OCEANSIDE: Canine Companions volunteer rides 700 miles

Ross raised $6,000 ... and his third assistance dog

By MANNY LOPEZ - For the North County Times | Saturday, May 31, 2008 9:52 PM PDT ∞

Daniel Fox, 12, hugs his dog, LoLo, goodbye during the Canine Companions for Independence graduation ceremony Saturday at the Mission San Luis Rey's Serra Center in Oceanside. At the ceremony, puppy raisers turn over their highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities. (Photo by John Koster - For the North County Times)

Kerry and James Pettit watch a final slide show before handing their dog over during the emotional Canine Companions for Independence graduation ceremony Saturday at the Mission San Luis Rey's Serra Center in Oceanside. At the ceremony puppy raisers turn over their highly-trained assistance dogs they raised to children and adults with to disabilities. (Photo by John Koster - For the North County Times)

OCEANSIDE ---- "With all of the decisions we have to make in life, this is the one thing in my life that I know I'm supposed to be doing," said Bruce Ross, who rode his bicycle 700 miles to raise more than $6,000 on behalf of Canine Companions for Independence.

Started in 1975, Canine Companions has become the largest assistance dog organization in the world, providing people with physical disabilities with highly trained service dogs completely free of charge.

Companions' canines are specially bred Labrador and golden retrievers that assist with daily tasks and increase independence by reducing reliance on other people.

Ross kicked off his trip at the nonprofit organization's facility in Santa Rosa two weeks ago and rode down the coast to Oceanside.

Along the way, he stopped in Sacramento to receive an award from Maria Shriver at the Department of Volunteerism, which he displayed at a graduation ceremony for dogs and their owners and trainers Saturday at the Mission San Luis Rey's Serra Center in Oceanside.

Ross credits his involvement with Canine Companions to divine intervention. After losing his pet golden retriever of 18 years, he was introduced to the organization by fellow members of his church who, after seeing him interact with one of the dogs, suggested he volunteer to raise one.

Convinced that he couldn't endure the pain of losing another animal, Ross said, he refused. He was then invited to a graduation ceremony, and he fell in love with the program.

Ross has been involved with Canine Companions for about five years and is raising his third dog for the organization. Xenon has been with him for 16 months and accompanied Ross on his fundraising trip.

Ross planned to turn Xenon in for advanced training at Saturday's graduation ceremony.

Ross said he's never ready to give up a dog, but that watching the graduation and seeing the people receiving the dogs makes his sacrifice seem minuscule.

He said after the ceremony that he would take the dog to the Canine Companions facility, give it up, and then go cry with others who have volunteered to raise a dog.

For Ross and the other volunteers, solace can be found in relating their experience to sending a child off to college.

"They graduate, and it's like watching your child become a doctor and making a difference in somebody's life," he said.

If all goes as planned, in six months Ross will go up on stage with Xenon and hand her over to a recipient.

For him, he said, that will be the pinnacle of his experience, like watching his child graduate with honors.

Rosemary McDonnell-Horita, 14, of Oceanside said she has had her canine companion, Eureka, for more than seven years.

"It was amazing," she said. "He became my best friend immediately."

Eureka helps with everyday tasks such as picking things up off of the floor or reaching a light switch.

Whenever Rosemary has a doctor's appointment, she said, Eureka is right by her side.

She said it was a lot of work going through training, but to have a best friend that's always going to be by her side is phenomenal.

"I love him so much," she said. "I don't know what I would do without him."