It was four o’clock on Sunday, at the American Family Pet Expo, in Costa Mesa California, and, along with the people who came to our booth, were two women, Elaine and Daisy. “You train Assistance dogs for people in wheel chairs?” Daisy asked. Elaine, a very proper woman in every respect explained, “We are looking for someone to help Daisy. She needs a K9 badly, and has been looking for about five years actively. Nobody cares. She has had a lot of problems, and has been put off by several organizations because she doesn’t fit their parameters.” “Could you train me a dog?” Daisy asked.
At that time we didn’t have a marketing program for DOGWISH, there were no funds created, and if I responded to Daisy it was going to be done purely to share from my heart to hers. As I stood there debating what to do, a picture of a dog in my kennel came to my mind. I looked at Daisy’s smiling face, her big compassionate eyes pleading for help, her beautiful big, red, “Viking” pig tails, and the words came out of my mouth before I could stop them, (thank God!). “Yes Daisy, we have a dog that would be perfect for you, and I can start training him for you right now.” “You don’t know what this means to us,” Elaine continued, (Daisy couldn’t speak, she was crying; it broke your heart), we have been all over this Fair. We’ve been to every vendor, every booth, and yours was the last one. Daisy wanted to quit and just go home, but I was hoping beyond hope you would help us.” I gave Daisy the usual hugs and kisses and went home, realizing I had just given away another $40,000.00 Assistance K9, and probably wouldn’t make a dime for all my work and the worth of the dog. But, what do you do? Like Elaine said, nobody else was going to do anything for Daisy! It had been 40 years of dealing with Polio, struggling for survival, and nobody caring. Somebody had to care. I had no idea what I had just done.
We exchanged information, and I waited for Elaine to call me. She did, and came out with her husband Len to see our Academy and Daisy’s new K9, “Chief”. Len and Elaine have a beautiful, loving, Standard, white, male French Poodle, and they brought him along. When I brought out Chief their jaws dropped. It was obvious from first glance that Chief wasn’t your normal German Shepherd; he was a beautiful black and vibrant red colored, standard sized, male, with exquisite gate and body structure. “This is Daisy’s dog?” Elaine replied with wonderment. He’s beautiful!”
“I didn’t pick him out,” I replied, “God did. I’m just doing what I’ve been told.” “That’s a quality dog,” she replied. “Top quality,” I responded.
Elaine told me they were making a video of Daisy’s normal routine so that I could see how we needed to train “Chief”. I waited for about 10 days and it came. We didn’t think much of it, and it sat on my desk for a week. Then Elaine called me and asked me what I thought of the tape, and I told her I would review it that day. So, at lunchtime, we sat down on our couch to eat and started to watch the tape. It had a musical overlay of the song “The Impossible Dream”, and it was about Daisy’s life. It showed her rolling her hand driven wheel chair 2 miles, from her little one bedroom cottage like home, down to the busy streets of Laguna Beach. Daisy would have to roll her chair over curbs, around road obstacles, and maneuver to the numerous stores and clients she visits, selling her flowers, which is her living. The video showed her having to roll to the side to avoid the numerous people walking by her like she wasn’t there, struggling to get to each store where she picked up a couple of dollars. She then rolled back home, up hill, against the pedestrian and car traffic. As I watched, riveted to the screen, I couldn’t eat. I spent the whole time choking back the broken hearted emotions I felt as I watched this ANGEL struggle to make a bare living, which Daisy does, all alone, each day. As the tape ended I looked around the room, and there wasn’t a dry eye anywhere. Again, nobody could speak, and nobody could move. It was just overwhelming, unbelievable, and heartbreaking.
We trained “Chief” and set a date to go to Daisy’s home to deliver him. We showed up, and introduced Daisy to literally, her best friend. Now, her best friend ever! We went to work, and Daisy went to work, literally, the first day, with “Chief”. Daisy’s house is a memorial, a memorial to her wonderful life, and to her faith in God through her Lord Jesus Christ. She owns the biggest cat I’ve ever seen, who she walks on a leash, and allows to roam around her yard on a harness.
