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Transcript: Landon and Sandy / Isabella and Rosie
Collar of Duty Kids
Descriptive Transcript
[Upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Landon, a teenager with short brown hair, plays with a black Labrador retriever on a lawn. He wears a grey-and-blue plaid jacket and blue jeans.
NARRATOR: 14-year-old Landon becomes one of the youngest handlers of an autism service dog.
DESCRIPTION: By a school, Landon poses with his dog on a football field. The dog wears a purple service vest. In a living room, Landon sits with his arms around the dog.
LANDON: I have really big emotions, and Sandy helps me with that.
[Whoosh]
DESCRIPTION: In a hospital playroom, a volunteer with short white hair holds a photo album. On a couch, a girl with long brown hair pets a golden retriever lying beside the volunteer.
NARRATOR: Time for a bit of fur-apy at an Ottawa children's hospital.
[Whoosh]
DESCRIPTION: On a porch, a girl with long blonde hair kisses a Labrador retriever. In a basement, she dances beside a woman with long blonde hair.
NARRATOR: With service dog Rosie, 10-year-old Isabella is dancing with confidence.
ISABELLA: She is the best dog ever.
[Bright music plays, dog barks]
DESCRIPTION: In an animation, a dog runs with a ball in their mouth. A red vest appears on the dog, and the dog sits and watches a squirrel run past. The vest has a Collar of Duty badge on the front.
NARRATOR: When my vest is on duty calls. When kids and animals team up, the paws-abilities are endless. Collar of Duty Kids.
[Title] Collar of Duty Kids.
[Logo] Collar of Duty.
[Whoosh, upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: In a basement storage room, Landon holds a camera. In a dining room, he pets a golden retriever lying on a dog bed.
LANDON: Hey guys, it's Landon.
NARRATOR: Landon is a bright, determined 14-year-old.
DESCRIPTION: On the football field, Landon throws a football to another teenager.
LANDON: Go long.
NARRATOR: With a love for football.
LANDON: Nice catch.
NARRATOR: Working out.
DESCRIPTION: On a weight bench, Landon bench presses a barbell.
LANDON: I'm really into fitness because I wanted to become healthy.
DESCRIPTION: Landon sits on a gaming chair, holding a controller. On an office chair beside him, a teenager with short blond hair leans forward, holding a controller.
NARRATOR: Gaming with his friends.
LANDON: You're gonna lose, bro.
DESCRIPTION: Landon smiles. The blond-haired teenager lifts his arms victoriously.
BLOND-HAIRED TEENAGER: Boom, shakka-lakka!
DESCRIPTION: On the lawn, Landon plays with the black dog, Sandy. On the football field, he kneels beside her.
NARRATOR: And hanging out with his best friend, Sandy. Sandy isn't just any dog. She's a highly trained autism service dog, and together they're an unstoppable team.
[Upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: In the living room, Sandy sits in front of a couch.
LANDON NARRATES: And here's my dog. She's a black lab. She has a black coat, black nose, white hairs on her chin.
LANDON: Sandy, come.
DESCRIPTION: Landon and Sandy walk up a staircase.
LANDON NARRATES: On a daily basis Sandy helps me like be happy. She always helps me when I'm sad, angry, feel calm when I'm feeling overwhelmed.
DESCRIPTION: Landon enters a bedroom. He pats the bed, and Sandy jumps up. Landon points to a food bowl beside a mini fridge.
LANDON: So this is my room. Sandy sleeps right on the bed with me here. This is where she gets her food. Sandy, mat.
DESCRIPTION: Landon drops a toy on a mat at the end of his bed, and Sandy jumps onto the mat and sits. Landon walks to the other side of his room towards an exercise bike with a built-in screen and a desk. He crouches beside the mini-fridge and opens it, revealing cans of pop.
LANDON: This is my exercise bike, and best of all, my mini fridge. I'm gonna show you my family now.
DESCRIPTION: By a staircase, Ashley sits on a couch. She has long, dark brown hair and wears a blue shirt and blue jeans. In an interview in a kitchen, Ashley sits beside Adam, a man with short, dark brown hair wearing a blue shirt.
ASHLEY: I'm Ashley. I'm Landon's mom.
ADAM: I'm Adam, Landon's dad.
ASHLEY: And we're here in our family home in Innisville.
DESCRIPTION: On the lawn in front of his house, Landon poses with his parents, two younger brothers, Sandy, and the golden retriever.
LANDON: Here's my brother Weston.
DESCRIPTION: Inside the house, Weston lounges on a bed with a smartphone.
WESTON: My name's Weston, I'm 13.
DESCRIPTION: In the living room, Sutton sits on the couch. Later, he wears headphones and sticks out his tongue.
SUTTON: I'm Sutton, and I am nine years old.
[Water bubbles]
DESCRIPTION: At a pool, Landon holds a selfie stick and films himself dropping into the water.
WESTON: If I could use one word to describe Landon, it would be silly.
SUTTON: I think Landon is a good match for Sandy because Sandy and him are both playful.
DESCRIPTION: On the lawn, Landon throws the football and then catches it.
NARRATOR: For Landon, who lives with autism, the world can sometimes feel difficult. With the assistance of Sandy, Landon's found calm, courage, and confidence.
LANDON: Autism for me is that I have really big emotions, and Sandy helps me with that.
DESCRIPTION: On the lawn, the blond-haired teenager, Jacob, throws the ball.
