ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, April 6, 1997                  TAG: 9704070103
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-1  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE THE ROANOKE TIMES 

GIVE BOOKER A BIG PAW THE DOG WAS HONORED FOR SERVICE

Service dogs are similar to seeing-eye dogs but are trained to help people with physical disabilities.

It will be tough to fill his paws.

Booker, an 11-year-old golden retriever, got national attention for being a service dog. His owner, Carol Willoughby, was so inspired she established a foundation so that other Southwest Virginians with disabilities could benefit from dogs like hers.

Saturday, Booker was honored at Virginia Tech with the College of Veterinary Medicine's first service dog award.

Unfortunately, it was awarded posthumously. Two weeks ago, Booker died suddenly after recently being diagnosed with cancer.

"I know that he is with us today," said veterinary student Kathleen Hughes. "And thanks to Booker, other people will get a new leash on life."

Carol Willoughby, who lives in Roanoke County, suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and received Booker a decade ago. In 1988, when Booker was voted the National Service Dog of the Year by two national veterinary organizations, he and Willoughby began traveling around the country educating the public about the value of helping paws.

Service dogs are similar to seeing-eye dogs but are trained to help people with physical disabilities. Service dogs can be taught to perform 100 different tasks, including picking up dropped keys, fetching the phone and pulling a wheelchair.

An estimated 10 percent of people with disabilities could benefit from a service dog, at a savings in human-care costs of more than $60,000 over the eight or so working years of the dog.

Hughes, a member of a veterinary service fraternity that sponsored the award, said Booker was the inspiration for what is to be an annual event. But dogs that provide different services will be honored in years to come: the ones who help with search and rescue efforts, the ones who sniff out drugs or live bombs.

With all the discussion about her beloved companion, Willoughby said, it was difficult to keep her emotions under control.

Willoughby has a new dog, 15-month-old Blake, that is still learning the ropes of being an obedient, calm companion. Above him Saturday, in a portrait that will hang permanently between examination rooms at the vet school, Booker stood looking regal, always the example.

LENGTH: Medium:   55 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  GENE DALTON/THE ROANOKE TIMES. Blake, a golden 
          retriever, greets Linda Skeens. He is being trained as a service dog
          for Doug Willoughby's wife, Carol.