European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 27, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse By Lori Dodge associated press at Home Tessa to a Couch potato. But when she a working the sturdy Biack Labrador is purely professional. A even though she a a big baby and a lovable thing when it comes to working that s her Joy Quot said Sandy Cluster of St. Louis mo., As she hugged the big dog lolling on the Couch beside her. Tessa is a service dog and Cluster s constant companion. Cluster had polio As an infant and today is affected by Post polio syndrome and arthritis. She wears a Brace on her leg can t Bend Over tires easily and often must use a wheelchair to get around. But Tessa helps her maintain the mobility and. Independence that Many people with disabilities lose. She is trained to pick up dropped items As Small As a dime Pul Cluster s wheelchair up ramps open heavy doors and stand As sturdy Brace for Cluster when she Falls Down., ,. A a. A. Quot i m Strong but i Don t have stamina a Cluster said. Quot my strength is Short lived. That a where Tessa comes in Quot Cluster and Tessa came together about three years ago through support dogs for the handicapped. The non profit organization based in St Louis is one cd several dozen groups around the United states that Tram dogs to become full time helpers for people with disabilities. A a a a. A a a a a. A a. A. Guide dogs have been used to help the Blind Lead More Independent lives for More than 60 years says Sheila o Brien Secretary of assistance dogs International a coalition of Hearg dog and service dog groups throughout the world. The service dog concept did t come onto the scene until the 1970s. One of the first and largest such organizations is called canine companions for Independence. It was founded in 1975 in California by Bonita Bergin and has bred trained and placed 520 dogs from its five regional offices. V Quot a. Y a a a a a a a a a. A a a readers action Lin Power of attorney and Bank Loans q several months ago i had my biggest a a a a disappointment since my husband Eft for saudi Arabia i was tired of bothering with a broken Down old car. And i found a used almost new car at a Salesman told me that i needed my husbands leave and earnings statement and a Power of attorney and allot our credit information to make the. Purchase. With that i went to our local Bank merchants National Bank and finance Federal credit Union to apply for a car loan but i did no to get very far. I was turned Down general Power of attorney was not acceptable to them even though it states under chapter 6, Quot to contract Loans and to borrow any sums of Money in my name and upon such terms As my said attorney shall see lit and to pledge or give As Security therefore any or All of my said my husband gave me that Power of attorney because he trusts me otherwise he would t have Given it to me so Why can t the Banks do the somewhat Good is this Power of attorney to me if i can t use it properly i think there is something wrong a Birgitta Villalobos Erlanger Germany Bergin said she came up with the idea while travelling in Europe and Asia. She said she saw Many disabled people m Public a something she was t used to because in the United states people with disabilities were often institutionalized. She also noticed that Many of the men and women she saw got by with the Aid of donkeys or Burros. Quot i realized that they were doing for themselves and that they were doing for themselves with these animals a Bergin said. Quot i thought there s no Way in this world that our sanitation department would allow donkeys and Burros on the streets. Quot then it was kind of like a Little Light bulb going on i just thought dogs a Tessa helps Sandy Cluster go shopping fora few items at a wat Mart in Missouri. In Yvonne Wise manager Public Media relations merchants National Bank and Trust company replies. A general Power of attorney Poa allows you to conduct Normal Day to Day banking transactions on behalf of your spouse a loan application however requires a special or limited Poa because we must a insure that our client specifically wants to become responsible for a Long term obligation. A a merchants wants to make your banking As hassle free As possible but at the same time we have to consider the needs of our account holders who Are still in the. Mideast. A a a a a r a by the special Poa helps to protect our clients against unwanted obligations because it contains 1 the purpose of the loan 2 the exact amount to be borrowed and 3 the length of time the Borrower requires to repay the loan. A special Poa also includes an expiration Date. Receipt of a special pea does not guarantee the loan will be approved by the Bank but it does open the door for the review process and credit Check which May Lead to final your loan request. As you said you also need to bring along your husband s Les or pay voucher and a list of current monthly obligations. Vou May also want to have on hand figures for any other income you want to be considered in your loan profile. A. The original special Poa will be retained by the Bank As a part of your loan file. A. When Access to a special Poa is not possible we will Organiza Tiosh like canine companions and support dogs generally Are non profit and Are financed through Grants and donations. They give the dogs to people with but demand is so great that there Are often waiting lists support dogs places 12 to 15 dogs a year but has More than 100 applicants waiting. Since its beginning in 1981, the group has placed More than 80 dogs. Many of the clients have muscular. Dystrophy or multiple sclerosis. Others have been. Disabled by birth defects spinal Cord injuries cerebral. Palsy strokes or arthritis by / a a y a. A Mitzi Kirkbride director of operations said support dogs Breeds and trains it dogs usually Golden retrievers labradors and German shepherds and then matches each to its talents and personality with a a client. A. Y a by a a y each dogs training takes six to eight months and costs Between $7,000 and $10,000, Kirkbride said. But before the forma training begins the dogs Are placed in Quot Puppy Foster Homes Quot for up to 18 months until they reach year old Tessa plays like a Puppy at Home bringing visitor a Tennis shoe or a rubber toy and soliciting a Pat or scratch on the head with a nudge of her nose. By by but when she son the Job Tessa is perfectly behaved Cluster said. She sits quietly by clusters feet during school Board meetings or pulls the wheelchair while Cluster pushes a shopping cart at the grocery ,. By \ a. A a a a when we go to a restaurant people say that Dag behaves better than some kids a said clusters husband Jeff. Quot a lot of Jae Opie Don t even know she a a by y a a a a v a a a a a Tessa Means More to Cluster than just physical assistance though. With the Post polio effects. Cluster has she feels Strong and Days when she s too weak to get out of bed. Y by y Quot on Days i can t do anything the kids done to like it when i can to get up and dress them Jeff might not like it that the Kitchen does t get cleaned. But Tessa does t care. She loves me no matter what Quot accept a letter written by your husband which includes All of the above information or a loan application that he. Should Complete and return to you or the Bank. His signature on the letter or the application can be compared against the account signature card held by the Community Bank. Y. ,. I am very sorry you did not have this information when you found the Quot almost new Quot replacement for your old car. Information about merchants loan requirements was distributed to the judge advocate general and family assistance offices and Given to service members at operations desert shield and desert storm deployment. Briefings and during preparation for overseas movement a As soon As you have the special Poa or letter from your husband give the Bank loan representative a Call to set up an appointment to discuss your loan if you qualify we can approve your loan within 24 write us readers action line is the readers a court of last resort striving to answer some of the questions. About life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn Tor the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stapes Apo 09211-4211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers. Page 16 a the stars and stripes saturday april 27, 1991
