Mike & Sheff’s article in the Statesman
April 29, 2008
This is an article that was written about Sheffie and Mike in the Statesman. A few of the facts are incorrect but for the most part isnt a bad article.
Western student receives guide dog and new freedom
By Jeffrey Sawyer
This past November, Michael Babcock received a friend and new lease on life when he graduated with his guide dog Sheffield. Sheffield, who Michael lovingly refers to as “Sheffie,” is a black Labrador Retriever and is two years old.
In order to receive his companion, Michael and Sheffield had to complete a one month training course in Boring, Ore. Michael and Sheffield had to learn how to negotiate stairways, elevators, overhead obstacles, crowded sidewalks and busy streets. The dogs are trained to avoid distractions and disobey commands to cross a street if traffic is approaching.
Michael is in his third year at Western and is a computer science major.
Before he had Sheffield by his side, the only way for Michael to leave his place anywhere by himself was with his cane. The playful and energetic Sheffield has certainly changed that.
“One of the first things I remember doing with Sheffield that I could not do before was travel to Salem by bus to go to the AT&T store to get a new phone,” said Michael.
Michael said that Sheffield has increased his mobility and “has changed my life more than I could ever ever express.”
Guide dogs are expensive, costing over $30,000 including training and instruction. Most students do not have enough money to afford tuition, much less a guide dog. The training for Sheffield and Michael cost him nothing, and was provided by Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.
Guide Dogs for the Blind has been serving people since 1942 and has produced over 10,000 trained guides for people in the United States and Canada.
They offer students of their program air transportation, room and board, training, equipment, financial assistance for veterinary and support services free of charge. The nonprofit organization is supported entirely by private and charitable donations.
Michael explained that the training sessions provided by Guide Dogs for the Blind were quite rigorous. Except for Sundays, their days began at 6 a.m. and did not end until 10 p.m. After the first week and a half, the training largely consisted of students going to parks and different buildings in the Portland area under supervision from instructors.
“We practiced going up stairs and crossing streets,” said Michael. “We also practiced some night routes while guiding by ourselves with instructors observing at a distance, it certainly wasn’t easy at the beginning.”
According to Michael, the service of a guide dog lasts for about six to eight years. After the dogs are retired, Guide Dogs for the Blind cares for them for the rest of their lives. The person who has a dog retired is then invited back to train with a new Guide Dog.
“I didn’t know if I would ever get the chance to get a guide dog, mainly because I kept losing paperwork, said Michael. “However, when I met Sheffield I was in love.
He has brought me happiness and sometimes I think he knows me better than I know myself. They say it’s a life partner, and I would agree, Sheffie is going to be with me for a long time. I would like to thank Guide Dogs for the Blind for giving me a chance to get Sheffie, and would like to suggest to any blind people that if they want to go for a guide dog, it’s worth it, trust me.”
