CH Makeit KO's Appalachian Dream TT HIC
Caption from College Street News:
Working dog Maria and her owner Kristina Pattison.
“Maria”
- CHIC: 10763
- OFA Hips: BT-3836E27F-PI
- OFA Elbows: BT-EL1227F27-PI
- OFA Thyroid: BT-TH47/56F-PI
- CERF: BT-2496/2005--56
- Epilepsy: Free at 5 yrs.+
- Bite: Scissors
- Dentition: Full
- Color: Mahogany & Black
- Reproductive Status: Intact
- Reg. No.: DL835496/02
- Born: May 14, 2000
CSN: March 1, 2004
The following article and photo appeared in the College Street News, the school newspaper for Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, where Kristina attends classes. The article and story were by Helen “Dr. Penny” deGraffenried of the College Street News.
The article, entitled “Working dog makes student owner's life a little easier,” read:
When people see a dog, they often want to pet it or interact with it in some way.
But some dogs are working dogs and shouldn't be petted while they're on the clock. Usually wearing a vest to separate them from other dogs, they have a special job to do and shouldn't be detracted from it.
There is such a working dog on campus, Maria, a Belgian Tervuren. Her owner, student Kristina Pattison, has a neurological problem that Maria can sense about 20 minutes before it happens, and she can warn her mistress to take some extra medicine.
That is, though, not all that Maria can do.
When prompted, she will push the button that automatically opens building doors, pick up her leash and hand it to her mistress or, actually, pick up anything that is dropped if told to.
Maria also will help balance someone or help a person get up from a chair or the floor. Maria actually could pull someone in a wheelchair if she has the right halter on.
Pattison also shows and breeds dogs to help others who need working dogs.
“I started showing about 1986, but waited until 2000 to start breeding,” she said. She added that breeding is “much more tricky.”
She owns Maria's uncle, and a very good friend, a veterinarian, owns Maria's father.
“Through him I have become friends with the owner of the mother, also a vet, who lives in another state.”
Maria is also shown in dog shows some Sundays, and “if she does well at the dog show, we stop and buy her a taco; it's her favorite food,” Pattison said.
Pattison said she's been training Maria since the dog was born 3½ years ago. “She daily continues to learn new things. Maria just keeps on learning!” Pattison added.
Pattison is a writer and has had a children's book published. She also has had short stories published in the college's literary magazine, The Heartland Review.
The editor, assistant professor Mick Kennedy, is one person Maria is allowed to interact with. Usually Kennedy kneels down and Maria licks his face; she seems to really like him.
