Peter & Service Dog Keddy
"A friend of mine told me I won the lottery when I got my dog Keddy, and that sure is how I feel." (November 2012)
Pat & Service Dog Shadow
"My last service dog, Jamie, I found out about six weeks before she died that her kidneys were failing. Once she left me people said I was just wandering around Pittsfield like a half a person. I was lost. When I brought Shadow home they said, now that stupid silly grin is back on your face! And [I'm] a total whole person again. And that is totally, totally true. Have you heard the Gene Kelly song, "Me and my Shadow"? Well that's my theme song. Believe me, these dogs, they help you. But the biggest thing is your heart. It's me and my Shadow, and that's literal." (November 2012)
Gus & Hearing Dog Casey
"First of all, I want to thank not only the people from NEADS but everyone who understands how meaningful these dogs are to us, how they assist us every day. But the best thing I can give you is an example of how I need her. I am on dialysis 9 hours a day and I don't hear alarms, I don't hear the telephone, but especially over my dialysis machine. I'm on it nine hours overnight. When I wake up in the morning my wife usually has left for work. When the machine ends, instead of my wife being there, I find the dog there licking my face and telling me the machine has ended." (November 2012)
Reverend Jane & Service Dog for the Ministry Ginger
"Ginger truly is a match made in heaven. She is a beloved partner in ministry, and she makes me a better person, and she brings joy and welcome and love to the people of our congregation. She has so many duties around the church, but has become so popular that she's the favorite member of our staff, and she has people in the hospital today that are waiting for her to come to see them." (November 2012)
Jordan & Facilitated Service Dog Patriot
"Two years ago we embarked on the effort to get Jordan a Service Dog. I don't think we as a family knew how much the dog would really mean to us. Within the first three days he became a member of our family. Jordan is 16 and we're allowing him to be home alone for the first time without us worrying because Patriot can fetch the cell phone, and fetch the phone and do other things around the house, so that the rest of us feel free to leave them home. I don't think Jordan knew how much he would fall in love with the dog either, but they're friends for life." -- Jordan's Mother (November 2012)
Allison & Service Dog Chesty
"Chesty has really just changed my life. I was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease about a year ago and shortly after that I had to retire from work, and he really has helped me with that transition. He's a little slow, and he moves right at my pace. I mean, one step at a time. He's just really a phenomenal, loving and very social dog." (November 2010)
Nickolay & Social Dog Ellie
"Hi, my name is Nick Stewart and my dog's name is Ellie. We got Ellie in July and she's been with us for four months. Ellie is loveable and cheerful. She is my best, best friend. We like to play ball with each other. We also play with her rope toy and she goes crazy with it. And in the morning when I get up I feed Ellie her breakfast. I am so glad that Ellie is in my life." (November 2010)
Christopher & Service Dog Perry
"I broke my kneecap while in Iraq and I had surgery and countless hours of physical therapy and things, and then I also have post‑traumatic stress disorder, and Perry was assigned to me to help me with my knee problems. He picks things up for me. He can turn on and off lights. Opens and closes my office door when people come in. And I wouldn't go out in public very often if I could help it. Perry has been such a wonderful addition to my life, and I don't know what I've done ‑‑ what I did without him, you know, before, but he's just been great." (November 2010)
Brian & Social Dog Willow
"Willow is a great addition to our family. Whether walking around town or taking trips for ice cream she's always there and encouraging more and more friends to meet Brian. She's patient and kind, and teaching us to be more patient. We are better able to teach Brian to wait for things because Willow is obviously waiting as well. She's learning to follow only gestures and signs from Brian, since Brian is nonverbal, and she's making every day a little brighter for all of us." (Mother of Brian Kanya, November 2010)
Randy & Service Dog Jethro
"Growing up in a small town of Vermont I get asked a lot of questions about Service Dogs. There aren't that many around. The first question is, what is NEADS? So I tell them it's a wonderful organization. But the first thought, the first thing that comes to my mind every single time I get asked that question is, it means my independence." (November 2012)
