Lending a helping paw
A working relationship
By Tony Dobrowolski, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Berkshire Eagle
Sunday, January 15

PITTSFIELD . On a handmade, wood sign located near the door to Merle Ferber's apartment, the letters of her last name, and that of her former service dog, Radar, are intertwined. The sign is a fitting tribute to the long working relationship that Ferber had with Radar, who helped her perform tasks as she traveled in her wheelchair. A smooth collie, Radar was so popular that he was inducted into the American Working Collie Association Hall of Fame two years ago. It's hard to find a replacement for a dog like that. But Ferber feels that she has.

Ferber's new service dog is named Miller and, just like Radar, he is a smooth collie. On Jan. 6, Ferber returned to Pittsfield from West Boylston after attending two weeks of service training with Miller at the National Education for Assistance Dog Services, a national nonprofit dog training and education program. Founded in 1976, NEADS provides service dogs to assist people who are physically disabled.

She had originally hoped to bring Miller home before Christmas, following an earlier trip to West Boylston, but was told her new companion, who is 18 months old, wasn't ready to assume his duties yet. Waiting a few more weeks was OK, Ferber said, because it took her a year and a half to replace Radar, who was 12 1/2 when he died in July 2004. Radar was 4 months old when he was matched up with Ferber in June 1994. Getting along without him was difficult emotionally, Ferber said. She stopped visiting schools, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, activities that she and Radar undertook at least once a week. Without Radar to accompany her, Ferber said those visits weren't the same. "I couldn't do it," she said.

"We were a working team," Ferber said. "I don't know what kind of sense this makes. ... I didn't get to appreciate him until he died. I looked at all the pictures of me and him, and I smile. And I say, 'How did I ever take care of such a big dog?"

Ferber said Radar developed arthritis shortly after he retired. The disease limited Radar's mobility, and rather than see him suffer, Ferber made the decision to have him euthanised, which came two months after his retirement.

"He got very sick, and I chose to . I use the expression 'put him up' instead of put him down," Ferber said. "I didn't let him get too sick because I didn't want him to go out that way. "He went out like a champ," she added.

Ferber said she applied to NEADS for another service dog shortly after Radar passed. She tried two other dogs that NEADS suggested before the agency matched her up with Miller, who became available in October. "I wanted another smooth collie," Ferber said. "They're wonderful dogs." There aren't many service dogs available, and the majority of the ones that are don't make it through the training.

"One in 25 dogs make it from beginning to end, from a puppy to me," Ferber said. "That statistic goes for guide dogs as well." Training for each service dog, including volunteer time, food, and other expenses is around $25,000, she added. NEADS accepts donations to help pay for the cost of training these dogs. The agency can be contacted through its Web site at www.neads.com.

Ferber was disabled following an automobile accident in 1983, but because service dogs weren't available to the physically disabled then, Radar is the only canine companion she has ever had. She said Miller's personality is different than Radar's.

"He's sweet," Ferber said. "Radar was awesome, but he was, 'Look at me, but don't touch.' (Miller) is a kisser, a licker, a hugger." When asked if having a new service dog is similar to beginning a new personal relationship, Ferber said: "I think if you had a successful marriage and your partner died that you'll have another successful marriage. ... I have no doubt that Miller and I will have a successful working relationship." There may soon be another handmade wooden sign by Ferber's door. "I asked the woman who made that to make me a new one," she said.