LARRY and ABBY
Follow the journey of U.S. Marine Larry McMahan, as this disabled veteran teams up with a former shelter dog with heartwarming results. Enjoy our new website page entitled: “Larry and Abby.”
3/19/12 Abby takes center stage in portrait
Sharing talents for the good of others is a common practice among Canine Angels volunteers and supporters. Whichever the skill, the art of giving for the benefit of veterans and rescued dogs is the essence of our organization.
One such sharing supporter is N Myrtle Beach portrait artist Suzanne Goard, whose paintings of several Canine Angels service dogs reflect her passion for the art and her generosity of spirit. The latest unveiling and gift of her work depicts Larry’s Abby, as well as the McMahan family pets, Brady and Toby. “This is a truly remarkable woman with a wonderful talent. I feel very privileged to have met her, and even more fortunate for her gift,” said Larry. The 2 ½ by 4 foot watercolor now occupies a place of honor in the McMahan living room.
Suzanne’s passion for painting surfaced about five years ago while she was caregiving her husband, a disabled Vietnam veteran. She said she painted family pets as a therapeutic outlet. He died in 2010, and she later moved to North Myrtle Beach.
“Some chance meetings inspired me to paint for others who had special attachments to their pets,” Suzanne said. “Honestly, the acceptance, joy and requests for my paintings gives me immense validation and serves to fuel my soul.”
The McMahan’s are just one family humbled by Suzanne’s talent and generosity.
3/09/12 Spreading the Word
It’s true that Canine Angels provides service dogs to veterans at no cost, but that doesn’t mean that recipients have no responsibilities.
First and foremost they must ‘sign on the dotted line’ that they will care for the dog properly, to include food and shelter, veterinary care, preventive medications, and grooming, as well as continued training. (Affection, praise, treats for jobs well done, and lots of loving pats and massages go without saying.)
In addition, veterans must willingly serve as ambassadors, not only for Canine Angels, but for all people who rely on service dogs. Public education efforts help raise awareness of this important work, and can help raise the funds essential to our non-profit’s continued success. Recipients also must certify that they will deal with the public in a friendly, informative and courteous manner at all times.
Part of the Canine Angels training regimen exposes veterans and their dogs to the requirements and benefits of community outreach activities to help teach others about service dog teams. Media interviews are arranged; presentations are set up at service, church, civic and other organizations; and visits are scheduled at malls and other locations where public exposure is maximized.
Larry and Abby’s outreach endeavors began the day they became a team. Larry and his family invited us all into their lives and home through the website chronicle of their matchup. Not only do we know Larry and Abby, but we’ve all been introduced to wife, Piper, granddaughter, Riley, and family pets, Brady and Toby.
A front page news article in the Myrtle Beach daily newspaper brought the Larry and Abby story to more than 50,000 readers. Weekly family strolls along the Myrtle Beach boardwalk are punctuated with countless pauses to talk with people who want to ask questions about Abby, ask to pat her, ask what her service is, and on and on.
Larry and Abby are also part of the Canine Angels Therapy Dog team, and Abby is becoming a well known star with patients at the Charleston Veteran’s Hospital where she accompanies Larry on his periodic medical visits.
Not shoppers by choice, the duo have nonetheless made a fair share of appearances at local malls in support of Canine Angels community outreach efforts and to help spread the word and further the cause.
Captions:
left: Larry responds to questions from a newspaper reporter.
Front page coverage of Larry and Abby’s story reached 50,000 readers in the Myrtle Beach Sun News
left: boardwalk stroll awaits Larry and Abby.
Above right: Larry and Abby pose with fellow Therapy Dog team mates, Ronna Graham, Bode and Lady.
3/6/12
If you looked up congeniality in the dictionary, Abby’s picture might easily be published beside the definition. She is a poster child for ‘harmonious nature, pleasant, sociable and genial’ – just as Webster’s says.
Abby’s personality is such that she always seems to be waiting for the next task to learn and the next opportunity to please Larry.
She literally has grasped the ‘bring cane’ command – a most welcome service she now provides to Larry. Some other items she has learned to bring are: the newspaper, her empty food dish, and all manner of bags that have a handle.