Erin & Service Dog Freedom
"Freedom is my first Service Dog. She keeps my independence. She is there as a guide if I'm home alone, so I'm not afraid. We've done lots of things together. We've gone to almost every concert at Indian Ranch over the summer. We got to meet Brett Michaels. And we have also done the Relay For Life. She helps me to do the laundry, which she loves to do. You say to her, 'come on, let's do the laundry' and she picks up my clothes and shuts the laundry door for me. She gets the phone, and she'll bark if I need assistance, so somebody can come down from upstairs. And I'm just really glad that I have her." (November 2012)
Christine & Hearing Dog Addie
"I want to thank NEADS profusely for matching me up with Addie. It's a perfect match. She's loveable. She's laid‑back. She does her job, what she's supposed to do. She wakes me up in the morning with licks on my face, and she knows I don't want to get up in the morning, but she's very persistent." (November 2012)
Elaine & Service Dog Rudy
"Her training...yes, she's a dog, but she's perfect. She helps me to get up, to stand up when I fall down. She's just everywhere. The one thing she has brought to me the most is safety. I feel safer now I have her with me. I want to thank my family, and my wife, my friends, John and Gerry, Christy, and just everybody who has a part in NEADS. They're all amazing people, and you have no idea how much you have touched my life, Rudy's life, and everywhere we go there's a conversation about NEADS. She's an icebreaker, and she's just meant to be. I thank you all for standing by my side and helping me to achieve this wonderful dream." (November 2012)
Louis & Social Dog Moonstone
"My name is Louis and I'm ten years old, and this is my dog and she is almost two. She is my buddy. She makes me feel safe, confident. I want to thank everyone at NEADS, my family, and my friends for this amazing gift." (November 2012)
Jodi & Service Dog Max
"My last service dog passed away in April, 2009, after working together with me for 11 years. Her name was Maxine. The day I was told my new service dog's name was Max, it was Maxine's way of saying I'm watching over you. Since Max and I have been home together, Max has learned to turn on and off the kitchen light. He cannot wait until my shoes are removed so he can tug my socks off. We have a kiss prior to bed. Max is a very sensitive young lab. He knows when I'm going to fall before I do, even though I can never remember the command I'm supposed to use, brace. One cannot explain the innate force that lives inside him. Max and I are no longer two, but a seamless team of two. I thank you at NEADS for keeping this wonderful organization running." (June 2010)
Robert & Service Dog for Therapy Tommy
"What's wonderful about Tommy is that he's able to touch so many children's lives with psychiatric disabilities. He's the first dog at New York State to be a full‑time employeee where he visits kids with mental illness and trauma. The impact he's had on the hospital and the children in the hospital has been phenomenal. In his career, he's going to have the opportunity to touch thousands of kids' lives." (June 2010)
Deb & Hearing Dog Rusty
"I am very emotional because my whole life is changed completely for the better. With Rusty, I come to realize how much I miss out because I didn't grow up in a hearing world. And I feel really blessed to have him listening for me. He alerts me to a lot of sounds and he's kept me safe. On the second day we were together, the fire alarm went off. We didn't even have a chance to train for that specific sound, but he knew something was wrong. He got me out of the store, and I'm really grateful because I feel safer at night. I can sleep again and I want to thank everyone who has been helping me from the start. It's just been six months since I found NEADS, and I'm really grateful for the support and independence more than I ever thought I could have. Thank you." (June 2010)
Heidi & Service Dog Mercury
Five years ago, I was given an identity that I did not choose: disabled. Wheelchair bound, critically ill, deaf. Once again, society decided what a person like this can and cannot do. What happened to mother, wife, nurse, professional? Doesn't matter who I used to be, now I'm disabled. In society's eye, that changes everything. Of course, I fought it for a while, but eventually, I retreated to the sidelines: disabled person. I need people to help me get dressed, drive me to appointments, open doors, pick things up. I'm deaf, so that means I must not talk or think for myself. People ask my attendant instead of me, questions like where does she live or does she want a drink of water? Every time this happened, a little more of my identity was chipped away.
