Todd’s Service Dog Project
Donation protected
Update 12/19/16:
Setback - Murphy did not pass his last test. Therefore Todd returned to Iowa without a guide dog. The Leader Dogs for the Blind group told Todd they will work to find a different dog, and when they have one, invite him back to train with that replacement dog. More updates will follow as they are received.
Update 12/13/16:
Todd has a new Dog - Murphy! Todd is currently getting training to work with Murphy, thank you all for your kind support of him and this need! Once he is back, we will have a party!
---
Todd Bevans of North Liberty (Iowa) tries to be as independent as a blind person can be.
Todd was a standout wrestling, football and track athlete at Jesup and later Solon High School, where he was graduated in 1996.
Three years later, he was driving to his home in North Liberty from his job as an iron worker in Dubuque when his pickup collided with a farm truck pulling a wide load.
He suffered severe head trauma and ended up brain damaged and legally blind. It took Todd about about three years of therapy to relearn how to walk and talk and deal with his resulting blindness.
He eventually returned to the workforce and held maintenance jobs at HyVee, Lowes and Grace Community Church. He recently worked the night shift at Walmart compacting cardboard and rounding up shopping carts, but is no longer employed there.
With his service dog Arvo on a leash, Todd was able to get around on local trails and occasionally walk to his favorite spots like the Bluebird Café and the former Bobby’s Live on 965. The dog protected him from traffic, drop-offs and multiple other hazards. Shown with Todd in this photo, Arvo was his master's lifeline to mobility and positive mental health.
THE PROBLEM:
Arvo is no longer with Todd. After six years of faithful service to Todd, Arvo recently began to show signs of a serious health problem. The dog became restless, lost weight, was confused and found it hard to focus on Todd's commands. A local vet referred Arvo to the College of Veterinary Medicine at ISU in Ames for evaluation.
On Jan 20, Arvo was diagnosed in Ames with two fast-growning brain tumors.. Todd and his famly made the very difficult decision to end the dog's suffering.
The North Liberty community is rallying to help. The North Liberty Lions Club has established an account at University of Iowa Community Credit Union for donations toward Arvo’s medical expenses, as well building a fund for a future service dog for Todd.
Todd was fortunate to get Arvo at no cost from a compassionate Iowa City dog trainer. Trained service dogs can be very expensive and the Lions club committee working on the fund drive has set the preliminary goal at $25,000.
The fund was kicked off with $250 from the Lions Club and a matching $250 from Blink Vision in North Liberty. The Bluebird Café has already set a special fund raiser for Arvo for Feb. 2, in which a percentage of all meals sold that day will be donated to the fund drive. Skogman Realty employees of Coralville are also making a group donation and funds are being collected at The Solon Station bar in Solon.
“Our club is happy to come alongside and work to benefit one of our own community members in this way,” said Dr. Ryan Veatch, chairman of the Lions Club “Todd’s Service Dog Project” committee and owner of Blink Vision. “Todd has worked to remain mobile and active with the help of Arvo in spite of his unfortunate accident, and we’d like to help him keep that quality of life. It fits our club’s mission.”
Helen Keller challenged Lions Clubs in 1925 to become “knights of the blind” and since that time, the worldwide service organization has made helping the visually impaired a service priority.
PROJECT GOALS:
1. Raise support to pay for the recent medical expenses incurred to treat Arvo.
2. Raise support for Todd's need of a replacement service dog so he can remain mobile and participate in the community.
Thank you so much for considering joining so many good people in supporting the quality of life of one of our local residents!
Checks can also be made out to "Todd's Service Dog Project" and dropped off at any University of Iowa Community Credit Union branch or at the Bluebird Cafe in North Liberty.
For more information about Todd and this project, follow these two links below:
http://www.press-citizen.com/story/entertainment/go-iowa-city/2016/01/22/lions-club-helping-out-man-need/79197082/
-- http://www.press-citizen.com/story/entertainment/go-iowa-city/2015/06/01/hakes-man-service-dog-living-american-dream/28305869/
--
Setback - Murphy did not pass his last test. Therefore Todd returned to Iowa without a guide dog. The Leader Dogs for the Blind group told Todd they will work to find a different dog, and when they have one, invite him back to train with that replacement dog. More updates will follow as they are received.
