Henderson Oracle

Issue date: 2/1/10 Section: Features

Media Credit: Judea Jackson Blind ambition - Richard Emanuelson, pictured here with his guide dog Jake, attended Arkansas State University in Mountain Home, Ark. He graduates in May, where it is planned for Jake to recieve his own cap and gown along with a special diploma.

The dorm hallway seems silent. As one passes each door, they hear a multitude of noises ranging from music to video games.

But as one passes Richard Emanuelson's door, they hear the quack of a rubber duck. Normally this would elicit curious glances, but for residents in Sturgis Hall, they know it's just Jake.

Jake is a Golden Retriever, a guide dog to Emanuelson, who suffers from Diabetic Retinopathy.

It is the result of damage to the blood vessels, as they leak into the eye.

Although he had surgery to halt its progression, the damage is done and he is legally blind.

"To learn mobility skills, Emanuelson spent two months at the Southeastern Blind Rehabilitation Center
in Alabama, where he learned to walk with a cane and use a talking computer," wrote Joanne Bratton in the April 14, 2008 edition of the "The Baxter Bulletin" in Mountain Home, Ark.

"One of his instructors had a guide dog, and when Emanuelson learned the animal
stopped at all curbs, he knew he needed one."

Bratton added that Emanuelson
served in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division in the Bravo Company.

He attended ASU at Mountain
Home. When he returns there in May to graduate, there are plans to get Jake his own diploma for the ceremony.

Jake was the school's mascot, according to Emanuelson.

While he is a senior at ASU, Emanuelson is a now a junior sociology major at Henderson and hopes to get his master's degree in blind rehabilitation in order to help other blind veterans.

Emanuelson was president of the Lions Club at his college
and he did public speaking,
as well as singing for his church.

He ran for a position on the city council but lost. He felt fine about the outcome, as it enabled him to leave Mountain
Home and go to Henderson.

Emanuelson was able to receive Jake from Leader Dogs for the Blind, a non-profit organization run completely
on private donations.

"First, they have their own breeders and raisers. Then once they are old enough to leave, they go to a family who trains them for a year, where they are taught regular dog manners: sit, stay and such," said Emanuelson.

He was then flown down to Rochester, Mich., courtesy of Leader Dogs for the Blind, where he was able to meet Jake, all at no cost to him. Jake is worth $37,000.

A dog like Jake should, according
to Emanuelson, be able to continue doing his job for a period of seven to nine years. Once the dog's hearing and sight begins to deteriorate, he has to retire.

"He is an awesome dog; let's put it that way. Everybody
loves him. I got him on the 4th of July in 2007. It was kind of cool because I got my independence on Independence
Day," said Emanuelson.

"Jake has opened so many doors for me that I could have never done for myself. I'm not going to deny that for a second."

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