In the News!

This is an article that was published in the Salem Times-Register:

Saint Francis Service Dogs, partners, graduate

By: staff

Posted: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 12:55 pm

During Saint Francis Service Dogs graduation Dec. 7, Mary Ann Rubin of Salem listens as Wes Matthew tells the audience the difference his service dog, Shanti, by his side, has made in his life. Rubin graduated with her black Labrador, Montana. Montana lay quietly in the shadows next to his partner, Mary Ann Rubin of Salem. Although he probably didn't realize the importance of that day, Monty was one of 12 stars of the show at the Dec. 7 graduation of Saint Francis Service Dogs. The ceremony officially presented the dogs, who trained for two years, to their partners whose lives are changed by having Monty, Maggie, Pilot, Shanti, Ready and King to help them with daily living. Other graduates were Maggie and Harold Donathon of Shawsville, who had a spinal cord injury three years ago; Kathy Cvizic of Covington and Pilot; Salem-area residents Wes Matthew and Shanti, Martinsville residents Justin Frazier and Ready and Cave Spring-area residents Chuck Saldarini and King. It will be the second Christmas together for Rubin and Monty, who were featured in an article about the two in the April 2008 "Profile" magazine of the Salem Times-Register. The black lab not only steadies Rubin when she gets up, provides somebody to lean on when walking and picks up and brings the telephone and other items at home. He accompanies her to weekly exercise at the Salem Family YMCA. Most of all, he gives both Rubin and her husband, Arnold, a sense of security that she will be OK when Arnold needs to leave the house to run errands. Rubin explained to the crowd at the graduation that she used to be shy and retiring, but that having Monty has encouraged her to talk with people who want to see Monty and know about her service dog. Rubin waited for almost three years for a service dog, because she realized multiple sclerosis, a neuromuscular disease that usually causes progressive weakness, was causing her to be more unsteady and to fall. It took awhile for the right person to come along for Monty, too, who turned 3 in April. It takes 2 years and between $15,000-$20,000 to raise and train one service dog, explained Niki Voudren, development coordinator for the non-profit Roanoke Valley, Va.-based organization. Saint Francis absorbs the cost and places service dogs with approved candidates free.