Where I Stand: These companions are special

Tuesday, May 14, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

IT WAS LOVE at first sight.

The beautiful blonde with the chocolate brown eyes was an instant hit with a select group of guests at a recent luncheon held at Cafe Michelle West.

Her name is Torrey and she is a gorgeous golden retriever.

Anyone knows that dogs are not often luncheon guests at Cafe Michelle, but these were very special dogs.

There was Torrey; Harrington, a handsome black Labrador; and two "puppies-in-training," both black labs.

The management of Cafe Michelle needn't have worried about the unusual guests. These dogs have better manners than most humans.

It was my introduction to a wonderful organization called "Canine Companions for Independence."

The mission of CCI is to serve the needs of people with disabilities by providing trained hearing, service and social dogs, and continuing support to ensure the success of the working team.

Robin Daniels and her companion, Harrington, are perfect examples of the empathy and love that can exist between humans and their canine companions. Daniels, who is in a wheelchair, spoke eloquently about her experiences with "Harry" and what he meant to her. We were treated to some of the dogs' special talents as Daniels put him through the paces.

There are hundreds of individuals like Daniels, who have been matched with a companion dog, and their testimonials are filled with the joy of having found a way to take control of their lives with a friend standing by to help.

There are three types of dogs trained by CCI.

Service dogs perform tasks for people with physical disabilities, such as turning light switches on or off, pushing elevator buttons, retrieving items and even pulling a wheelchair.

Hearing dogs alert people who are deaf or hearing-impaired to crucial sounds such as the telephone, alarm clocks, smoke alarms and even the crying of a baby.

Social dogs are provided for children with disabilities, individuals with developmental disabilities, or for any situation where the supervision of a third party is required.

Since CCI was founded in 1975, hundreds of dogs have been trained and matched with human partners, affording an opportunity for the disabled to take charge of their lives.

Most of the animals come from CCI's breeding program. They live with volunteer puppy raisers for a year and a half before receiving the kind of training necessary in their roles as companions and protectors.

The puppies come to their trainers when they are eight weeks of age and stay until they are 13 to 18 months old. The puppies require food, shelter and lots of love and attention to develop into happy, healthy adult dogs. The trainers are taught how to mold young, curious pups into enthusiastic, responsive and confident dogs ready to meet the challenges of becoming a companion to a future recipient.

During the luncheon we met two puppy trainers. Patsy Soifer was there with Bjorne, a lovable lab anyone would want to take home forever. And Jeanne Wright was training an equally sweet puppy named Susan.

Bjorne is Soifer's second puppy. I asked her how she could bear to part with the dog after having had him in her home for a year and a half. She admitted it was difficult, but when she attended a graduation and saw the special relationship between the dog she had trained and the new owner, it made it all worth while. It was, she said, like a miracle.

Judith Pierson, regional director of Canine Companions for Independence and the proud mistress of the beautiful blonde described at the beginning of this story, said it best:

"Imagine having such a large part in the quality of an individual's life. I find it truly awe inspiring. And think about the people who are living that greater life because an agency named CCI exists."

If you would like to learn more about CCI -- how to apply for a canine companion, how to become a puppy raiser or how to assist in any way in this great program, check with Helen Coombs, president of the Champion Volunteer Group.

These are truly dogs to remember.

UNLV Coach Fred Dallimore has never received the recognition he deserves.

The whole town should be congratulating him on coaching the UNLV Rebels to the Big West championship and earning an automatic berth in the NCAA regionals beginning next week.

Wouldn't it be something if they could bring home a national championship?