Sal, the dog who deserves to have his story told over and over again.
Sal was 12 years old when he left our human presence. He spent 12 full years teaching all of us about being in relationship with the world.
Sal started his life as a guide dog in training with Guiding Eyes for the Blind School in York Town Heights, New York. He was placed with Nina Scribner, my mom and came home to Maine to be raised as a guide dog.
His first years of his life involved the usual diligent work as a guide dog in training. Unfortunately he began to show a few behaviors of concern. His lunging was peculiar. He lunged up not out. When going to a local nursing home to visit, mom recalls he would jump up at the "little old men" as if he needed to see their faces closer.
This behavior drew all specialists to observe and at age two Sal was showing signs of PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy). This guide dog in training was slowly going blind. :(
It was a sad realization that he was going to be exited from the Guide dog training program but fortunately was going to stay in Maine to be a certified therapy dog through my mom's role at Maine Medical Center.
From Age 2 to Age 6 Sal's blindness was exactly what the condition stated, progressive and this was hard to witness.
My mom had the incredible courage to figure this out with Sal. She did a lot of research and learned that both the language we used and the signals he received from us would guide him in his life as a blind dog.
My mom was becoming Sal's human guide- how ironic.
My Mom's job as a puppy raiser did not get put on hold. She continued for 10 consecutive years with Sal, to raise prospective guide dogs and Sal helped raise every single one.
Zeva, Talent, Boise, Europe, Kay, Selby, Genevieve, Rosemary,Juanita, Fletch and then there were the house pets, Sonnet and Shadow.
Sal taught them all about life in the Scribner household.
How to handle the boat ramp in the summer-
How to get free food from Dad before bed-
How to get to the beach and fetch sticks in the surf
and how to be a companion to everyone who was in your presence!
Sal continued to be a therapy dog at Cedar's Nursing Home in Yarmouth and Maine Medical Center in Portland. He was well known on all floors, in all offices and by all security.
When at Maine Medical Center he visited The Barbara Bush Children's Floor, Gibson Oncology Floor, The Cardiac Floor, The P6 Psychiatry Floor, Special units and Orthopedic Floor.
What's incredible about my Mom's and Sal's journey is their partnership. Mom had spent over 30 years training dogs how to guide blind people and in 2002 mom's world shifted and she began teaching herself and many around her how to support a blind dog in the world of humans.
As a witness, it is an incredible story.
It started early on in Sal's blindness. She wanted to get ready for what was to come and she heard Canine Dance and Rally Class could be beneficial to sal and his awareness of space.
She called a local "Rally -Ho" teacher to say
"I am dyslexic and my dog is blind , but we would like to learn Rally and come to some classes"
There was silence on one end of the phone, but eventually came an invitation to join a class
Mom and Sal attended a bunch of classes and had so much fun!
Sal learned "left, right, front."
Sal learned "step" when walking up and down steps.
Mom took the time to teach us all how to support Sal and through out this whole journey, Sal never stopped loving all of us. No matter if you were a dog sitter, a family member, a patient, a child at a local school, or just riding the island ferry, Sal was ready to care for you.
Sal was fully blind by age six.
Sal welcomed many grandchildren into this world and taught them about how to love a dog.
Many young faces shed tears last week at the passing of Sal Scribner.
I write this blog in memory of a four legged friend that, in hindsight taught me, you, them and us more than we can know today. I encourage all of you who witnessed Sal's companionship or a dog like Sal, to share a memory with my Mom or contribute to a local canine agency near you. The power of these dogs, to fill our lives fully will never be totally understood, but will forever continue!
Thank you Sal for teaching us how to live fully and to you mom for all the work you put in and love towards such an incredible dog!
I know you and Dad miss your beloved friend, but the memory of Sal lives fully in all our hearts!
10 comments:
Thank you for writing this post! I met your Mom once at GEB. She was so helpful and kind to me - it was my first dog's IFT and I had no idea what was going on. Your Mom filled me in on so many details and even kept me from running head-on into my dog on his way in for his test (which could have been disastrous. I would love to send your Mom my condolences on Sal's passing.
Carol Southall
What an amazing testimony and thank you Liz. I saw Sal doing all the things you describe and more. Your Mom had so much patience and love for that dog and he responded to all of it. I feel privileged and inspired to have witnessed both trainings, his welcome of each new guide puppy and his companionship with your Mom. His life was such an example of courage but especially of trust. He had complete trust in both your Mom and Dad. Thank you again for the great photos and the memorable words. Love, Carol
Thank you so much, Liz, for a wonderful tribute. Your mom and Sal were an incredible partnership. I love the photos of them together and especially of Sal with his paws crossed--that's one of my enduring memories of him: his paws crossed! That, and his wonderful big head and his even more wonderful big heart. xoxo Sukie
My parents, Celia, and I (especially) will miss Sal so much. Sal always remembered our individual voices, and knew that we were friends. What a lovely dog personality we had in our daily lives, and I am so grateful.
This touched me so much. I met Sal before he passed away, and I hope that when my family gets a dog next year, it will be just as sweet and lovable as Sal was.
Thank you so much for sharing the bond that Nina and Sal had together. It was such a journey. I will always remember how much my dog Kia loved Sal. Sal & Kia volunteered together at Maine Medical Center. Sal gave Kia confidence and she was always so excited to see both Nina & Sal. That positive energy will live on in our hearts forever.
Such a wonderful story for a wonderful soul! I was lucky enough to get to experience Sal's world first hand time and time over. He was one with his world and was happy to show it off any way he could. I have some great memories that I will cherish!
Thank you Liz for your heartfelt tribute to Sal and Nina. Nina has been a longtime friend and chaplain in the Spiritual Care Department at Maine Medical Center in addition to her work with Sal. We have considered them a chaplain team!
With love and gratitude,
Kitty Garlid
Was so sad to hear about Sal. thank you for your post! I have such funny memories of dogsitting Sal: Coming home from work and finding the knives from the block scattered all over the kitchen. And Sal sitting peacefully in his crate. Coming home on another day and finding the sugarbowl, which had previously been located on the highest shelf in the kitchen,near the ceiling, licked clean, on the floor, without a scratch on it. Again, Sal sitting peacefully in his crate. Love that dog and his amazing nose.
It was unusual on any of my shifts at MMC therapy dogs not to have someone mention Sal and Nina. Telling Sal's story to patients always leaves patients so grateful. I'll miss you Sal!
Big Hugs, John, "Jake & Gypsy"
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