Vicki Terry & Lovey

Vicki was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bone disease), and in the first 30 years of her life sustained over 80 broken bones from nothing more than the struggle of daily living. In 2001 she sustained further injury in the form of an aneurism of the brain. With the support of her parents she has been working hard at regaining her former abilities.

A federal government employee for many years, Vicki’s Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) left her unable to work at her job and she became medically retired at only 31. All the loving support her parents could offer did not allow her to regain her independence. That would take a Service Dog. Vicki’s allergies did not permit her to have a dog that sheds hair. She also needed a dog that was strong but not too large since a playful jump could cause a serious injury.

We met Vicki while facilitating a workshop as part of the Journey Toward Independence Conference at George Mason University. Her use of a Service Dog was endorsed and financially underwritten by the State of North Carolina, Department of Mental Health Services (specifically the Wilson, North Carolina Health Services Center).

Vicki regularly travels to Hampton, Virginia to train in public environments with her Service Dog, Lovey. Together they have been to restaurants, malls, and supermarkets. Vicki’s first grocery shopping trip in her entire life was facilitated by Lovey. They are regular visitor’s to Lowe’s Home Center, where they researched the costs of kennel panels for Lovey’s exercise yard at her new home in Wilson, North Carolina.

In less than six months, Vicki has mastered the many steps necessary to harness her own dog. She has completed her Basic commands and can transport Lovey to and from public training sites by the use of those commands.

While Lovey has been independently trained through the Intermediate level, she and Vicki are quickly catching up as a Service Team. Lovey went home with Vicki on Valentine's Day 2005.  She and Vicki are now attending the local community college five days a week.  Lovey assists Vicki in her wheelchair navigating handicapped accessible ramps at home, in school, and in the community. This amazing team is expected to certify in the Spring of 2006.