Little did I know that while my self‑identity was shrinking, another identity was being formed. A fuzzy black bundle of energy was growing up, being prepared for an important job. A computer company had decided to help the community by sponsoring a Service Dog named Mercury. NEADS staff coordinated countless breeders, trainers, vets, handlers, volunteers, donors, all playing a part in creating the incredible animal he is today. The NEADS Prison PUP Program put Mercury in a position not only to learn obedience and special skills, but also to form a tight bond with a human, a person who could give him constant care and affection, teach him to trust and love and enjoy learning. The trainers put their faith into the inmate handlers to practice the task, but also to praise him as he learned and to discipline him in such a precise manner, that the mistake is corrected without diminishing his self‑esteem or his willingness to take chances, and learn new skills. Veterinarians donated their time and equipment to make sure Mercury remained in perfect health and all his basic needs were met so he could focus on forming his Service Dog Identity. In addition, these vet visits exposed Mercury to sensations that may frighten other dogs, such as trimming his nails, cleaning his ears and teeth, lifting him up -- different experiences that happen infrequently, but are necessary. Volunteers brought Mercury into the community during his weekend parole, teaching him. While his strongest bond is with one individual, Mercury learned that all people can be trusted, to keep him safe and give him love.
Mercury and I met in August of 2008. His self‑identity reflected a life lived without ever experiencing fear, anger, neglect, abuse. My identity had been whittled away with illness and disability and society's presumptions of my competence and independence. Each day our bond grew stronger. His trust in me encouraged me to trust myself. Every time he showed me that he respected my authority, I regained a little self‑respect. When we're together in the community, his impeccable obedience and flawless response to commands draws attention to us, and the wheelchair seems to disappear as people ask about Mercury's training and share stories of dogs in their own lives. My identity is changing again. The disabilities remain, but first, I'm a mother, a wife, a nurse, a professional, an advocate, a teacher, a student and a team member. I'm hoping to return to my profession early next year as an independent consultant for people with disabilities. Mercury and I will help them establish their own self‑identities by setting goals for employment, self‑sufficiency and independence. My clients may even show up at NEADS someday. You'll know who they are, they'll say Mercury sent them." (June 2010)
Brenda & Service Dog Liberty
"A year ago at my son's school, there was a presentation for NEADS and the woman that walked in was Kristen Law. When someone has the same disease as you, you just know it. Kristen did a presentation that was just wonderful and showed how her dog did everything for her. As she was sitting there telling her story, I was asking my twins: do you think she has Multiple Sclerosis? After the presentation was over, I went over to her and said, I have to ask you a personal question. She said, sure. I said, do you have MS? And she said yeah, just like you, huh? I said, yeah.
There was a volunteer at NEADS at the time, and she had given me information about the program. I said no way, can't afford this, can't handle it, there's no way to do this. She said, apply. I said, I'll think about it. A year went by and the woman kept at me, she would knock on my door at work and say, have you applied yet? In November, I fell and broke my ribs and then my arm. I decided this was it. I've got three young boys at home that mean the world to me and I just don't want to give up. So I applied to NEADS in January. In February, I went to my MS specialist a nd she said I was critical. She said my disease progresses every day and there's 
nothing they can do for me. Two weeks later, I got an e‑mail from NEADS that said they have a dog for me, Liberty.
Liberty has made me feel very different regarding my disease. I feel better. I'm not afraid to walk in places I used to avoid. She can pull me up on inclines. I would avoid that [before Liberty]. Sometimes after a busy day, you're so burnt out and stressed out, and you have this dog that's going to get in the front whether you like it or not, and puts her tongue in your ear and you can't help but laugh and feel that love." (June 2010)