Saint Francis Service Dogs Summer 2024 Newsletter

Porter and Knox (cont. from cover)

“Fedor was a family member to us. He went everywhere we did and faithfully and patiently went along with whatever we did. His gentle, selfless, kind attitude, and personality were examples to us and to Porter,” says Dan. Sadly, after being diagnosed with cancer, Fedor passed away in 2022, just five years after being placed as Porter’s partner. His absence left a huge hole in all of their hearts. After taking time to grieve the loss of their faithful Fedor, they returned to Saint Francis to figure out just how to move forward in filling the space he left behind. Finding a successor dog takes great care, thought, and compassion. The transition from the familiar to the new can be tricky. As we do with all of our candidates, our expert team worked very closely with the Andersons to understand exactly how Porter’s needs had changed at this new stage in his life, while also evaluating exactly which dog could now serve him best. When Porter saw a goofy yellow lab named Knox walk into the room during their matching interview, everyone could feel the connection right away. “Porter is extremely motivated by having a service dog,” Dan says.

Dan says, “It was immediate joy…smiles all around and a lot of intense tail wagging.”

From that very first meeting, Porter and Knox began to form a very special bond. Porter, with his magnetic, easy-going personality and deep love of animals, lights up when Knox is by his side. “Knox and Porter look forward to exercise and playtime together, which they both benefit from at the same time. Knox is constantly motivating Porter to play and be more active,” says Dan. But there is so much beyond the physical assistance Knox provides. Because of his disability, Porter has limited verbal ability. So before he joined the Anderson family, Knox’s trainer at Saint Francis, Cortney, innovated - teaching Knox to respond to commands from a tablet that Porter often uses to communicate. It is a small, yet powerful way to strengthen this team’s already remarkable connection.

We can’t wait to see Porter continue to grow and life continue to open up for this family with Knox by their side!

Scan this QR Code with your phone to see some of Knox’s training in action.

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