7129 Starcliff Ave. NW Word Count 1475

North Canton, Ohio 44720

<JBiehl@neo.rr.com>

330-305-0824

Northern Ohio SCBWI member

IAADP member

**SITA -- MY EARS- AND MORE!!!**

I waited a long time before I decided to try a hearing dog. (They also
are called assistance or signal dogs). I have had you for only a month
and now wonder how I ever got along without you!\
I have lived alone for over 30 years. I knew I was missing phone calls
and visitors because of my severe hearing loss. My family had keys and
would come in and check on me because I couldn't hear the phone ring. I
realized deaf and hard of hearing people were being robbed and even
beaten, because they couldn't hear burglars entering the home or their
demands once they gained entry. I felt a certain vulnerability working
late at night and knowing I would be unable to hear if anyone was behind
me or following me to my car. You could be my link to that environment.

As I drove to Circle Tail for my first meeting, my head swirled with
dozens of questions. How long before I would be "matched" with just the
right dog? Would I have the patience and understanding it takes to work
with a dog so highly trained? Could I in my ignorance "ruin" years of
training and thousands of dollars by doing the wrong thing?

I walked into an activities room at Circle Tail and gazed at people and
dogs everywhere. Some were pulling wheelchairs, some were climbing over
obstacles, and some were crossing simulated bridges. I met the director,
Marlys Staley, for a few seconds. Her kind face and calm demeanor
immediately impressed me. I found out through the next few months what a
caring and competent professional she really is.

Someone brought you to me, Sita, and placed the leash in my hand. You
sat back staring at this new person in your life. I saw your warm
adoring brown eyes and sweet face and melted instantly. We worked three
long hours together going through the obstacle courses, then going
outside and walking together.

I admired your beautiful golden coat and tried to figure out what breed
you were. Your face had perfect features and you carried your head up
high. Your ears laid flat against your head gracefully, except when you
were listening intently to unknown sounds. Your keen sense of hearing
became apparent as your head constantly turned in the direction of the
noises around you. The most outstanding feature about you was your
gentle manner and expressive face.

Would you be my "match" or would I have to give you back? I was in a
state of anxious anticipation because I felt an immediate kinship, but
was afraid to get attached only to have you taken away. After classes
were finished, Marlys told me you were mine and I was ecstatic.

I was forced to leave you until I could return for more intense
training. A few weeks later I made the long trek back to Circle Tail
with great anticipation. I entered the activities room and you ran over,
jumping on me. Hearing ear dogs are not supposed to do this, but I think
we both knew we had passed the first important step in bonding.

I took you back to the hotel with me that first night. I felt more
secure that night than I ever have, because if there was a fire or other
emergency you would alert me.

I was fortunate to be in training with another deaf woman who was just
wonderful. Her name was Juanita Hall. She had an adorable

all white Shih-Tzu named Hinkle. We formed an immediate friendship and
talked nonstop from the first day.

She came in the next morning to Circle Tail and stated she cried the
whole way there. She knew now why she felt chronically stressed her
entire life for no apparent reason. It was the stress of not knowing
what was going on around her. Hinkle relieved that stress for her for
the first time ever because she has been deaf from birth. I understood
perfectly because I have been hard of hearing from birth too. Many deaf
and hard of hearing people are constantly stressed because of the
uncertainty about the environment around us. We take it for granted
until it is relieved. Our vulnerability becomes such a part of us we
don't even measure it.

Sita, a month later I look back and realize that you and I are a duo
24/7. You don't see one without the other. (Is there a song in here
somewhere?) I often wonder about your past and wish you could tell me
stories. This is what I know: You are around 3 years old and what a life
you have lived already! Marlys rescued you from a shelter and you were
trained in two prisons. I quietly thank the prisoners for all they did
to give me an extra set of ears. I watch your ears constantly perk up as
you are super alert to any noise surrounding you. You seem to know it is
expected of you. You were in a foster home for several months and I have
met your foster Mom, Tracy. She tells me you were one of her favorite
foster dogs. She describes you as loving, loyal, laid back and sweet.

Your life continued to be interesting when you came to my home to stay.
Three days later we went to court where you were the center of
attention. The magistrate was so charmed she asked for a personal
meeting with you. You proudly shook hand (and paws), and went to sleep.
You are ready in a nanosecond to go anywhere and do anything with me.
You jumped into my crazy schedule immediately, although I sense
sometimes how tired you are.

