Candidate ‘going to the dogs’
GLENVAR – Candidate Joe “Butch” Church is going to the dogs. Well, dog, to be specific.
Midas, a special golden retriever, is starting to accompany Church at appearances while the chairman of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors is campaigning. Midas carries a basket with Church literature. And the 3-year-old dog is always a hit.
St. Francis Service Dog Midas carries campaign literature for Joe "Butch" Church.
Midas is a service dog trained by St. Francis Service Dogs. He’s the mainstay of service dog founder Carol Willoughby.
She believes so strongly in Church that she and her dog are campaigning for him, even though she and her husband, Doug, live in the Windsor Hills district instead of the Catawba Magisterial of Glenvar, Catawba and Northside that Church represents.
“Ed Elswick is our supervisor, but he’s not running this year,” explained Willoughby, who said she is supporting Church because of his positive accomplishments on the board of supervisors.
Willoughby and her first service dog, Booker, were a familiar sight at Cave Spring schools when her sons Jeff, who graduated from Cave Spring High School in 1991 and lives in Woodbridge, and Greg, a 1993 graduate who lives in Washington, D.C., were in school.
“Booker wore a black-and-red service dog vest and all the kids thought he wore it because it was the Cave Spring colors,” she said, laughing.
After Booker, who, she said, was the first service dog in the Roanoke Valley, came Griffin, who was her helper for five before he died at age 13. Midas has been with Willoughby since September 2010.
Though it’s hard to believe because she founded what then was St. Francis of Assisi Service Dogs at her kitchen table 13 years ago, Midas is her first St. Francis dog.
“I always felt like somebody else needed them,” said Willoughby, who has rheumatoid arthritis.
Her first two dogs were privately trained. Midas, she said, is “by far the smartest and best-trained dog I’ve ever had.”
On Thursday afternoon this week, July 14, Willoughby and Midas are scheduled to accompany Church when he’s campaigning at Kroger in Spartan Square in West Salem.
Next week is a big one for Willoughby and Midas. “I take a final re-certification test on July 19″ to show she knows how to work with her service dog, “and then I will sign the paperwork. Midas will be legally mine.”
Church enjoys having Willoughby and Midas with him. “He’s a wonderful addition to my campaign. He strengthens awareness about people who need extra help,” Church said.
That’s a wonderful story, and I sincerely wish Butch all the luck on the campain trail. Midas…. what a wonderful friend to have along. Carol too!!! Best of luck Steve