How one guide dog helped a Columbia woman find her freedom again

Mission accomplished.

Brego, a golden guide dog who led his human companion Ann Chadwell Humphries to what she calls her “freedom” five years ago, will on Sept. 13 wear his leather harness for the last time and retire.

On a recent visit with Humphries, she reached down and stroked Brego’s soft coat. He was stretched out on the carpeted floor, his head resting on her foot.

“Brego has meant freedom and independence to me,” she said. “He has meant dignity. We tell these dogs to heel (stay at a handler’s side) all the time, but that is what they do for us. They heal us.”

For the past 25 years, Humphries – an avid hiker, a businesswoman involved with her community and church – has been losing her sight due to a condition called retinitis pigmentosa.

For the layman, it means that the vision in her eyes has steadily gotten smaller. In her words: “I went from (seeing through) a hula hoop to a donut and then a straw.”

Today, she is essentially blind, with the ability to discern some light, but nothing more.

Enter Brego, whom Humphries lovingly calls “Brego the Brave” so folks won’t confuse his name with Prego, the spaghetti sauce.

Humphries, who loves to take long walks in her neighborhood, explained that she had grown increasingly weary of using a cane.

“Sometimes you just want to get out of the house and be by yourself, you know? I was walking in the neighborhood with my cane. The FED EX delivery truck went by. The yard crews were out with their blowers. The trash people were coming by with their big trucks. All the noise was crazy. I got really turned around and that became a turning point for me. I’d had it with the cane.

“I needed a dog.”

So on May 10, 2010, Humphries found herself at Southeastern Guide Dogs school in Palmetto, Fla., waiting for her first guide dog.

“Brego came into my room at 1:21 p.m. – I could still read a clock – and he sat by my feet. It was like the birth of a child.”

The pair hit it off, training together successfully. “We ended up being a good team,” Humphries said, smiling.

So life with Brego has been good.

“Without a doubt,” said Humphries’ husband Kirk, “Brego has freed Ann up and that has been freeing for the whole family.”

Brego has been by Humphries’ side at sporting events and music concerts. Church and the library. He has hiked 20 of 47 state parks with her.

“He’s taken me across slippery rocks on waterfalls. We’ve crossed over little rivers together. He’s taken me through the mountains, around roots and rocks.”

But this past February, Humphries noticed that Brego’s stamina wasn’t the same as it had been. He began drifting to the right when they were walking together and on occasion, he decided to take short cuts to get back home sooner.

Representatives from the guide dog school came and watched Brego and Humphries go through their paces. Their conclusion? Brego was wearing out with his professional life; he was ready to retire.

“They told me some dogs just retire early and some go longer.”

Humphries patted Brego again; his tail thumped on the floor.

That retirement will be in Montgomery, Ala., where Brego will return home to Karen and Barry Gruver who raised him as a pup. Typically, guide dogs spend more than a year as puppies with people called “puppy raisers.”

The Gruvers were given “a set of guidelines on how to properly train (Brego),” Barry Gruver said, “getting him ready for a six-month course where he would learn from experts how to properly care for a blind person in all possible situations.”

The Gruvers had Brego for 15 months.

“He was very smart,” Karen Gruver said. “Easy to train. He was very affectionate, tender, responsive and protective.”

Humphries said she deliberated long and hard about whether to keep Brego or let him retire elsewhere. A big factor in her decision was that she will be getting a new guide dog and all her attention and energy will need to be on that dog as they get to know one another and go through training.

She said Brego helped her make the decision to return him to the Gruvers.

“I was having my lunch recently. It was like Brego parted the curtains for me. He seemed to say, ‘Don’t worry about me. I’m going to be fine. I’m going to have a big old time with the Gruvers. I want you to concentrate on your new dog.’ ”

Gulp.

The Gruvers said they have been assured by the guide dog school that Brego will remember them.

Double gulp.

So this weekend, the Gruvers will travel to Columbia. They will attend Sunday-morning services at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church where Brego and Humphries are adored members of the congregation and where Brego will be recognized for his work.

After church, the Gruvers and the Humphries will have lunch together. Then, Brego will jump in the Gruvers’ car and be bound for Alabama.

Monday, Humphries will head for Florida to meet her new guide dog.

Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.

“Oh,” Humphries said, “I have cried and I’m not a boo-hooer. Brego has been incredible. We have a wonderful bond but he has earned the best retirement.”

“Brego took care of Ann,” Barry Gruver said. “Now it is our turn to take care of Brego. He will go camping with us. He will play to his heart’s content. He will know we all appreciate him.”

And he will surely know his mission has been accomplished.

Good boy, Breg.