Gyger to the rescue

This amazing article comes from the Hamilton Spectator.

Gyger to the rescue
Pet pit bull helps knifing victim reclaim her life
By Barbara Brown
The Hamilton Spectator
(Sep 12, 2006)


Barry Gray, the Hamilton Spectator
Gyger serves as protector of the former store manager attacked in Jackson Square.

Pit bulls usually get bad press, but not this 18-month-old service dog who got in just under the line before his breed was banned in Ontario.

Gyger is helping a former Jackson Square store manager to reclaim her life after she
was viciously attacked by a deranged man with a knife.

On May 27, 2004, Michael Gardiner, 29, left the Hamilton Community Correctional Centre on York Boulevard, entered the mall and randomly selected a woman to attack.

He watched Linda open her store, and attacked her with a knife in the rear office.

Linda fought for her life for several frenzied minutes until the sight of so much blood finally unnerved her assailant. Gardiner stopped and she escaped out of the store and into the mall.

Linda survived the attempted rape but spent the next two weeks in hospital being treated for 22 stab wounds.

For more than a year afterward, the 55-year-old woman rarely ventured out of her apartment. Pain, anxiety and insomnia were constant companions, especially when her partner was at work and she was alone at night.

"I'm lucky and blessed to have found Gyger. He's given me the confidence to be content with myself," said Linda.

"He gave me the freedom to enjoy my evenings. It's a great relief to be able to concentrate on other things and not worry about every single noise outside, wondering, 'What was that?'"

With Gyger at the foot of her bed, she now sleeps soundly through the night.

Linda found her protector, a cross between an American pit bull terrier and a boxer, at the local pound. The dog had been there for almost the maximum allotted time and was slated to be killed.

She had already searched the Internet, but learned a fully trained service dog was worth $5,000 or more, well beyond her means.

Linda brought Gyger home on Aug. 8 last year, about three weeks before Ontario's pit bull ban took effect. Bill 132 made it illegal to breed, transfer, abandon or import pit bulls and pit-bull-type dogs.

Having been born before the law was enacted, Gyger was deemed a "grandfathered," meaning Linda could keep him if she complied with strict new regulations, which required mandatory muzzling, leashing and sterilization.

Gyger spent the first week just getting used to the sights and scents of his new home. The dog followed Linda incessantly from one room to the next.

The following week, they met with Hamilton dog trainer Tony Harper who began work to turn Gyger into a disciplined service dog. Formal training continued for more than four months and between weekly sessions, Linda and Gyger practised for a minimum of 15 minutes a day.

Their bond grew as the challenging new routine became an intrinsic part of daily life. Gyger flourished on a diet of tuna, salmon, organic dog food and essential fatty acids and is brushed daily .

"It was necessary for him to be out to exercise and do his business, but it was also important for me to get out of doors because I couldn't continue to use my home as a cave," said Linda.

On their outings, Gyger wears a bright orange jacket that identifies him as a service dog.

The dog is young and spirited, but also powerful and strong. His mere presence is intimidating enough to keep away unwanted attention. At the same time, Linda is confident of her ability to control the animal. Gyger accompanies her to medical appointments and is trained to ride elevators, escalators and in cars. When she lowers her voice an octave and gives a command, she is obeyed.

Gyger recently proved his worth when they were returning home from a visit to her friend's house. She and the dog were walking along Main Street West when a man suddenly jumped out of the shadows from between two buildings and confronted her.

Linda froze and Gyger took over. He stood his ground and growled at the stranger, who took one look, let out a wail and fled.

"He's been there nights when I was still dealing with the issues of the past event and I have cried into his fur and held onto him. He licked my face and stayed with me every minute and for that I have great respect for him."