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Canine-Connections Edition #101 — December 25, 2007. Dorothy Avery is an important person in my life. I'm helping her with a special pilot project she's introducing in Toronto, January 2008. My article explains her new programme. Dorothy's website will be ready in a few days and her contact info is at the bottom of this page. Canine Connections As a child, Dorothy didn't think too much of her dog, Brownie. She thought he was stupid. That is until he proved just how smart he was. Brownie was not exactly what you would call a people friendly dog but for one exception. He became the protector for Richard, a neighbourhood child who had suffered a tragic brain injury from lack of oxygen at birth. Richard's parents had given up on educating him and it was up to Dorothy and her sister to teach the 10 year old how to eat with a fork and ride a bike. He often stayed with the two sisters on weekends and Brownie would guard his bedroom door at night to alert Dorothy in case Richard awoke and started wandering around. During the daytime, Richard would often try to run out on the road, but Brownie ran after him, barking, sometimes even grabbing him by his pant leg to prevent him from walking out into traffic. He may have been a mutt to some, but we could all use a friend like Brownie. Healing The Connection Fast forward a few decades and Dorothy Avery is now a full time health care worker at a major Toronto hospital. And over the last 27 years she has also become arguably Toronto's top dog obedience trainer. Dorothy's weeks are full. During the day she helps to mend the sick and evenings she helps to heal the relationships between people and their pooches. They all come to Dorothy for help and her list of students has grown to include film makers, professors and frustrated soccer moms hoping to make better friends with their family pet. That's why the call from Ryan's mother was inevitable. Ryan Ryan is a child with Down's Syndrome. His mother was expecting a polite rejection when she asked Dorothy to take her son and his dog, Bauer, into one of her regular dog training classes. Well, a lot has happened since then, and it's all been good. Today, Ryan is working on his level two certificate after passing the first grade of doggie school with flying colors. Ryan was also immediately embraced by his fellow class members and hugging soon became a part of the ritual at Dorothy's Mother Knows Best dog training school. (Leave it to the kids to start a much needed trend!) Ryan, with the help of Dorothy's friend, GB, took to the program like a fish in water and was in that moment no different from anyone else who wanted a better relationship with their best friend. The payoff was big, but not a miracle. Ryan simply found a perfect pathway for his heart to travel when other avenues were closed to him. He also started getting involved in the dogs feeding and overall care, taking on new responsibilities and even a leading role in Bauer's life. A passion had been stirred inside the child, and he was flowing with it. Brando The success of Ryan's canine connection was as inevitable as Brando's success story. Brando is a youngster with autism, another obstacle that makes learning difficult. Brando spent much of the first few classes staring up at the ceiling. To speak with him, one had to hold his head just to get his attention. Like a radio stuck between stations, Brando's channels of communication seemed full of static much of the time. Yet one channel came in loud and clear. That was the one Brando's dog was broadcasting from. We often say that love opens all doors and that there's someone out there for everyone. And where there's a lock, someone has made a key for it. Brando's key just happened to be shaped like a dog. The first few classes were difficult for everyone, including Brando's dog, who was constantly trying to escape and return to where Brando's parents were sitting on the sidelines. But after the third class, the dog and Brando were locked into a mutual agreement—trusted friends on a mission. The transformation was dramatic, and naturally witnessed by a roomful of people, some of whom wept openly at what they were witnessing, including of course, Brando's parents. Dorothy has also been transformed by her experiences with these children. She now feels that she has found her next calling in life—she wants to start working with children challenged by Down's Syndrome and Autism. She feels that dogs can act as a bridge to connect these children to a world of richer life experiences. Love In Action. Dorothy Avery makes no promises. She may be a teacher and a healer but she is not a miracle worker. She is simply opening up a channel through which we all can experience more love. We recognize that children such as Ryan and Brando have been challenged by conditions which can limit their options to experience the fullness of life. The Canine-Connections programme creates an opportunity for smiles to flourish and love to flow. And isn't that something that we're all looking for? Canine-Connections.ca Dorothy's Canine Connections Programme will begin in late January, 2008. Children from the Toronto area with Down's Syndrome and Autism will be brought together to interact and train with dogs while socializing in a safe, caring and inspirational environment. Please contact Dorothy Avery for information on enrolling your child in these special classes. Dorothy Avery |
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