Jo Nelson was born with cerebral palsy. Over the years, many things have grown increasingly difficult, and recently she was injured in several falls. She realized she needed help and found it through an organization called Fidos for Freedom.
Created in 1987, Fidos is a non-profit 501c3 in Laurel, Maryland that’s certified by Assistance Dog International, which sets standards for the assistance dog industry.
Fidos specializes in mobility dogs, hearing dogs, and dogs for veterans suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and, over the years, it has trained over 150 service dogs for people who need them.
Nelson was approved for a Fidos dog, and after many months of training, she now has a service dog named Tessa.
When she needs to rise from a chair, Nelson gives the command, “Brace,” wraps her arms gently around Tessa, and easily stands up. Nelson says bending is difficult, so Tessa picks up anything she drops.
For Fidos dogs, such feats are routine. Among other tasks, they open handicap accessible doors, remove shoes and clothing, empty the clothes dryer, turn light switches on and off, and alert hearing-impaired owners when someone’s at the door.
The dogs are donated to Fidos by breeders, families or rescues, and each animal then travels an amazing journey. After nine months with a “puppy trainer,”learning basic obedience, they head off for prison! Yes, you read that right.
Four dogs at a time enter the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland, and spend four to six months with inmates who are trained to teach them more advanced skills.
Having inmates do this work is invaluable, says Fidos Director of Outreach Sandra Ball. “We’re all volunteers,” she explains. “And our volunteers have jobs and families, so it’s hard to get as much training as we want.”
After the dogs leave the prison program, Fidos trainers take over, bringing the dogs to live with them and begin working with clients. Each client spends 30 hours working with different dogs to find the right match, then another 30 hours exclusively with the dog chosen for them. They begin bringing the dog home for overnight stays.
“The first overnight was hysterical,” says Nelson. “Every single time I moved in bed, she got up to see if I needed anything! I was like, O.K. I get that you want to help me. But I’m just turning over,” she laughs.
Tessa came to live with Nelson permanently in December, 2016. But the two will continue to attend training classes together, and she says that as her capabilities decrease with age, Tessa’s abilities will increase.
“…We go to the grocery store. We do errands…she goes to work with me. Everything I do, she does.”
I covered a story about Fidos for Freedom about 25 years ago, and was absolutely blown away by watching service dogs in action. I am just as amazed as I work on this post.
Check out this short video I made and see for yourself.
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