Not only did our friends have dogs, but our cousins also had a dog, which also added to our desire to own one. However, for multiple reasons, having a dog was not really in the cards. With two kids who were already constantly tripping and running into things, a pet dog would have only added to the obstacles in our home. Not to mention that our mom was also NOT a dog person. She preferred cats. This was the case our whole lives until our mother discovered something that could change this situation. We were eligible to apply for a service dog because Ethan and I have Usher syndrome, a condition that caused us to be born with profound sensorineural hearing loss, are progressively losing our vision due to retinitis pigmentosa, and deal with severe balance issues from vestibular dysfunction.
From Dream to Reality
The opportunity finally arrived just after our lives underwent a massive change. We moved from our home in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada to the United States. Our mom mentioned that we might be eligible to request a service dog from Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). Naturally, Ethan and I jumped for joy at the prospect of finally having a dog of our own, but our mom was quick to remind us that this wouldn’t be a simple process. It was going to require a significant amount of dedication and hard work.
To even have the chance of being accepted, we had to navigate a rigorous multi-step program. We first had to complete a detailed application explaining how a service dog would assist us, and why we were suitable candidates for the program. Ethan was 13 and I was 11. Once we passed that phase, we traveled to CCI’s headquarters for a weekend to determine if we were physically and mentally prepared to handle a service animal properly. After successfully navigating both of these challenging hurdles, we finally received an invitation to the two-week training program to be matched with a dog. Ethan and I were ecstatic. After years of wishing, the dream of bringing a dog home was finally becoming a reality.
The Perfect Match
In August 2016, when Ethan was 14 and I was 12, that day finally came! We headed to Long Island from our home in New Jersey, for a two-week training program, hoping to come home with a dog. Each day felt like being back in school, though it was the summer and we were learning about dogs. Our mornings were spent in the classroom, where we studied the psychology of dogs. We learned what motivated them, how they perceive leadership, and how nature has shaped their behavior. In the afternoons, we applied those lessons through hands-on training with different dogs who had finished their training, learning the basics of handling and commanding so the dogs would see us as their leaders. There were 40 commands that we had to learn and master. We learned how to manage different situations and which commands would best serve us when we needed help most. As the program progressed, the training moved beyond the CCI facility and into public spaces like malls and supermarkets for real-world experience. To move forward, we even had to pass exams to prove we had the skills necessary to handle a service animal on our own.
During the first week, the trainers were secretly keeping an eye on our habits and how we acted, as well as our comments in interviews about the dogs we trained with during the week. Their goal was to find the perfect match for us. At the beginning of the second week, they introduced us to Erickson. He had not been one of the dogs that we had trained with during the first week. But the moment we met Erickson, Ethan and I instantly fell in love with him. We began spending our nights with him in our room, to build our relationship before graduation. Erickson instantly clicked with us, and we were able to get through the rest of the training with ease, or at least Ethan and I did. Our mom struggled a little bit with the three syllable name, because all of the dogs she had trained with before had two syllable names. Saying the new name along with one of the 40 commands she had been learning turned out to be a little challenging, but eventually, with more practice, we passed all the tests. Passing the final exam meant Erickson was coming home with us. He was officially ours to bring home as a service dog, as well as companion dog for Ethan and me.
A Life-Changing Companion
Bringing Erickson home to New Jersey marked a turning point in our lives. We finally had a dog of our own, but not just any ordinary dog. Erickson was a 2-year-old dog specifically chosen for my brother and me to help us deal with the challenges of having Usher syndrome. He was there for us no matter what the situation was and always knew what to do. Erickson helped us navigate the “ups and downs” of this condition, from the physical fatigue of everyday life to dealing with new vision challenges.
Not only was he great as a companion dog, but he also helped Ethan and me in difficult situations, including being in busy public areas. My favorite example of this was being in Times Square with Erickson. Typically, the area is packed shoulder to shoulder, making it difficult to navigate, especially at night when we struggle with vision the most. However, when he was with us, people saw his service vest, and it prompted people to give us more space to maneuver. Having him act as a signal to prompt people to move out of the way was really helpful.
