Anita Brandenburg was diagnosed with CMT in her mid 30s and started thinking about getting a service dog or assistance dog right away. Finally, at 41, it has become a reality.

Shortly after her diagnosis, she approached Canine Companions for Independence near her home in California.

"I was given a bunch of papers to fill out; a lot of them had to be signed by my doctor. I had to supply character and medical references, paid $25 and got on a waiting list, and I waited three and a half years. When they finally did call me, I had to turn them down because I was sick. The second time, it was a summer course and I knew I wouldn't make it because the weather was too hot for me. The third time was this past March, and at that point, I paid $100 and I went for two weeks, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, of very intensive training where untrained people went to learn to use the already trained dog.

"For the first three days, every student in the class worked with every dog. On the fourth morning, they asked us to write down our three choices and the trainers went away for a couple of hours to think it all over and make all the decisions. When they came back, they gave us our dogs. I don't think anybody got the dog they really wanted. During the first three days, the trainers carefully watched the interaction between the students and the dogs.

Why did Anita get Luna?

"She's big and strong; strong enough that she wouldn't pull me around. Also, she's stubborn and I'm more stubborn and that's the way it should be. If she'd have gone to someone who let her have her own way, she would be useless. She needs somebody to make her work.

"It was hard at home at first. I had to find out where she could use all the applications of all the commands that she had been taught in my particular surroundings. When we did, she picks up anything that falls to the ground because I can't. I'm either in a wheelchair or an electric scooter all of the time.

"Around the house she opens and c loses doors. She can let herself out. The only thing she doesn't do is windows! She turns lights on and off pushes elevator buttons, and when I'm in the push chair on a flat surface, she helps pull my chair. She wears a back pack with pockets on the side. It holds dog cookies and her own leash as well as plastic zip lock bags which have taken on a new meaning for me. I use them to do away with her feces. I also have a long-handled scoop. It's harder to get it when I'm on my scooter. Sometimes I have to ask someone to pick up for me. I have had people say no. Most people are really interested in us though and they'll help pick up after her.

"I can't get the clean, dry laundry out of the dryer into the basket, so she gets up on her back legs and reaches into the dryer with her mouth and pulls the laundry out into the basket. I can get it from there.

"When the back window of my van blows shut, I've taught her to put her nose against the glass and push it open again. She sits in the back. She can come up if she has to but she prefers it in the back.

"When she wants to be brushed, she goes over to the place where I keep all of the dog implements and gets the brush and puts it in my lap. When she wants to be fed, she picks up her bowl and plays soccer with it. It's metal and makes a lot of noise and I get the message. She lets herself out and back in. The gardeners will pick up her feces on the weekends but I can walk enough to get around the backyard to get it.

"She's also trained to relieve herself on command. You have to give her about five minutes, and then if nothing is happening, you leave her alone. But, she'll give it the old college try!

"She sleeps in the bed with me and it's really warm; I love it! When she thinks I've slept long enough, she'll lick the bottoms of my feet to get me up because she usually wants to go outside and the doors have been locked for the night. She's my alarm clock, too

"Whenever I talk on the phone, she throws her toys in my lap and licks my legs and feet. I didn't train her to do this, she just does it.

"She's very intelligent, sometimes a little bit aloof; other times she smiles at you with this really goofy look and turns into 75 pounds' worth of puppy. When a stranger comes up, she rolls over as if to say, "Scratch my belly!" but with one word I can get her on her feet. She's trained to lie down and go to sleep beside me if there's nothing going on or I don't need her. She's not always looking for something to do. She's very calm and very quiet.

"Luna is a three-year-old female golden retriever, weighs 75 pounds and is very strong and has very dark brown eyes with long curly lashes. She's a big flirt.

"I've had her seven months and it's a mutual admiration society. She takes care of me and I take care of her. I'd recommend this to anyone. It's changed my life. I've met so many people because of her. Everybody is interested and everybody wants to talk about her. The best part about her is if I'm not feeling well she doesn't care how many times I drop the same thing; she loves me with no questions asked. On a really bad day, she can be my reason for getting up and out of bed.

"I paid $125 for her altogether plus motel and food and gasoline back and forth, and that was it. The dogs are highly sponsored and there is a large volunteer sector connected with it, otherwise they wouldn't be there. The dogs are probably worth about $10,000 by the time they are older and with their owners. There would be no way anyone disabled could really afford one. Dog trainers, kennel help and administrators are paid. Many of the people in the office, on the field and the people who raise the puppies are volunteers."