RETRIEVER STARTS LIFE OF SERVICE TO BOY, 7.Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer BURBANK - Tyler Roope has a new friend, and life has gotten a whole lot easier for the Burbank 7-year-old. Rinka helps Tyler - who has spinal muscular atrophy Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a term applied to a number of different disorders, all having in common a genetic cause and the manifestation of weakness due to loss of the motor neurons of the spinal cord and brainstem. and uses an electric wheelchair - with everything from picking objects up off the floor to opening and closing doors. She also enjoys playing a friendly game of fetch, as Rinka is a 2-year- old Labrador and golden retriever golden retriever, breed of large sporting dog developed primarily in Scotland in the mid-19th cent. It stands about 23 in. (58.4 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 60 to 75 lb (27.2–34.1 kg). mix. ``Rinka is an amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. animal,'' said Tyler's mom, Rosie Roope. ``She's absolutely a kid's best friend. She just gives him a lot of independence that he would normally not have.'' Rinka and Tyler's working friendship developed this year after the pair graduated from Canine canine or canid Any domestic or wild dog or doglike mammal (e.g., wolf, jackal, fox) in the family Canidae, found throughout the world except in Antarctica and on most ocean islands. Companions for Independence, a program that trains companion dogs and teams them up with disabled individuals. The Santa Rosa-based nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. has rigorous standards for its companion dogs, monitoring their behavior and temperament from the time they're puppies and putting them through six months to eight months of intensive specialized training. Dogs are tested to see whether they can keep their cool and remain focused on their roles as companion animals despite distractions such as cats, rabbits and loud noises such as gunshots. Successful canine graduates of the program not only offer their owners a calm demeanor and help with daily tasks, but in many cases provide a new social outlet. ``(Owners) are the first to say that once they got their assistance dog, it is a social bridge as much as anything else. People are a lot nicer to them and engage in conversation with them,'' said Karyl Carmignani, spokeswoman for Canine Companions. Tyler's recent graduation with Rinka came after several years of being on a waiting list for a dog. The Roopes learned of the program when Tyler saw a man with an assistance dog at a conference in Chicago for families of people with spinal muscular atrophy. Now, Rosie Roope said the next project for Rinka is to learn how to obey Tyler's command to get a family member when he needs one. For Tyler, the help Rinka can provide is just a part of the benefits. ``We play fetch and she lays down with me,'' Tyler said. ``It's more fun now.'' Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304 alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO --Canine Companions for Independence will hold an informational demonstration April 30 at Atwater Avenue Elementary School elementary school: see school. , 3271 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . The free event, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., will include training demonstrations. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Tyler Roope, 7, of Burbank, who has spinal muscular atrophy, cuddles Cuddles may be:
Joel P. Lugavere/Special to the Daily News Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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