2013 Clancy "Service" Award
VICAR
a 6 year-old black Labrador Retriever
is the recipient of the
2013 Clancy "Service" Award.

Vicar underwent extensive training in order to carry out specific tasks that provided James Laking with a better quality of life.
Vicar was only 18 months old when he was matched with James Laking at the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guide School in Oakville, Ontario.  James is blind and Vicar was his fifth and youngest Canine Vision Dog Guide.  Vicar offered James a degree of independence that even his wife Margaret could never have given him. They were inseparable twenty-four/seven.
James is a member of the McAdam Lions Club and has been a Lion for over 30 years. Vicar, therefore, was also a member of the Lions Club. James sang in the choir at St. George's Anglican Church so Vicar became a choir member as did his predecessor, Porter. Both were members of church vestry and both attended Friday Coffee Mornings at the McAdam Public Library.
In 2011 with failing health, diabetes and the beginnings of dementia it was determined by social services that James needed 24 hour round the clock care - a care Margaret couldn't provide. She had already given up her job to try and they tried homemakers as well but neither worked. James wasn't taking his insulin or eating meals that were prepared and ready for him. So, after a fall when Margaret was not at home, he was taken by ambulance and hospitalized until social services could find a special care home for him .... one which would allow Vicar.
They did find a place that would accept Vicar, so for a little over a year, James and Vicar were very much a team and very much each other's best friend. There were many days in the winter that Margaret could not get from McAdam to the north side of Fredericton to visit, so Vicar was the only thing constant in James’ life.
Toward the end of their year in special care James’ health was deteriorating to the point that taking care of Vicar was becoming too much. Vicar wasn't being fed properly so the staff had to take over that chore. Vicar wasn't being groomed regularly - another chore for the staff and Vicar wasn't being exercised, not even walked which also fell to the already over-worked staff. And, then, he was being taken out for his regular breaks to do his 'business'. The care home then asked Margaret to make other arrangements for Vicar.
Once that was done, my husband's health declined more rapidly and in June of last year he was diagnosed with advanced dementia and placed in a nursing home here in McAdam, much closer to Vicar and his family.  He could no longer have his dog especially as dementia had robbed him of the ability to walk. Altho James could no longer hold on to the leash, Vicar quietly lay on the floor beside the geri-chair until it was time to leave.
As a rule the Lions Foundation of Canada require that a dog be returned once his services are no longer required.  After much discussion it was agreed that Margaret could ‘adopt’ Vicar where she would still be able to take Vicar to visit James. After all, they were a team and the bond is still there.  With the adoption came a special set of guidelines …
Because of being with James through four of his Dog Guides, counting Vicar, and the fact that Margaret had attended many sessions with James when demonstrating guide dogs, she was given permission to use Vicar, when requested by schools, organizations, Sunday Schools, Lions functions, etc for providing almost the same demonstration, including dog in harness that James had been doing. Margaret's first venture was a request by the Barker's Point Lions Club to bring Vicar to their Dog's Breakfast, a breakfast the club put on to raise money for the dog guide schools at the Lions Foundation of Canada.  The other guideline is that Margaret can use Vicar as a therapy dog as he is well trained. This way Vicar has a future visiting hospitals, nursing and special care homes and wherever else his services may be needed. Now a role model, Vicar's presence helps raise awareness for the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guide programs.

NOTE: How timely the Clancy Service Award was for Vicar.  Jim passed away on Wednesday evening, June 5th.  Although he couldn't see it, he was able to have the picture of Vicar on display in his room for a few days before his death.

To learn more of Vicar, please contact Margaret Laking at margaretlaking@gmail.com

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