Erickson also learned very quickly not to lay down in certain vulnerable places around the house that would be trip hazards for Ethan and me. He knew that if he laid in a heavy traffic area, Ethan or I would end up tripping over him. He also knew to get up and move out of the way if we did not see him on the ground as we were walking towards him. That was important for both our sakes and his. It was as if we had a mutual understanding, a silent bond to keep us moving safely in our daily lives.
My Solo Chapter
Fast forwarding a couple of years, my relationship with Erickson changed when Ethan moved away to college. I no longer had to share him. Since Ethan wasn’t home, I was the one interacting with him and was mostly in charge of taking care of him. While my mom was the one who mainly had the role of exercising him, she occasionally got frustrated with me for not taking him on as many walks as I should have. Whenever my friends came over, Erickson was always there. He was already a favorite among them and really became a part of the group. I honestly think some of my friends might have enjoyed his company more than mine!
Erickson really helped me through the ups and downs of daily life. Whether I was feeling down for no particular reason or just needed a boost, he was always there to make me happier. He spent every night at the end of my bed or sometimes cuddling up with me during the night as I fell asleep. He became a huge part of my life during this time, not that he wasn’t already, but during these two years, we built an even more special bond that helped me even when I did not notice it.
A Dog’s Life : Service Animal and Usher Syndrome Resources
Canine Companions
https://canine.org
Rochester Institute of Technology
www.rit.edu
Brainsway Support Animals and Mental Health
www.brainsway.com/knowledge-center/support-animals-and-mental-health
Usher Syndrome Coalition
www.usher-syndrome.org
Usher Syndrome Society
www.ushersyndromesociety.org
Ava’s Voice
https://avasvoice.org
Usher Kids UK
www.usherkidsuk.org
Usher Kids Australia
www.usherkidsaustralia.com
EP MAGAZINE April 2024
Speaking Up by Gavin Morrobel
https://reader.mediawiremobile.com/epmagazine/issues/209001/viewer?page=34
EP MAGAZINE July 2024
An Uncomfortable Life by Ethan Morrobel
https://reader.mediawiremobile.com/epmagazine/issues/208904/viewer?page=38
Erickson Goes to College
When it came time for me to go to college, leaving Erickson behind was one of the hardest parts of moving away. I was sad knowing that he would not have Ethan or me at home anymore, knowing that my parents had to work and he would spend a lot time alone at the house. However, that changed during the spring semester of my junior year in 2025. I applied to have Erickson as an emotional support animal, and I finally had the chance to bring him to school with me. I was so grateful that the Disability Services Office at my school approved my application. Erickson got to experience college life firsthand, meeting all my friends and fraternity brothers. He seemed to be having the time of his life, and having him by my side made me happier than I had ever been at school.
While bringing him to campus meant a significant increase in responsibility, I took on the role happily because of how much he improved my daily life. Having him with me at all times made the college experience even more meaningful. When I left for my semester abroad in Croatia, an adventure that shaped me just as much as Erickson had, the bond didn’t break. My fraternity brothers were thrilled that they didn't have to say goodbye to Erickson. Ethan stepped in to keep him on campus, and Erickson continued his journey by Ethan’s side.
Now, after a life-changing time in Croatia, I am back for the spring semester and have Erickson by my side once again. Looking back, the journey has truly come full circle. Whether he is with Ethan or me, Erickson has become a significant part of our college experience, shaping our lives for the better every step of the way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Gavin Morrobel is a graduating senior pursuing a combined bachelor's/master’s degree in finance at the Saunders College of Business at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). He has been educating and spreading awareness about Usher Syndrome since he was diagnosed in 2009. He is an Advocacy Ambassador for Ava’s Voice, an USH mentor at the USHthis camps for youth with Usher syndrome in the US, UK and Australia. In 2023 was named a National Inspirer by the Cochlear Foundation Achieve Anything Program for his advocacy efforts and in 2022 was selected to become one of RIT's first Disability Leadership Scholars to advocate and educate about disabilities.
Read the article here.