Service Dogs In Training Board Flight At MSP
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A dozen service-dogs-in-training boarded a Twin Cities flight Saturday as part of the "Can Do Canines," training program.
Preparation for a life of service means exposing the dogs to new experiences. The busy crowds and security of an airport can cause distraction and stress.
"It's a difficult thing for us to train," said Alan Peters, of Can Do Canines. "We do a lot of other training in difficult situations, but getting on an airplane is not an easy thing to do."
Most dog owners will say that their pet adds to their life, but service dog owner Steve Litzkow says the connection with his assistance dog Jojo is so much more.
"He's kind of my lifeline," Litzkow said.
The one-and-a-half-year-old retriever helps Litzkow overcome narcolepsy and loss of muscle control from a brain injury.
"He helps me come out of it quicker," Litzkow explained. "He's trained to lick my hands and lick my face to keep me from going so far into it."
Together they face new obstacles through the organization that trained Jojo, "Can Do Canines." The duo joined a dozen other assistance dogs and their owners at the international airport.
"Today -- being able to go with him and see how it works on a plane and all stuff -- it's just going to be a big relief to know what to do when we do come," Litzkow said.
The dogs navigated the terminal full of travelers and even boarded the plane, where the toughest challenge awaits.
"The dog might be afraid to get under the seat," Peters said. "It's a tight space to get into."
Now, travel may no longer be a limitation of Litzkow's injury, thanks to the special bond between owner and pet.
"He did well," Litzkow said of Jojo. "Probably better than me. He gives me a lot of freedom."
Volunteers raise and train the assistance dogs until they're ready for their owners. Fundraising and donations allow Can Do Canines to give the dogs to their owners for free.
