Page 82 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2023 - Online Magazine

A SALUTE

TO

service

by Sydney Crane, LMFT

The community lost a special service of him as a pup? Chewing up a his help, Stratton learned to nudge,
member to cancer this fall, though fireplace! lick, and bark at Alex to distract
not the type of veteran that likely and alert her when symptoms were
comes to mind. This service member Despite his outrageous behavior, manifesting. Alex will tell you,
had four paws and over ten years of which he eventually grew out Stratton has quite literally saved and
experience protecting and serving his of, Stratton had a natural gift for served her more times than she could
human. learning and picking up cues from ever count.
his human. He was in sync and
Meet Stratton Crane, the border collie intuitive with Alex’s thoughts and It is important to know some of
who had multiple nicknames, stories, feelings, so Alex soon realized the factors that distinguish service
and acts of service under badge Stratton would be more than just dogs from other trained animals,
number, K9560. a companion and an emotional such as those trained specifically
support. She could use him, and for emotional support and therapy.
Stratton was born April 11, 2013, and quite honestly needed him, to assist According to the Americans with
adopted by his owner, Alex, at eight her when her PTSD symptoms Disabilities Act (ADA), service
weeks old. emerged. animals are strictly limited to
certain dog breeds and are trained
(How could any human resist those Alex Crane, a current first responder to perform a task or tasks directly
baby blues?!) Little did Alex know, in the community, trained and related to a person’s disability.
Stratton was a fireball, full of energy officially registered Stratton as Service animals are not required to be
and spice! Alex’s fondest memory a service dog in January 2016, certified or go through a professional
after experiencing severe training program, do not need to
anxiety and panic symptoms wear a vest or ID to indicate they
associated with a PTSD are a service dog, and are not the
diagnosis. Singlehandedly, same as emotional support dogs
Alex trained Stratton to because providing emotional support
perform specific tasks and is not classified as a task related to
behaviors anywhere and a person’s disability. Additionally,
everywhere, to distract and service dogs may go anywhere with
alert her when she was about their human, even into places that do
to have an attack or if she not allow pets.
was in the middle of one.
Alongside his natural ability TIP: If you are working at a business
of sensing when she needed or facility that does not allow pets,

82 Lubbock Senior Link