Here she is in action:
Thank you for my supper. Here’s my
dish that I licked clean. Here’s your newspaper, Dad.
Rick teaches Abby to "take bag"
Left: Good ‘keep it’ Abby.
2/28/12 Abby gives ‘service’ her all
Larry and Abby both have put their noses to the grindstone to cement their relationship and ensure that she masters all the tasks it will take to make life easier for him. All training is choreographed by Rick Kaplan, who applies a seemingly endless supply of patience, persistence and practice, while teaching the duo their respective responsibilities in accomplishing each task.
First on the list of every day requirements Larry found difficult to execute was picking up
Rick and Larry confer above
his cane the countless times it fell to the floor. Abby was introduced to what needed to be done, and Larry learned the commands to explain the job in words that Abby could quickly and easily comprehend.
Several weeks of practice have elapsed and the two ‘get it.’ Here’s how it began:
Good:
Better:
Best:
Always the enthusiastic student, Abby asks – what else can I bring you Dad? See what she’s up to in the next article in the series soon.
Our most sincere thanks to Larry and Abby, Piper (Mrs. Larry) and Riley (granddaughter), and original pups Brady and Toby for their patience and cooperation, and for sharing their story with our visitors..., and to Jeanne Maxon, our Canine Angels reporter...... Rick Kaplan, Pres.
2/19/12 Poetry in Motion
Abby was affable, confident, and obedient when she insinuated herself into the McMahan household early this year. She also boasted an impressive vocabulary, and was eager to go to work – making Larry’s life easier. But just wanting success isn’t enough – for either of them.
As their partnership develops, Abby and Larry learn countless new things. Abby is challenged when the way she originally mastered some obedience tasks is modified to meet Larry’s specific requirements. Larry’s learning to be patient, live in the moment, and other methods of canine thought.
In her initial days with the Canine Angels pack, Abby learned that ‘heel’ meant walking calmly at the trainer’s left knee. When she began heeling with Larry both as an exercise companion and as balance backup – Larry asked Abby to heel on his right side so as not to interfere with the cane he carried on his left side. She tried to adjust to the change.
But while heeling on Larry’s right side, his outward pointing hemiplegic right foot kept tripping her, and vice versa. So, Canine Angels president and trainer Rick Kaplan re-taught Abby to walk on Larry’s left, BETWEEN the cane and the leg. Abby was, at first, slightly insecure about the change, but when the ‘light switch’ went on for her, it was a sight to see. Abby even found comfort in the triangle of space defined by the cane and the leg. A tribute to the brain power of Abby and all canines.
Larry and Abby are now dance partners who move about like poetry in motion. Check out the video at
Next in the series: Abby learns to bring Larry’s cane. Larry learns more dog vocabulary.
2/15/12: Front Page News Story about Larry and Abby:
2/15/12 Abby meets Larry and the McMahan Family
It
was love at first sniff on the January afternoon when Abby met Larry. The meeting was unplanned, but Abby
heard his voice and stuck her head out the window of the volunteer’s car parked
in the McMahan’s driveway. Larry
ambled over. Abby’s tail beat like
a hummingbird’s wings when he leaned toward her slowly. He whispered a gentle greeting, and she
responded with a lightning fast kiss.
The
rest is not quite history, but is a success story in the making. The obvious instant mutual chemistry
was essential, but still other questions needed answers and a
above: Larry and Abby
myriad of issues had
to be addressed. below: Piper, Riley, Toby
Was the home
atmosphere conducive to caring properly for a service dog? A resounding "yes". It’s a lovely home with a fenced in backyard,
and lots of space inside for veteran and service dog to negotiate side by
side. Most importantly, they have
a ‘can do’ attitude and willingness to do what it takes to build and sustain a
successful partnership between Larry and Abby.
Who besides Larry
did Abby need to get along with in the McMahan’s household? The list includes: Piper Belanger, Larry’s wife; Riley, their
above: Riley and Abby
one-year-old grand
daughter whom they babysit on weekdays;
Brady, their five-year-old Treeing Walker Coonhound; and Toby the
Beagle, age eight.
