Emily Staben and Shadow, with Debbie Lees, right and Emily's Child Development facilitator Cherry Shilling By HARLEY RICHARDS LIFE editor 

Surrounded by strange sights, sounds and smells, Shadow tentatively approached Emily Staben. The four-year-old girl extended a cautious hand toward the Labrador-blue heeler cross. She ran her fingers through the dog's fur and he dabbed her face with a wet tongue. A broad smile appeared on Emily's face and Shadow's tail wagged excitedly. The bonding of child and dog had begun. This was the scene at Terry and Michelle Staben's Red Deer home recently, when their disabled daughter met the animal that may help ensure her future safety. Shadow had just arrived from Edmonton, accompanied by Debbie Lees, founder of Smokey's Assistance Dogs Foundation. Through that organization, Lees hopes to match service dogs, with children in need of help: Youngsters with cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy and other debilitating conditions. I'm so committed to this, says Lees, who has even paired her seven-year-old niece--who has epilepsy--with a dog. Service dogs can safeguard youngsters who suffer a seizure, says Lees, and in some cases will even anticipate the attack and seek help. They will also restrain their young masters from potential dangers like staircases and busy streets, and support them if they lose their balance. They seem to have this knack, for lack of a better word, (of knowing) that there's a child in need, says Lees. That's the kind of protection Terry and Michelle are seeking for Emily, one of their four children. Suffering from cytomegalic inclusion disease, Emily is profoundly deaf, vision-impaired and functions at the cognitive level of a six-to nine-month-old. As she becomes more mobile, Emily is placing herself in dangerous situations with increasing frequency, says Terry. He describes a recent incident in which his daughter pulled a television set onto her. Service dog, he and Michelle hope, will help keep their daughter out of harm's way It would be a big peace of mind for us, says Terry. The Stabens paid a visit to Smokey's Assistance Dogs Foundation in Edmonton after the TV mishap. Emily met some of Lees's dogs, and two of them- Shadow and Pluto--later traveled to red Deer. Their Lees watched the dogs interact with Emily and other members of the family. Shadow, she concluded, was the better match. She also assessed Emily's needs, as well as the physical layout of her bedroom and the Stabens' house. This information will help her prepare Shadow for Emily's specific requirements. No two people with the same type of disability have the same needs, explains Lees Shadow who is just over a year old, has already undergone some training 

Foundation has 11 dogs 

Smokey's Assistance Dogs Foundation currently has 11 dogs two with clients and nine in training. They consist of five yellow Labradors, three black Labrador-blue heeler crosses, a red heeler, a great Pyrenees Newfoundland cross and a Norwegian Elkhound. Lees also cares for her own service dog Smokey, and a cocker spaniel. Clients approved for a service dog receive the animal free, but are required to pay a $150 administration fee and the cost of expenses like food, vet care and equipment They must also sign an agreement committing to the proper care of their service dog, and acknowledge that ownership remains with the foundation. They are the clients to use, but legally I still own the dog, says Lees. Smokey's Assistance Dogs Foundation is controlled by a board of directors. A non-profit society, its goal is to attract corporate sponsors and private donations to fund operations Lees also hopes to expand into dog-related sidelines like educational seminars, a pet store, grooming services and a kennel. Proceeds from these businesses could be used to support the foundation's service dog operations, she says. The more that we can do under an umbrella will mean that we'll have to do less fund-raising, says Lees. She is also working to improve the public's understanding of service dogs. Lees has been leading a push for legislative protection of service dog owners' right to take their animals into public places like restaurants and hotels. 

Speaking from experience 

When Debbie Lees praises the effectiveness of service dogs, she speaks from experience. The 40-year-old Edmonton resident relies on a four- legged companion to compensate for a loss of mobility caused by chronic back pain. Smokey, a Norwegian Elkhound, can open doors, pull clothes from the dryer, push a Telephone speed dial button and remove the socks from Lees's feet. The dog will even move to break her owner's fall if she loses her balance. She has pulled my wheel chair when I've been stuck, adds Lees. The decision to obtain a service dog came after a spinal cord injury robbed Lees of much of her independence. At that time I was having trouble getting dressed by myself, I couldn't drive and I'd lost my job, she remembers. She acquired Smokey in 1994, and began training the dog to help her with her day-to-day needs. Among the people who helped was a woman who had taught dogs tricks for television and movie roles. Smokey, says his owner, has since become an important part of her life: as a helper and as a companion welded to my hip I hope you will come back and see our site.

Note: This partnering has not taking place. This match seamed to be right but the job was more than the dog could do. It was a hard choice to stop the match but it was the right choice to make.

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