Your alertness has already made me aware of kids' rollerblading behind
me on the sidewalk. Your excited circling around me one night alerted me
to a terrific wind outside that knocked over my patio furniture. You
were so excited the first time you ran to my phone you knocked it off
the cradle!\
We have experienced funny and touching times together. None of the
students where I teach will forget you picking up the leash and bringing
it to me when you felt I had lectured too long! You sit patiently as I
counsel my troubled preschoolers and they talk to you better than to a
human. I will never forget the awful day I had to break the news to one
of my ten year old adopted clients that his former foster father whom he
lived with for five years had died suddenly. I took you out of harness
and he hugged you as the tears fell on you for a long time. You showed
him unconditional love as you stoically nuzzled and comforted him at a
time he needed that the most. You were never trained as a therapy dog,
but you have become one.

The downside is that I have experienced an invasion of my privacy never
known before. Out of nowhere, children have run up and grabbed you.
People relentlessly shout across a restaurant at me. They will stop me
when I am shopping or eating out and grill me with dozens of questions.
Are you training the dog? What is your disability? Why can't I pet her?
You mean you need her? Etcetera, etc. etc. Adults continually ignore the
sign on you "do not pet" and disturb you even when you are sleeping. If
I stop them, they often get very defensive with me. When I become
irritable and tired, I witness your patience. You remain so calm and
sweet I figure if you can be so understanding I can too!

I marvel daily at your gentleness with my children at the practice; your
antics around my students at the college; your eagerness to make friends
with everyone; your tolerance with my dethroned kitty as she ignores
your attempts to become friends; your innate carefulness around my
mother to never push or trip her in her walker.

Most of all I witness your forgiveness. You are the first dog they
remember at an Ohio State game. We were required to sit in the noisiest
section of the stadium. I nearly cried when you started shaking and
became so frightened it made you ill. You promptly forgave my ignorance
for taking you there, not realizing how the noise would affect a dog who
didn't know where to begin to alert me. You didn't want to sleep on the
floor next to me that night in a strange hotel. Rather you crawled into
bed by my side because you wanted to touch me. "Carpe Diem" is your
motto. Our spirits are bonded in a love few people can understand. You
are first my ears, but have become a part of my heart and my soul.

*POSTSCRIPT*

*I received Sita in October of 2007 and brought her home two days before
my birthday. What an unforgettable birthday present.*

*An amazing part of this story is before I even applied to Circle Tail
for my dog I went to the website at
[www.circletail.org](http://www.circletail.org/). There were several
testimonies anonymously from the prisoners about what training the dogs
meant to them. One of the prisoners wrote this:*

*"She is friendly with people but would rather be with her one human
companion for personal one on one time of petting and loving...*

*My mission with her in the short time I was to have her, was to teach
her obedience and advanced training to make her a better dog. In an
unexpected surprise, she taught me how to become disciplined, consistent
and persistent\... With a cold private heart she taught me to open my
arms and to receive her joyful kisses and embrace her love of life. I
set out to teach her how to become a better dog: instead she trained me
to become a better person. I know! It just seems backwards... If you
receive this bright eyed beauty, I pray she will teach you too, as well
as she has taught me. A humbled trainer."*

*I was so impressed with this story and did not find out until December
that I was the lucky one to receive this dog.*

*We continue to understand each other more everyday. Sita has settled
into my routine and has acted as a therapy dog many times. One afternoon
a client was crying uncontrollably in my office. Sita had been asleep
but as the crying escalated she calmly got up, walked over to my desk,
pulled out a tissue from the box sitting there with her mouth and ran up
to give the tissue to the woman. We both laughed as the woman exclaimed
"Sita, you made my day!" I told her she should pay Sita for the session.
The sensitivity of this dog is incredible.*

*She continues to shock me with all the different ways she helps me. One
windy time I was shopping and as I commanded her to get into my car, her
head turned sharply. I followed her lead just in time to grab my runaway
shopping cart before it barreled down the hill! Her ears saved me once
again! She gets "treats" wherever she goes and has won the hearts of my
coworkers, family and friends.*

*Finally -- her sense of puppy humor has become more obvious. She has
been taught to pick up anything I drop, since hard of hearing people
cannot hear objects drop. She is constantly looking for a "treat" or
reward and sneaks into my purse when I am not looking. She will then
bring me a pack of tissues and nonchalantly acts like I dropped it. When
I confront her and say "you took that" she gives me an innocent "who
me?" look.*

*I continue to educate many people because they do not know about
hearing ear dogs. Several times I have been asked to leave a public
facility and I have had to explain to employees about the law and
allowing assistance dogs into these places. I get so impatient, but look
at Sita's sweet demeanor and immediately calm down.*

*She has added such wonderful dimensions to my life in so many ways! We
have a special bond that very few people can ever imagine unless they
own an assistance dog. I wish to share this story with as many people as
I can.*