Author Leigh Brill was born with cerebral palsy, which is a neurological disorder caused by brain abnormalities that affect muscle control. After years of not asking for help or even uttering the name of the disease, she finally admitted to herself that she needed a hand (or a set of paws). Brill contacted Caring Canine Companions and was given (after both went through a training period) an assistance dog — a Labrador named Slugger.
Brill goes on to describe her life after receiving Slugger, including going to graduate school, meeting her husband, and suing a company that wanted to hire her — as long as she left Slugger at home. (Which is illegal under the Americans with Disabilities Act.)
I’m not going to go any further into this well-written, heartwarming and sometimes funny book, lest I give away the ending (one warning: it made me cry) but I will say that in seemingly giving away part of her independence by obtaining Slugger, Brill gained it back tenfold in the form of confidence and began speaking out about service dogs and how they help those with disabilities.
A Dog Named Slugger is available for purchase here, and more about Leigh Brill can be found on her website.
