Celebrate International Assistance Dog Week with these heroic canines

International Assistance Dog Week is Aug. 3-9.

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According to the week's founder, Marcie Davis-a paraplegic for more than 35 years and CEO of Davis Innovations, a consulting firm based in Santa Fe, N.M.-International Assistance Dog Week (IADW) was created to recognize all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability related limitations.

The goals of IADW are to:

> Recognize and honor assistance dogs

> Raise awareness and educate the public about assistance dogs

> Honor puppy raisers and trainers

> Recognize heroic deeds performed by assistance dogs in our communities

Take a minute to meet a few assistance dogs here and to recognize your assistant dog patients this week, Aug. 3-9.

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Jeanie Waters and McGrew got together February 2012. McGrew is

Waters' second ECAD Service Dog. Both seemed to know just what to do and it was a joy to see McGrew stand solid as Waters lifted herself

from sofa to wheelchair, using the harness on McGrew's back. Waters, a

winner of Olympic Gold Medals in wheel chair racing, was delighted that McGrew liked to go as fast as she does.

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Forever Friend autism assistance dog, Charlie, takes a leisurely stroll with his family.

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Forever Friend autism assistance dog, Thorpe, gets a hug from his partner.

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Harley walks with his family. The OccuPaws Guide Dog Association says visually impaired children with an assistance dog walk straight and upright with confidence. People will come up and talk to the family because of the dog, where before very few people would be willing to interact. The other children at school are more willing to talk with and include the visually impaired child. 

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Canine Companions assistance dog Nilani retrieves keys for her partner that were out of reach.

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Hattie, a 6 year old chocolate Lab, was trained to be a hearing dog by the organization Dogs for the Deaf Inc. "Hattie's Helpers" was coined by a group of third grade students after Hattie visited their class to do a Hearing Dog demonstration and program about Dogs for the Deaf. Hattie can alert

her partner Jennifer Hampton to the oven timer, microwave, doorbell, door knock, telephone, alarm clock, smoke detector and someone calling her name. 

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Shelly Shetley and Jewell take a break from work to look at

Italian cars during "Fiesta Italiana" at the Zona Rosa shopping district in Kansas City, Mo. Jewell will "Go Up & Tap" automatic buttons to open doors, "Brace" to aid in standing and/or transfers, "Tug" to open drawers and aid in taking off jackets, etc. and retrieves dropped items.

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Guide dog Elton walks with his partner. Guide Dogs of America provides services free of charge to blind and visually impaired men and women throughout the United States and Canada.

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Canine Companions service dog Satine assists wounded and disabled veterans, providing them increased independence and a battle buddy.

To learn more about International Assistance Dog Week, go to

assistancedogweek.org

.