CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Rabbit refuge owner needs service dog

The Register Citizen - 10/1/2022

Oct. 1—THOMASTON — Amy Lorenda White loves all animals, but she has a penchant for rabbits, and created Lavender's Refuge to share their magical qualities with others in need of relief and unconditional love.

White, a resident of Thomaston, has a number of physical and mental disabilities; she is on the Autism spectrum, has PTSD, and suffers chronic pain from nerve damage, neuropathy and muscle weakness. Five years ago she was confined to a wheelchair and was unable to walk. Thanks to physical therapy and her own determined spirit, White is now up and about, sharing her little family of rabbits with children and adults.

But her own service dog, a sturdy German Shepherd named Moose, grew ill with Lyme disease last year and is no longer able to perform his jobs, mainly, to help her get up if she falls down. Though she's out of the wheelchair, White's legs are weak, and she sometimes falls. She says her type of neuropathy causes her lower arms and legs to be numb, making movement a challenge most of the time. She credits her physical therapist, Shelby Sarracco, with getting out of the wheelchair, she said.

Having a service dog join her family would make a difference in her life, she said. Along with a dog learning to open doors, pick things up and help her get in and out of a chair or bed, she'll have another companion.

"Moose is just a wonderful boy, and he's done his job for a long time," White said, during a recent afternoon in the yard of her Thomaston home. Moose took a walk on the grass nearby with White's daughter, Annette, 22. "He gets to just be a pet now, and he's happy. I still need a dog to get around, to help me. I was doing research on dogs, and I found out about ECAD."

Two years ago she met several ECAD volunteers, who came to see her rabbits. "I didn't know about ECAD until they told me they volunteered there on weekends," she said. "That's how I found out what they do."

White is required to raise $25,000 for one of the dogs, which are bred, trained and paired with clients at the nonprofit's headquarters in Winsted. ECAD's dogs are trained to detect medical emergencies, provide emotional and physical support, and guide their companions indoors and out. Each dog's skills are tailored for their owner; those new owners are required to stay at ECAD's training center for the final two weeks of training, before going home together.

The cost of such training is much more than $25,000, White said. "When you add up the time to train these dogs, and the work ECAD does with their clients, and then the years they are with you, it's a lot more than that. So if a person like me wants to have one, we're asked to make that financial commitment.

"I've raised almost $9,000 already," she said, adding that her own church and local arts organizations have held fundraisers for her. "People have been so wonderful, and so generous. It's very encouraging."

Meanwhile, White continues with her work with Lavender's Refuge. The little nonprofit is not a rescue for rabbits, "but for humans," she said.

"My goal is to invite people here to hug a bunny for an hour, and relieve their stress," she said. "I was on psychiatric medicines for my PTSD, and I am off them now; I credit that to the rabbits. They bring me so much peace, and I just want to share that with everyone."

Three of those special rabbits include Pistachio, a gray Holland Lop; he is affectionate and likes to give kisses, when he's not playing in the grass in his crate. Hot Fudge is a petite Rex bunny with a very soft coat that is hypoallergenic, meaning he's safe for children and adults with allergies to fur and dander. Grace Ann, a snow-white female, is a Jersey Wooly that resembles a fluffy white ball. She is gentle and likes to snuggle, too.

It's easy to see — and feel — why these little creatures are such a comfort to someone like White. Lavender's Refuge is a mission for her to teach people, especially children, how to respect animals and to learn about them.

"I have home school groups come to visit, and we do a little education program to help them understand how to be gentle with animals, how to treat them, and why it's so important," White said. "But I also want to share the way a bunny can help you feel better. It's the most peaceful thing in the world."

To learn more about Lavender's Refuge or to donate for White's service dog fundraiser, visit her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064434291956

___

(c)2022 The Register Citizen, Torrington, Conn.

Visit The Register Citizen, Torrington, Conn. at www.registercitizen.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.