Sampson is a friendly service dog that has been trained to assist his neuroscientist mother in the laboratory. A lovely lab coat, doggy boots, and goggles are included in the Golden Retriever’s canine PPE.
Joey Ramp, Sampson’s mother, suffered several head injuries in a horseback riding accident in 2006. Following her injuries, the woman returned to college intending to learn more about the human brain.
In Joey’s doctoral program at the University of Illinois in the United States, the golden retriever is the first dog to have access to a laboratory.
Joey’s prefrontal brain and nerves on the left side of his body were irreversibly injured in the accident. An eye socket, cheekbone, two vertebrae, jaw, and clavicle were among his broken bones.
“If I drop something in the lab, it bounces back to my side, allowing me to stoop down and pick up what I need,” Sampson’s mother told UNILAD. Without your help, I couldn’t handle academics or a neuroscience program.
For years, Joey has advocated for the entrance of assistance dogs into the laboratories, arguing that the prohibition has prevented many students from attending.
According to the guidelines that eventually allow him entry to the college campus, Sampson must wear the same protective equipment as humans and must always be in direct view of Joey.
Sampson also had to learn to lie for nearly four hours on a rubber-backed mattress and fetch items when her mother required it. Although we all agree that the golden retriever looks stunning in his robe and collar, his mother is concerned that this would distract him from his University studies.
“I want people to realize,” Joey adds, “that service dogs have a lot of training.”
At home, Sampson is a regular dog that enjoys playing games and rolling about in the mud. The adorable youngster makes it clear at college that games are not on his mother’s agenda.
Finally, Joey adds his assurance: “Individuals with disabilities want to study science, and now is the time to look at people with disabilities and service dog caregivers to make things more accessible for them.”