Judy Vorfeld’s Office Support Services

Guest post by Minnesota’s Chandler Flowers, who used voice-activated software to send me his bio. His service dog, Yanni, is one of the first service dogs trained by 4 Paws for Ability. You can find Chandler on Facebook.

Chandler Flowers and Yanni

Hello, my name is Chandler Flowers, and I and 25 years old. My service dog Yanni and I first became partners in 2003 when I was 19. Our partnership began in January ‘03, so this is the start of our seventh year together.

The process all began for me in late 2001 when my mom discovered 4Paws while on the Internet. She mentioned it to me but at the time, I didn’t really think much of it because when I was growing up our family dogs never really listened to me. I didn’t think having my own dog would be much different.

Well, my mom convinced me to give it a try and I contacted Karen, the director of 4Paws, and we got the process started. Later, I went to meet with Karen in person and she told me that after talking to me she thought she had the perfect match for me.

So, after several months, a trip to the Courage Center, a facility where I lived for eight months in 2002 learning how to live independently, and a lot of fundraising, I went to Ohio to meet Yanni for the first time in January 2003.

Since the beginning, I’ve felt a strong bond between us. It took us about a month or so to really gel as a team, but once we did, we were off to the races. I often call Yanni my right hand man, because he is always there when I need him. He can retrieve nearly anything I drop, help with elevator and automatic door buttons, and even activate a call light in my apartment, to tell my staff when I need help.

All of that aside, Yanni is a great companion, and my best friend. I refer to him as my son because he truly means the world to me! I know I would do anything for him, as any good dad would. So in my heart he will always be my son.

Yanni has changed my life for the better! I have become a more outgoing, confident, and independent person since our partnership began. I owe all of that to Karen and 4Paws for Ability, for bringing Yanni and me together.

Recently, I emailed Karen, and said, “I hope you are continuing to help others like me who have been told they didn’t have a chance at having a service dog. You are one of the few things left in this world that help prove that anything is possible with a little work and effort. Thanks for everything!”

P.S. from Judy. Recently Yanni had surgery, and here’s part of a tribute Chandler paid to Yanni on Facebook:

In closing, I just want to say something to you Yanni. Thank you for everything. I know you’re not going to die anytime soon, but it’s not very often that I publicly state how much you mean to me.

You know, years ago when we first became partners, I had my doubts. Not in you, but in myself. Together we put all of those doubts to rest. Thank you for helping me believe in myself and helping me take the first step in knowing that with enough time, effort, and cooperation, we can do anything!

Thank you for being my right hand man for all of these years. Here’s to many more! Remember buddy, you are my friend, my best friend, for life! I know I’m a hard ass sometimes, but that is only because I know what we are capable of.

Also remember that without you I do not believe I would be the man I am today. You really changed my life and all I can say once again is thank you!

Love,
Dad

This entry was posted on Monday, March 16th, 2009 at 4:48 pm and is filed under Animals, Disabilities, Social Science. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.