Darlene notes.
Fay is so composed she even rides calmly in a canoe. "I think there's a lot of things we do that she's pretty skeptical of," Darlene says.
But when Fayette's aware of a real risk, such as the time Darlene tested her by urging her to step from a dock four feet up, her intelligent disobedience takes over. In that instance, Fayette stepped in front of Darlene and blocked her progress. "They're trained to really look out for you," Darlene says.
Fayette, in her two years with Darlene, has been much more of an enabler than a inhibitor, though. "She's given me a lot of freedom," her companion says.
"I definitely like to get out a lot," adds Darlene, who recently hiked in Olympic National Park's Hurricane Ridge.
Islanders can make the travels of Darlene and Fayette and other service dog teams smoother by not disturbing the diligent canines. Darlene stresses that service dogs are on duty when they're wearing their harnesses. And although Fayette's heart-tugging pleading eyes might signal she desperately needs a pat, she is on duty and should not be distracted. Fayette receives plenty of love at home. "Don't fall for it, she's a smooth operator," Darlene says.
"Please don't pet a dog in a harness," Darlene emphasizes. "When the harness is off, she's like any other dog."
And when the harness is off, Fayette becomes all puppy. She frolics with other dogs in a large yard. "I feel very fortunate that I live in a place where Fay can play and run," Darlene says.
Fayette spent one winter in Wisconsin, where she wore booties to protect her feet from the ice, snow and cold. Both she and her master prefer the milder climate of the San Juan Islands.
"This is a good place for people and dogs," Darlene says.
The pair work in one of the most spectacular spots in North America: Darlene is an interpreter at the San Juan National Historical Park's American Camp Visitor Center. "It's a neat little park," Darlene says.
Fayette, who sports a Junior Ranger patch on her harness, accompanies Darlene on the trails, steering her around large rocks and other obstacles. While the two relish their American Camp prairie patrols, they are occasionally "frustrated" by irresponsible and inconsiderate pet owners. Park rules stipulate dogs must be on a leash but many islanders ignore the regulation. And that puts Fayette at an unfair disadvantage. The rogue pooches can rush up, intimidate and even try to engage her in a fight but her harness and duty to Darlene prevent her from responding in the usual canine manner. Darlene becomes concerned because she can't see whether the loose dog is simply curious or vicious.
Wayward hound encounters aside, Darlene is bitten with service dog fever. "I'm hooked on them forever," she says.
Unfortunately, forever is different for a human and a canine. "The worst part is that dogs' lives are not compatible with ours," Darlene laments.
This dog-lover concurs. Even if McKenzie is a just a comfort companion instead of a working dog -- (I'd take her to observe Fayette but Darlene and her guide dog aren't prepared for the ultimate distraction -- a Lab/husky/border collie with the energy of a Jack Russell) -- I wish she could perform her loving duties for eternity.
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