SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) - A disabled veteran in Idaho is getting a second chance with a service dog next week after things didn’t work out with his first guide dog.
Bill Yeager of Sandpoint lost his eyesight and has difficulty communicating after a stroke, but he still enjoys taking daily walks, reported The Bonner County Daily Bee (https://bit.ly/2hRdDTS ).
In April 2016, Yeager was given a guide dog to help with the strolls. A trainer accompanied him on the walks and noticed that unrestrained dogs in the neighborhood would charge at the group.
The trainer cited those dogs as a safety concern and took the guide dog back to California at the end of a trial period.
Cecilia Myers, an advocate for Yeager, said the veteran became close to the dog in their short time together and was devastated by the separation.
Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon and city administrator Jennifer Stapleton took action to enforce the city’s leash laws after they learned about Yeager’s situation. Now the man is getting another chance to have a service animal.
Myers said the new dog will arrive Sunday. She has been trying to make locals aware of Yeager’s plans to ensure that his walks go smoothly.
“I’m just trying to do what I can to let the public know that his dog will be here, so just ignore him,” Myers said.
The trainer will stay with the dog for 10 days to see how things go.
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Information from: Bonner County (Idaho) Daily Bee, https://www.bonnercountydailybee.com
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