Despite Handicap, Rufus Is An Inspiration

Animated and engaging, Rufus is one of those characters with a heart as sticky as molasses who veers confidently about, seldom exhibiting any sign of a handicap.

"He's my little pal," says owner Missy Denzer of Livermore, Calif., "and I don't know what I'd do without him."

Rufus is not your basic 6-year-old, second-hand dog. The 10-pound miniature schnauzer is blind, a victim of progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited disease most often seen in the Labrador retriever, Shetland sheepdog, border collie, golden retriever, Irish setter, miniature schnauzer, English springer spaniel, Norwegian elkhound, dachshund, Pembroke Welsh corgi, Bedlington terrier and poodle.

The disorder has deterred him little, thanks to several caring people to whom Rufus owes his life. He's paid all back several-fold and proved an inspiration to many disabled youngsters in the process.

The Rufus saga began to unfold three years ago when the dog's owner relinquished him to Dr. Scott Echols, in Oakley, Calif., with orders to euthanize him, contending he could no longer enjoy life.

Echols, however, saw Rufus in a different light. "He had such a sweet personality that my staff and I couldn't bear to put him to sleep. He was otherwise in good health, and I knew he could bring someone a lot of happiness."

The veterinarian contacted Jean Heath, of Pleasanton, Calif., a miniature schnauzer rescue club representative, to determine if she could find a suitable home for Rufus.

Heath, a past member of the American Miniature Schnauzer Club of America board of directors and its PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) committee, recognized he would not be an easy placement.

She also knew Rufus' DNA would be of value to the James A. Baker Institute for Animal Health at Cornell University, where research was being conducted on the genetic disorder.

After picking up Rufus from Echols' hospital, Heath immediately took him to a veterinary ophthalmologist to confirm the PRA diagnosis. DNA samples were submitted to the national club and the breeder of Rufus' sire was notified of the disorder. The owner of the dam has not been found yet.

Denzer, a restaurant manager for a national pizza chain, moved to the Bay Area last autumn from Pismo Beach, Calif., with Tundra, a 6 1/2-year-old Siberian husky, and Chelsea, a 6-year-old mixed-breed cat.

"I took Rufus on a week's trial," she says. "I wasn't certain how the other animals would accept him." Initially Tundra became quite agitated every time his new housemate would bump into him. And that was quite often.

Chelsea took a swipe at Rufus with each collision.

It was beginning to appear the newcomer's stay was going to be a short one.

During morning runs with Denzer and Tundra, Rufus would head in different directions, bumping into curbs or anything in his path.

Suddenly, an idea struck Denzer. Why not take some bells along and see if Rufus would follow the sounds. Voila! He did, in close pursuit during a jog on the beach.

Next, the owner attached the bells to Tundra's collar and quickly the bigger canine sensed his smaller counterpart was depending on him.

"The two have been inseparable since," says Denzer. "It's opened a new window to his world." Tundra still wears bells on his collar and has become very protective of Rufus.

Seeking to nudge that window open a bit further, Denzer recently began a visitation program with the charismatic Rufus to nearby hospitals and schools, where children with disabilities are situated.

It's been an uplifting experience for everyone - the kids, Rufus and Denzer. "The visits keep Rufus mentally stimulated and enable the children to pet and touch something that's managed to overcome adversity and try just about anything. Rufus has helped give the kids a new perspective on life.

"The kids can't wait for him to return," adds Denzer. But because of work commitments and limited free time, she manages only one to two visits per month.

The increased socialization has provided Rufus with a carefree confidence. He now plays ball with Tundra in Denzer's fenced back yard with a fun-loving, clumsy abandon.

His other senses, particularly smell and hearing, shift into higher gear when needed, according to Denzer. He barks to warn of strangers or if something startles him.

Rufus is not listed with either the Delta Society, Assistance Dogs International or Canine Companions for Independence, the three leading service-dog registries.

Outreach efforts of Denzer and Rufus have touched miniature schnauzer breeders, too. Her message has been emphasizing the importance of selective breeding if PRA is in the kennel line.

The reputation of this gritty little dog has extended far beyond the Bay Area.

Denzer's mother Barbara, vice president of marketing for Cardinal Laboratories, a Los Angeles manufacturer of dog shampoos and grooming products, named one of the firm's new shampoos and a plush animal doll after Rufus. The company is donating a portion of the profits from the sale of the stuffed animal to the PRA research program at Cornell.

According to the "University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Book of Dogs" (HarperCollins, 1995), the disorder is seen in two forms - central and generalized.

Generalized is more common; its presence is indicated by the onset of night blindness. Owners typically will report vision errors - misjudgement of distance or direction - in their dogs under dim light conditions, says the UC Davis manual. There's a tendency for the animal to no longer cruise the yard widely during its late-night toilet run, but remain near a lighted doorway or cling closely to its owner.

Eventually, the night blindness progresses to total vision loss, for which there is no effective treatment.

While the generalized ailment affects the photoceptor area of the retina, the central form is seen in the deepest layer of the retina, which lies immediately below the photoceptor. Benefit seminar

Brian Kilcommons, noted New York trainer and author, and his wife, business partner, trainer and co-author, Sarah Wilson, will conduct a dog training and evaluation seminar/workshop at 9 a.m. June 6 at the Village Theatre in Issaquah.

Kilcommons is a Tufts University Veterinary School of Medicine faculty member and his many books and videos are endorsed by the American Animal Hospital Association.

The four-hour seminar is sponsored by Invisible Fence of the Northwest. To register, call 800-457-PETS. The seminar is $30 for advance registration and $40 at the door, space permitting. Numerous booths and a concession stand will be open in the lobby throughout the session.

Proceeds will go to the Seattle-King County Humane Society and the Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society.

Kilcommons and Wilson will discuss and demonstrate training principles and fundamental issues such as what constitutes a good owner; how we make our dogs nuts; the importance of voice control; the most common mistakes owners make; how human communication confuses dogs; learning to read canine body language; problem solving for leash training, equipment, mouthing, aggression, etc; creating that great dog; are your dog's needs being met?