Having a service dog is not just a convenience for Patricia Parker of Fresno, California, it's a lifesaver.

"I am what is known as a 'late-deafened adult.' That means I was born hearing, but I became deaf when I was 38 because I had the chickenpox," says Parker."I went into the hospital hearing and came out three days later with a 60 dB hearing loss that became progressively worse over time until I was profoundly deaf."Parker was a reading teacher at the time of her illness. She says she struggled with using hearing aids that became progressively stronger over the next seven years, until her school district asked her to consider moving to curriculum, since she could not longer hear her students.She decided to go back to school instead. In December of 2003 she received a master's in communicative disorders and deaf studies, as well as her teaching credential for deaf/hard of hearing.While at Fresno State, a professor in her field of study, who is also deaf, witnessed her struggle and encouraged her to get a service dog."I applied and I received my first hearing dog from Canine Companions for Independence in December of 2005."Parker said becoming deaf was, understandably, a traumatic experience for her."I experienced a separation from my own children and husband because I could not communicate with them as before," says Parker. "While my children adapted and have always made the effort to communicate with me, the lack of meaningful communication with my husband eventually led to divorce in 2008."Parker's physical safety was also in jeopardy. She was robbed at an ATM machine because she wasn't aware that the person had come up behind her. Another time, she walked into traffic because she had been used to hearing cars move around her, but no longer could."I became more anxious in large crowds of people because I had no idea what was going on around me. So when Paul (her professor) suggested I get a hearing dog from CCI (he was on his third CCI dog at that time), I decided to go ahead and do it."Parker had her first service dog, Wyman II, for nine years. He passed away in January of 2015. Leonardo is her first "successor dog" from CCI.The Martinos, who along with their daughter Natalie trained Leonardo for the first year and a half of his life, flew out to California to present Parker with her new pup on Oct. 14, 2016."It was a very emotional experience," said Parker, tearing up as she thought about that day. "Their being at graduation meant that much to me."Before he could graduate, Parker and Leo got to know each other during a two-week team training at CCI. She stayed in a dorm room and attended class each day.Parker understood the emotion the Martinos were feeling when they handed her Leo's leash. When she got her first service dog, she asked his lead trainer how she could let him go after all the work she put into them, and didn't she become attached."These dogs serve a higher purpose," the trainer told her. "We become attached, of course, and fall in love with their personalities. But it gives us just as much pride to present these dogs to our clients who need the help of a skilled dog in their lives. And these dogs will make that adjustment. Dogs live in the moment, and they will adapt to the new situation with little effort. You are your dog's new best friend."Parker says she never forgot that conversation.As for Leo, he's made himself at home and fits right in with Parker's family."I have grandchildren and my own kids and their families around the Fresno/Northern California area. Dogs are amazing that way - they are very adaptable to their new environment and Leo was no exception."And while Leo has settled in nicely, he is all work when he's wearing his service dog vest, both at home and when Parker is at work."Leonardo comes with me every day for school," says Parker, who is a teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing. "We have a locked-door policy at school, so Leo alerts me to door knocks by finding me, nudging me on my thigh, and taking me to the door. I use a timer for school activities, and he alerts me when it goes off. He turns and looks back when someone is calling my name. He keeps me safe in my work environment, and as I walk through the parking lot."At home, Leonardo alerts Parker to door knocks, the doorbell, the alarm clock, the microwave and any other sounds around him, and takes her to the source of the sound.In addition to those skills, Parker says Leo "is also very much a charmer.""People are naturally attracted to him when we are out in public," she says. "I call him 'Pretty Boy! Leo is socially correct most of the time (other than snatching food off the floor if given the opportunity), and is very well-behaved both at home and in public."In addition to his job, Leo has become a beloved member of the family."When his vest comes off and we are at home, he is a dog that loves to be pet and played with, just like any other dog. He is well-trained enough that he will respond to sound in any environment and alert me - vest on or off. He is well-trained enough that he will be obedient in any environment, vest on or off. But we have down time and cuddle, play, run around, and he loves to rub himself on furniture and the floor."Parker has kept in touch with the Martinos to let them know how she and Leonardo are doing."I told Linette that we are family now! I just wish we lived closer to each other, because I felt a real bond to both Linette and her husband. They are wonderful people. I just wish I had had a chance to meet Natalie."Likewise, Parker is still in touch with the people who socialized her first CCI dog. That bond hasn't changed, even though Wyman has passed on."CCI dogs are wonderfully skilled animals that are specially trained. However, there are many steps in that process. One of the most important steps is their early socialization that puppy raisers provide. I cannot praise the Martinos enough for all they did in the process to provide me with Leo," says Parker."They exposed him to so many experiences and social situations that I never worry about how Leo will behave - around children, around other dogs, around other animals."Parker says Leo has a real penchant for cats. She doesn't own a cat, but says he has adopted the two squirrels that live in her backyard."It has been my experience that CCI dogs are better behaved in public than most children. Communities should be proud that these amazing dogs have become a part of their community life. CCI dogs add so much to the lives of the people they touch. I am sure that the Martinos would agree with that."