A New Leash on Life, Inc. was founded to improve people’s lives by utilizing the special abilities of dogs. New Leash trains Assistance Dogs for people with disabilities; Therapy Dogs to cheer the elderly and motivate children learning to read or in therapy; and Companion Dogs for adoption from unwanted shelter dogs through an inmate training program at a local correctional facility.

Another long-time New Leash client, David Surgnier, has Multiple Sclerosis, lives alone and is confined to a wheel chair.  However, he is able to continue his work as an environmental engineer, constantly flying on commercial airlines from one location to another, thanks to his dog Maxie, a Golden Retriever, Maxie is named for Maxie Anderson of Sayre who was responsible for the first nonstop balloon crossing of the Atlantic Ocean and of the United States.

While Maxie pulls David’s wheelchair through the airports and helps him in a thousand other ways every day, David said the most important thing Maxie does is to force him to get out of bed every morning and keep going. “You can’t think about how bad you feel with a cold nose in your face. Maxie is priceless.”

Seven-year-old Davin Stogsdill-Mercer of Ringling, OK, is the human that belongs to a yellow Labrador Retriever named Boyd. Boyd is named after Oklahoma actor William Boyd who became the famous movie character of 'Hop Along Cassidy".

Davin can't sit up or hold his head up due to cerebral palsy. But, according to his mom Misty, Davin's life is now much happier because of his new best friend and constant canine companion. "Boyd loves on Davin all the time and causes the rest of the children to interact more with Davin as they all play on the floor together."

Davin's physicial therapist also said that Boyd motivates Davin try to use his arms and body in ways nothing else can. Most of us take for granted being able to pet a dog. For Davin, it's a huge effort and the best reward possible.

Some dogs that were raised for an Assistance Dog are better suited for Therapy Dogs. These dogs are placed as "special needs" dogs with people with severe disabilities.

The dog is a companion and therapists use the dog to encourage and motivate patients to try new and difficult activities with the dog as their reward. These dogs go to therapy sessions and the family receives the same training support as the Assistance Dogs.

Eight-year old Joslyn Burch of Cache has a rare genetic disorder that affects the central nervous system and causes her to walk erratically and fall frequently.  She also has a hearing loss. Her Assistance Dog, Parker, is named after Quanah Parker, the famous last chief and statesman of the Comanche Indians.

Trena Burch, Joslyn’s mother, said that Parker seems to instinctively know what Joslyn needs and constantly looks out for her. “One day at school, there was spilled milk in the hall.  Parker wouldn’t let Joslyn walk in it.  “People are amazed by his intuition… and always being there with a watchful eye.”

Parker has also opened a whole new social world for Joslyn.  “Now instead of avoiding her because of her disabilities, other children are drawn to her because of her cool dog,” Trena said.