MADISON - Whether you consider her young or old, Madine is one dog who has learned a lot of tricks. But unlike most canines, she uses her skills to help her master live a normal life.
With a series of simple commands like "Tug!" and "Hold!" from Melanie Courtney, the two-year-old Labrador retriever will open doors, reach up for items on the dresser, and snag items on the floor in her teeth. And with a shout of "Visit!" she will rest her head on Courtney's lap. In all, she responds to 42 unique commands.
She is on alert at all times, and even when it looks like she is lolling on the floor enjoying a snooze, Madine will snap to attention in an instant if Melanie needs her, no matter if she is at home, a restaurant, or First Baptist Church where Melanie works part-time as a receptionist.
As a fully-certified service dog, Madine has been helping Melanie, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, since she came to the Courtneys' home last November.
The dog has public access privileges to be with Melanie at all times, after "graduating" from one of the Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) group's regional training centers in Orlando.
Madine, or "Dina" as she is known in the Courtney household, was recertified two weeks ago. She carries her public access certification card in a vest pocket just like a driver's license.
Raised to be a service dog for the first year of her life, Madine has proved to be an invaluable addition to the home for Melanie and her entire family.
While Madine may be on a leash tied to Melanie's chair most of the time, it has granted Melanie a new sense of freedom and also created a unique bond with her new friend.
"The biggest thing is the companionship and the sense of responsibility I have," said Melanie Courtney, who first encountered a service dog at the Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson.
Her mother Ruth said the ten-year wait to finally get a public access service dog, ever since Melanie was a senior at Madison Central in 1998, has been more than worth it from a social perspective.
"She sometimes tends to get overlooked and left out," Ruth Courtney said of her daughter. "Socially, it has just been really neat."
According to Ruth Courtney, there are only four other CCI-trained dogs in Mississippi, making Melanie and Madine a relatively rare combination in the area. And Madine has caught on quickly, even helping out around the house when she isn't asked.
"I told Melanie to go get the grocery list, and Madine came right in with it in her mouth," Ruth Courtney recalled.
Unlike driving down to the kennel and picking out a cute puppy, Melanie had to undergo sessions with various dogs at CCI's training center before company personnel selected Madine as the best fit.
"They told us she was bomb-proof," Ruth Courtney said.
The assessment turned out to be correct, both in the Courtneys' home and in public. Recently, Melanie took Madine to see a movie at the Malco Grandview Theater in town, and never moved or made a sound from her spot on the floor throughout the entire show.
But exercise is important for service dogs, and Melanie knows she occasionally has to untie the lease and let Dina scamper around the house.
Madine also has a playmate in the household. The Courtneys also own Gus, an affable and affectionate golden retriever who is licensed as a therapy dog.
"When I take the harnesses off, it is fur flying everywhere," said Ruth Courtney with a laugh.
Tipping the scales at 100 pounds, Gus forms a heavier but also more approachable part of the duo whenever he visits hospitals, retirement homes and other public places.
Madine is not supposed to be petted or shown affection unless Melanie first gives permission, and has a "Working Dog, Please Do Not Pet" patch on her vest. Gus, on the other hand, proudly sports an "I Work for Hugs & Kisses" patch on his vest which displays his therapy dog status.
Having a public access dog is part of the Courtneys' long-term goal to build a guest house on their property so Melanie can live a more independent lifestyle. But Madine and Gus have already helped tremendously in the short term, even when Melanie decides to let her service dog have some down time.
"She's a dog, she doesn't have to work all the time," she said.
