Through a Dog's Eyes

“Has a dog ever touched your heart or changed your life?” asks this PBS-aired documentary narrated by Neil Patrick Harris, which follows a class of person/dog teams who learn to work together at the Canine Assistants nonprofit training camp in Alpharetta, GA, founded in 1991 by Jennifer Arnold (who has multiple sclerosis and learned to regain her physical capacity with the help of a dog). Canine graduates learn approximately 90 commands throughout the seven-week course, and after 18 months total of acquiring skills, going on outings, and receiving positive reinforcement, are ready to find a home. Several recipients, who spend a requisite two-week bonding period at the camp, are profiled, including a former soldier who is wheelchair bound after a car accident, a ‘tween with severe epilepsy, and a single mom whose son has cerebral palsy. Watching the matching up process is heartening, although not every duo makes a perfect fit. DVD extras include eight step-by-step training tips. An insightful look at animals who truly make a difference in the lives of people with handicaps, this is highly recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)