From BFF — Best Furry Friend — to Successor Canine

Navy Veteran Beverly Francisco James with her new successor dog and partner, adw morgan

Navy Veteran Beverly Francisco James loved and worked with Canine Tilly Willy Mae for more than a decade. Now, Canine Morgan is stepping up to provide successor services to one of our beloved clients.

Beverly, tell us your background: I was in the Navy for 14 years as a religious program specialist when I was medically retired. I was on a ship when they found out that I was on a medication that deteriorated a blood vessel in my brain. I woke up one morning after retirement and I didn’t feel good. I was dialing 911, I fell between the bed and the wall, but I was still able to speak at the time and they were able to get me, and thank God because I wouldn’t be here without them. The brain hemorrhage I experienced caused a traumatic brain injury and I am now partially blind.

What makes you grateful? I’m grateful I had a brain hemorrhage; I would have never gotten Tilly, my first service dog. And, I’m also just grateful that I’m able to advocate for other people with disabilities. And for Warrior Canine Connection, because I’m able to meet other veterans that need a dog and to tell them about my experience and what my service dog has done for me because whatever they’re going through it’s not the end.

What has having a service dog brought to your life? After I got Tilly, I got to travel all over the country and it was like we’re off, we’re going, adios and I felt really safe when she was with me. I could go outside, I was no longer running into trees, bushes, tables, chairs, walls; I actually told my doctor the trees were running into me! You have to laugh at yourself, because if I didn’t,with everything that happened, I think I would be really depressed.

What do you enjoy about ADW’s Warrior Canine Connection program? I like that I’m able to help train service dogs for other veterans and to use my experience of what it was like for me to have a service dog and what it did for me, helping me with my disability.

Why is ADW special to you? They train fabulous dogs that can do amazing things. When I was too overwhelmed and too tired, my first dog, Tilly, could get me back to my vehicle and sit with me while I regrouped. It’s so funny how much a dog has expanded my world, she reopened it, because after my brain hemorrhage my family had to stay with me since I was a widow. I remember going to the store for the first time with Tilly and my sister. I no longer had to hold my sister’s arm or walk behind her to keep from being knocked over. I had Tilly to my left and my sister to my right and I was like, “Wow, look at that, I’m actually in the same line as her, I don’t need to hold her arm.” I felt like I was equal, it made me feel good.

Any final comments? I always say, “God don’t make junk, and he don’t take junk,” so I’m still a work in progress!