A dog. A woman. The Lions “den.”
Ominous? Not if the Lions “den” is the Lions Club of Haddonfield, and if the dog, Pierce, and the woman, Liesl Townsend, of Mt. Holly, tell the story of dogs trained to assist disabled adults, veterans and at risk children.
Townsend and her partner will make a presentation at the Lions Club’s meeting on Sept. 1 at the Tavistock Country Club.
Townsend and Pierce will tell a story of dedication by volunteers and intensively trained dogs like Pierce who learn up to 40 commands and skills over a two year span, as part of a nationwide program of the Canine Companions for Independence, which was created in 1975.
Townsend is one of 3,000 volunteers who help train the dogs by taking them into their homes for up to 18 months and teaching the dogs skills such as opening doors; picking up objects such as pill bottles, cell phones and keys; helping to carry grocery bags; pulling wheelchairs; and turning lights on and off. At the presentation, Pierce, assisted by Townsend, will demonstrate some of these skills Pierce has learned in their short time together.
Townsend, who works as a practice administrator for a surgical group in Manahawken, has herself trained nine dogs over the past decade as part of the Canine Companions national program.
“The greatest reward comes at the moment when a dog I helped train is turned over to a grateful recipient in need,” Townsend said. “Seeing first hand the difference such a dog makes in the life of a disabled person is extraordinary. In one case, the mother of an autistic child told me, with heartfelt appreciation, how much our dog had contributed to the child’s life; after hearing her story, I wept with tears of joy.”
From breeding to transportation to extensive training to turnover to the disabled person, the cost is about $50,000 per dog. All money comes from contributions from individuals or organizations nationwide. There is no cost to the very lucky and special people who are selected to receive help from their new companions.
Dogs used include Labrador and golden retrievers, highly regarded for their intelligence, strength and devotion to service and are bread at the Canine Companions facilities in Santa Rosa, Calif.
There is a significant waiting list of disabled people for the trained dogs.
“Being a volunteer in this program for the past decade has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” Townsend said.
To learn more about Canine Companions visit its website at www.cci.org/.
The host Lions Club for the event itself uses 100 percent of the funds it raises annually for numerous worthy causes. In 2015, the club contributed over $32,000 to sight-related and community causes. To learn more about the Haddonfield Lions Club visit www.haddonfieldlions.org.
