By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer
Westborough – Katie Atchue and her dog Cabot of Westborough are among the more than 1,500 service dog pairings that NEADS has facilitated.
When Atchue was 8 years old, she suffered a brain bleed which left her nonverbal and needing a feeding tube. Her balance and coordination were affected as well. She learned to live with her disability, using a speech generating device to communicate, but always felt uncomfortable in public where people would tend to stare at her. In order to help her feel more confident in social situations, Atchue's parents contacted NEADS about pairing her with a social service dog.
“It was heartbreaking for us to watch and we could just imagine how it made Katie feel,” said Katie's mother, Joan. “We hoped that having a service dog would give people a distraction and also allow Katie to interact with them when they inquired about her dog.”
Atchue was paired with Cabot, a 3-year-old short-haired Collie, in 2006.
Cabot was given to NEADS by a breeder who occasionally donates puppies to the organization. When he was about 6 months old, Cabot went to live with a “puppy raiser” family in Vermont. Here, he was enrolled in obedience classes and taken to stores, restaurants, libraries and other public locations to socialize him. He returned to NEADS when he was a year and a half at which time a trainer began to work with him on Atchue's individual needs. Specifically, Cabot was trained to perform simple commands and was taught to pick up items.
When Cabot was adequately trained to meet Atchue's needs, it was time for Atchue to begin her training with Cabot. For two weeks, she trained with Cabot at the NEADS headquarters in Princeton, learning how to walk with him, give him commands, take him outside to use the bathroom, and how to care for him. Additionally, trainers took Atchue into the community to learn how to handle him around people.
According to Atchue's mother, Joan, Cabot was easy going and laid back and easy to love. He had a sweet disposition and his transition with Katie was seamless.
“Cabot has given Katie much more than confidence in social situations,” she said. “He has given her confidence in herself. He comforts her when she has had a hard day, shows her unconditional love when she is not feeling well, and makes her feel needed.”
Today Atchue is 23 and Cabot is her dear friend. He provides her with motivation to exercise and gives her a general sense of purpose. His presence facilitates social interactions and increases Atchue's sense of security.
“The constant companionship and friendship that Cabot offers Katie is invaluable,” added her father, Bruce, a custodian at Westborough High School. “Cabot has made a little girl feel special and helped in transforming her into a very confident young woman.”