Peaceful
coexistence with all was non-negotiable, and it worked from the start. The McMahan clan totally supports Larry
in his desire to have a service dog.
And, Abby has loved children and other animals from her start with
Canine Angels and her early days in foster care. So visits between the two increased in number and duration,
until Abby remained with Larry full time.above: Brady
Now it was time to
begin ‘fine tuning’ the tasks that Abby would perform for Larry. Next in the series: The Task Master.
Picture right: Larry McMahan as he began his Marine Corps service, more than 40 years ago.
2/6/12
How this ‘tail’ of two hearts began
Larry McMahan is a
Marine who served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and has spent much of the time
since then struggling with physical disabilities attributed to that service.
He considered, but
never asked for, assistance from a service dog – wondering whether he was ‘entitled’
– despite partial paralysis of his right arm and leg, and symptoms of post
traumatic stress disorder. Instead, he
tolerated the agonies and indignities of his disabilities, raised a family, and
completed a civilian career with courage and pride.
Now, at age 61, Larry finds it more
and more painful to reach for a fallen cane – a major link to mobility – and to perform other ‘everyday’
bending and reaching tasks. He is
at the point, not only where a service dog could make his life better, but
also where he finally has the time, resources, and inclination to utilize,
maintain, and care for an assistance dog.
Enter: Abby.
She is 40-pounds of
freckle-faced exuberance wrapped solidly in a shiny white coat – well, except
for that one (most endearing) brown ear.
A terrier mix, she has the sweetest of dispositions, boundless energy,
is inclined toward hugs and licks, and is ever so willing to please.
All of these
attributes had gone unnoticed in the 12 lonely months Abby languished in the
corner of a humane society kennel.
Enter: Canine Angels.
Abby was rescued
from the shelter and placed in a Canine Angels foster home. There, Arlette and Ray Van Arsdale of
Calabash, NC, cared for Abby and began her initial training regimen with
assistance, direction, and supervision from Canine Angels. She was socialized, obedience trained,
and taught to perform assistance tasks.
Skipping forward
six months, Larry read about Abby on the Canine Angels website, knew that she
was ready to serve, and was instantly smitten. He had learned about Canine Angels from neighbor James
Miller, a US Air Force veteran who had already obtained a Canine Angels service
dog.
After completing
an extensive application and several interviews, Larry was approved to move on to
the next phases in the process of successfully matching the right service dog
with the right veteran.
Without question,
Larry was deserving of a Canine Angels service dog. Without question, Abby was ready to provide assistance,
obedience and affection to a deserving veteran. But, were they right for each other?
Most
importantly: Did they have the
chemistry that is essential to an effective relationship between dog and
veteran?
Was the home
environment conducive to caring properly for a service dog? Is there support from others in the
household? Are there
children? Are other pets in
residence? These and a myriad of other
issues must be addressed before any placement decisions can be made. Next in the
series: Abby meets Larry, and the
McMahan family….
A veteran reaches
out 2/3/12
What if you were a
disabled veteran who could use some help to get through each day? Or, what if you were an abandoned
shelter dog with the untapped potential to be trained to make a veteran’s life
a little easier? And, what if there
were an organization that met both needs, free of charge? That might sound
too good to be true, but we on the Canine Angels team know it isn’t.
United States
Marine Larry McMahan is a disabled veteran who has just begun the process of
acquiring and adjusting to a new life with a Canine Angels service dog. He and his family have kindly agreed to
help us tell their story as it unfolds.
We hope it brings clarity and understanding to our readers, and hope to
veterans who might benefit from our efforts.
This is the first
in a series of articles about what it takes to acquire and maintain a Canine
Angels service dog and the efforts necessary to nurture a mutually beneficial
bond between a veteran and his or her service dog.
This is a story
that illustrates what Canine Angels is all about:
-thanking those
veterans whose sacrifices have ensured our freedom, and
-rescuing,
fostering and training worthy dogs, and giving their lives purpose.
This page will be
updated periodically to let you follow their journey.