Chief and her cat are now best friends and sleep on her bed.
I have honestly never been around anyone who is as vibrant, as committed, and as loving as Daisy is. She helps everyone, every homeless person, every needing soul she knows. She is strong, and focused, and committed to what she feels is her goals and purpose as a person.
As we went from store to store we met one person after another that Daisy introduced to her new dog. To our shock, most of the people were disinterested, non-responsive, distant, callused, and some even hostile, (like, get out of our way jerk, we don’t have time for your nonsense). We went with Daisy into the local market, where she daily shopped, and Chief went right with her, by her side, like he had always been there.
Suddenly a Mexican looking man stepped out and started to make dark comments to Daisy, with sexual suggestions, in a very rude way. He suddenly noticed that we were with Daisy and left. We were furious! Come to find out, it was a regular occurrence, and he wasn’t alone. Daisy has a special bus she uses to get around. She has to sit in a certain section, and when she does, the guys on the bus would harass and sexually fondle her (SEVERAL TIMES over a period of months).This behavior was allowed to continue with Daisy on the bus, in the market, and on the street. We witnessed several occurrences going with her downtown and around Laguna Beach, a very progressive beach town which we had to stop. I was consistently shocked at the way people would behave towards her. “It’s because they know I’m stuck in a wheel chair and can’t get away. I have to stop or speak to them. I noticed how a man, sitting, playing his guitar, was at the same time trying to intimidate Chief, who went around him. He was one of many overly concerned, somewhat jealous people who constantly were trying to interrupt, disrupt, and corrupt the relationship between Daisy and Chief. Another man drove up in his car and starting yelling at Daisy, “Have you been hiding from me? You know I want to talk with you. I’ll be by your house later on.” He left as quickly as he drove up, and I asked Daisy what he was yelling at her about. “His girlfriend broke up with him, and since she is a good friend of mine, he wants me to help them get back together,” she replied. “And that’s how he talks to you,” I asked. “I can’t do anything about it,” she replied. He knows I’ll be out here working, and I’m easy to find,” she said with tears in her eyes.
We started getting public complaints. Some people felt Chief was too focused on Daisy, and wanted him more public oriented. Some people felt Chief ignored and didn’t like them, so they wanted him trained to be more social. People just couldn’t let Daisy go, like they felt they owned a part of her and were being possessive. Finally, I went to the Chief of Police for Laguna Beach.
I explained to him what was going on, and that Daisy needed protection. He agree to respond, and did immediately. I gave Daisy fliers containing Federal laws for the rights of people with Service Assistance K9s to pass out to dog owners, (warning them to keep their vicious dogs from running loose and trying to bite Chief), and to inform the public that further harassment would be met by immediate Police and Legal response. We went weekly, and spent the entire afternoon going with Daisy as she made her way through the city from one delivery to another. They refused to allow her in the local Theatre so we took her to the movies. It was privilege for us that we did with joy, because we were determined to make a difference for this wonderful woman, who deserved it all.
The attacks have stopped, people now recognize and show appreciation and love to Daisy and Chief. People now stop on the street to give her some cash, just to help out, or buy us a drink and say “thank-you” for standing by and helping Daisy. People move now when she comes by, and make room for her most of the time, because Daisy has become an ICON. She has become the symbol of hope, and love, and good being, and joy to the people in Laguna Beach, because somebody stopped, trained a dog, and helped her change her life. This heroic woman is one of the best people we’ve ever met, and we love her. She is our sister, our friend, and our ANGEL. We think she is wonderful! Daisy is the Distinguished DOGWISH recipient for 2006 because she has used her gift, “Chief” to change the lives of hundreds of people in her community. Thank you Daisy and CONGRATULATIONS!!
Bob Taylor & The Staff of The UNITED STATES Canine Academy.
