Kids & Family
Dog Trained in Manassas Assisting Woman With Disability
It's the fifth dog trained by Manassas residents Wendy and Jerry Luterek through the Canine Companions for Independence nonprofit.
An assistance dog trained locally is now a companion for a woman with a disability in New York.
Geode, a Labrador/Golden Retriever mix, is trained in 50 commands. The dog can turn light switches on and off, open and close doors and retrieve dropped objects.
It's the fifth dog trained by Manassas residents Wendy and Jerry Luterek through the Canine Companions for Independence nonprofit.
The couple has raised Geode for a year and a half since he was a small puppy. Trainers work with the dogs on basic commands and socialization before the dogs receive six months of advanced training by Canine Companion staff.
Jo Ann Meyer of New York was matched with Geode after a two-week course at the organization’s Northeast Regional Center in Medford, N.Y.
“Geode is a very special dog and I hope to have many wonderful years with him," Meyer said in a statement. "I can’t thank Wendy and Jerry Luterek enough”
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