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Can-do canines a big help

Canine Assistants' trained service dogs offer independence for individuals with disabilities.

LARGO - David Stoner says the best thing about his service dog Kade is companionship.

"He's always there when I need him," said the 12-year-old Largo resident, a student at Osceola Middle School. "He's the best boy in the world."

David is bound to a wheelchair because of cerebral palsy. So having a friend like Kade who can open doors, turn the lights off and on, fetch his remote and bring him a juice carton comes in handy.

But what Kade really excels at is planting big sloppy kisses on David's face. "He loves to give them," David said.

David, his family and the 2-year-old golden retriever were at the Kash n' Karry grocery store at 2460 East Bay Drive on Saturday as part of Pet Celebration. The event included an assortment of exotic animals from the Lowry Park Zoo, representatives from the foster-care program Pets of Patriots and a police canine demonstration.

David and his mother and father, Tom and Judy Stoner, are ambassadors for Canine Assistants, an organization that provides trained service dogs to individuals with disabilities. David received Kade through the program last June.

The program will match Rebecca Blitch, 22, a recent graduate of Eckerd College, with a service dog later this year.

"I am so excited. I've wanted this for a long time," said Blitch, who applied for a service dog about three years ago. She said she was looking for security, companionship and a way to be more independent.

She was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy when she was 13 months old. The disease limits her movement, creates muscle weakness and binds her to a wheelchair.

In the Canine Assistants program, the service dogs are trained for 14 to 18 months at a cost of more than $10,000 each.

Milk-Bone works with various grocery stores to sponsor each dog. Kash n' Karry is the co-sponsor this time. The dogs are provided at no cost to recipients.

"We plan to sponsor over 80 dogs in 2003," said Barbara Percival, a spokeswoman for Milk-Bone. In the past six years, Milk-Bone's program has sponsored 208 Canine Assistants across the nation.

For information on the Canine Assistants program, call 1-800-771-7221 or visit the Web sites www.canineassistants.org or www.Milk-Bone.com