Update 12/13/16:
Todd has a new Dog - Murphy! Todd is currently getting training to work with Murphy, thank you all for your kind support of him and this need! Once he is back, we will have a party!
---
Todd Bevans of North Liberty (Iowa) tries to be as independent as a blind person can be.
Todd was a standout wrestling, football and track athlete at Jesup and later Solon High School, where he was graduated in 1996.
Three years later, he was driving to his home in North Liberty from his job as an iron worker in Dubuque when his pickup collided with a farm truck pulling a wide load.
He suffered severe head trauma and ended up brain damaged and legally blind. It took Todd about about three years of therapy to relearn how to walk and talk and deal with his resulting blindness.
He eventually returned to the workforce and held maintenance jobs at HyVee, Lowes and Grace Community Church. He recently worked the night shift at Walmart compacting cardboard and rounding up shopping carts, but is no longer employed there.
With his service dog Arvo on a leash, Todd was able to get around on local trails and occasionally walk to his favorite spots like the Bluebird Café and the former Bobby’s Live on 965. The dog protected him from traffic, drop-offs and multiple other hazards. Shown with Todd in this photo, Arvo was his master's lifeline to mobility and positive mental health.
THE PROBLEM:
Arvo is no longer with Todd. After six years of faithful service to Todd, Arvo recently began to show signs of a serious health problem. The dog became restless, lost weight, was confused and found it hard to focus on Todd's commands. A local vet referred Arvo to the College of Veterinary Medicine at ISU in Ames for evaluation.
On Jan 20, Arvo was diagnosed in Ames with two fast-growning brain tumors.. Todd and his famly made the very difficult decision to end the dog's suffering.
The North Liberty community is rallying to help. The North Liberty Lions Club has established an account at University of Iowa Community Credit Union for donations toward Arvo’s medical expenses, as well building a fund for a future service dog for Todd.
Todd was fortunate to get Arvo at no cost from a compassionate Iowa City dog trainer. Trained service dogs can be very expensive and the Lions club committee working on the fund drive has set the preliminary goal at $25,000.
The fund was kicked off with $250 from the Lions Club and a matching $250 from Blink Vision in North Liberty. The Bluebird Café has already set a special fund raiser for Arvo for Feb. 2, in which a percentage of all meals sold that day will be donated to the fund drive. Skogman Realty employees of Coralville are also making a group donation and funds are being collected at The Solon Station bar in Solon.
“Our club is happy to come alongside and work to benefit one of our own community members in this way,” said Dr. Ryan Veatch, chairman of the Lions Club “Todd’s Service Dog Project” committee and owner of Blink Vision. “Todd has worked to remain mobile and active with the help of Arvo in spite of his unfortunate accident, and we’d like to help him keep that quality of life. It fits our club’s mission.”
Helen Keller challenged Lions Clubs in 1925 to become “knights of the blind” and since that time, the worldwide service organization has made helping the visually impaired a service priority.
PROJECT GOALS:
1. Raise support to pay for the recent medical expenses incurred to treat Arvo.
2. Raise support for Todd's need of a replacement service dog so he can remain mobile and participate in the community.
Thank you so much for considering joining so many good people in supporting the quality of life of one of our local residents!
Checks can also be made out to "Todd's Service Dog Project" and dropped off at any University of Iowa Community Credit Union branch or at the Bluebird Cafe in North Liberty.
For more information about Todd and this project, follow these two links below:
http://www.press-citizen.com/story/entertainment/go-iowa-city/2016/01/22/lions-club-helping-out-man-need/79197082/
-- http://www.press-citizen.com/story/entertainment/go-iowa-city/2015/06/01/hakes-man-service-dog-living-american-dream/28305869/
--
Organizer
Ryan Veatch
Organizer
North Liberty, IA
