MAN'S BEST FRIEND

WASILLA — It’s taken almost a year, but Jack Runser finally has a new dog.

“This was a long trip, both emotionally and physically,” Runser said Monday through an interpreter.

Runser is deaf and has had cerebral palsy since birth. His previous dog, Sheba, was a constant companion for more than 15 years.

She was also a service dog. Runser trained her to alert him to things he might not notice himself — knocks at the door, for instance, or a fire burning in his house. Runser said Sheba was also more than a service dog. She was his best friend, and died in November 2008 after running into traffic.

He and Sheba were a familiar sight around Wasilla and at the Alaska Club where he works. And now he and his new dog, Sam, will be as well.

After Sheba died, Runser’s story touched the Valley and donations poured in from all quarters. There were donation boxes with his picture on them. Church groups took up collections. Eldon Jenkins was one of those folks moved to help.

“Well, of course, I’ve seen, for years, Jack walking around town and when I saw what had happened, I saw that there was a need,” he said. “So I just thought that was the right thing to do.”

Jenkins is a local Techniques of Alcohol Management instructor for Alaska Cabaret Hotel Restaurant and Retailers Association, more commonly known as Alaska CHARR. He said he talked to the organization’s director, Dale Fox who, in turn, talked to some local chapters. Money came in from Kodiak and Juneau and Ketchikan. Overall, they came up with $850 to donate to Runser.

Runser said fully trained dogs don’t come cheap, but the support he received paid for Sam — a 1-year-old border collie he got from a group that trains service dogs in Arizona.

“I want to thank everyone for their help with everything that went on, for all the help they gave,” he said.

As part of Sam’s training, Runser went to Arizona to orient his new dog to his commands and so they could get to know one another.

Runser says Sam has his own personality that took some getting used to. And he has a somewhat peculiar — at least for a dog — relationship to food.

“Sam doesn’t eat a lot,” he said. “I try to feed him but he just does not eat a lot.”

But Sam’s training is evident. As Runser answered questions using sign language, Sam sat quietly at his feet, raptly attentive to his master. He quickly snapped to attention and obeyed each command Runser gave.

As for Sheba, Runser says she’s irreplaceable. But he did get to say his final good-byes, a moment captured on his video posted to his Facebook page. Runser stands atop Pioneer Peak and says a brief good-bye in sign language.

“I love you Sheba, thank you for treasured time, you’ll always live on in my heart,” he wrote in the video’s caption.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.