JACOB: My name's Jacob, I'm 14, and Landon's been my best friend since grade one. Well, Landon's a really good friend because he's kind, he's caring, he's very compassionate. He's always there to listen when you need to. Sandy's there for Landon when he needs her. Sandy's really helping with his confidence.
DESCRIPTION: Ashley and Adam sit in the kitchen. Video footage shows Sandy fetching a stick. Additional video footage shows Sandy wearing her vest and sitting beside Landon.
ADAM: When we're home here in the house, and Sandy is very much just a family dog. But the minute her vest goes on, and she's out in public, her personality changes, and it's all business with her.
DESCRIPTION: In the house, the golden retriever lies on the dog bed.
NARRATOR: Sandy isn't Landon's first service dog. When Landon was four years old, he was matched with Lola.
LANDON: She's a lab slash golden retriever. She's pretty old.
DESCRIPTION: A photograph shows Landon, as a young child, standing beside Lola and holding her leash. In a second photo, Landon kneels beside Lola, who wears her service vest. In a third photo, Landon kisses Lola, who has her eyes shut. In a photograph, at school, Landon writes at his desk while Lola sits on a mat beside his desk, wearing her service vest. In a photograph of Landon as a child in bed, he leans against Lola as he reads a book.
NARRATOR: Lola didn't just become his service dog; she became his safe place. She went to school with Landon, stayed by his side in class, and curled up next to him each night at home.
[Upbeat music continues]
DESCRIPTION: In a training room, Rochelle sits on a chair. Service dog vests hang on hooks on a nearby wall. Rochelle has long blonde hair, wears eyeglasses, and is wearing a purple shirt. A photograph shows Landon walking beside Lola, holding a short leash.
ROCHELLE: My name's Rochelle, and I am the director of People and Programs here at National Service Dogs. When Landon was much younger, safety was a real concern for his family. He would run away unexpectedly. So, Lola's job with that was to stop Landon from running into dangerous situations.
DESCRIPTION: A photograph shows Landon and Lola sleeping in bed.
ASHLEY: Not only did Lola keep him safe, he slept through the night for the first time ever.
DESCRIPTION: In a photograph, Landon sits on the ground and leans against Lola. In a second photo, he crouches beside Lola with his arm around her. A photograph shows Landon on skis with Lola beside him, wearing her service vest.
NARRATOR: Her steady presence helped pull Landon out of his bubble, giving him the confidence to connect with the world around him. But because Landon was so young, it was his mom who officially became the handler for his first service dog, Lola.
DESCRIPTION: In video footage, the family poses on the lawn. Ashley reaches down and pets Lola.
ASHLEY: I was trained as her primary handler, which means I'm the one that gets to hold the leash, and she listens to my voice.
[Landon speaks to Lola]
DESCRIPTION: In the house, Landon gives Lola a treat and pets her.
NARRATOR: Now 14 years old, Lola is enjoying a well-earned retirement, still living at home with Landon, still loved beyond words. She paved the way for Sandy and for Landon's growing confidence and independence.
LANDON NARRATES: When I found out Lola was gonna retire, it made me feel kind of sad. I didn't know if I was gonna get another service dog.
DESCRIPTION: Ashley and Adam sit in the kitchen.
ASHLEY: His needs changed a lot. Landon didn't know life without a dog by his side. He ultimately chose for himself that he would like to continue life with a dog.
DESCRIPTION: As Landon pets Lola, Sandy arrives. He smiles and pets them both. Sandy wags her tail.
LANDON NARRATES: Well, I remember when I first met Sandy, she was brought to my house. She was running around. Sandy's very different from Lola because she's like really athletic, and she's really small.
NARRATOR: Small in size and big in personality.
DESCRIPTION: On the lawn, Sandy rolls on the grass. Sutton and Weston sit on the couch.
WESTON: If I could describe Sandy in one word, it'd probably be that she is silly.
DESCRIPTION: Ashley and Adam sit in the kitchen.
ADAM: Sandy and Lola are very different animals. Sandy comes along, and she was two years old and very much still puppy energy and just a very different personality in the house.
DESCRIPTION: In the foyer, Landon holds Sandy’s vest. She arrives, and he fastens the clips.
LANDON: Sandy!
LANDON: When I found out that I was gonna get another service dog, I wanted to be responsible for Sandy.
LANDON: Stay.
DESCRIPTION: In the foyer, Sandy sits.
LANDON NARRATES: In order to become a handler, you have to learn a bunch of cues, bond with the dog.
LANDON: Sandy, come.
[Upbeat music continues]
DESCRIPTION: In a video of a training session, Sandy sits under Landon’s chair. He sits on the floor and pats his shoulder, and Sandy sits in front of him and puts her head on his shoulder.
ROCHELLE: Landon is one of very few self-handlers in our autism service dog program. And watching him work with Sandy and be so in tune with each other was really, really amazing.
DESCRIPTION: In the living room, Landon sits on a chair, and Sandy sits on a dog bed.
LANDON: Sandy, come.
DESCRIPTION: Sandy walks to Landon. Ashley and Adam sit in the kitchen.
ASHLEY: We weren't sure if Landon would be up for the challenge of being an independent handler. It is a big responsibility, and he nailed it.
DESCRIPTION: Landon holds a treat beside his leg, and Sandy walks beneath his legs.
LANDON: Under.
DESCRIPTION: Video footage shows Landon and Sandy walking towards the school doors. Sandy wears her vest.
LANDON: I think the cue I use the most is under because I need her to go under my desk. Every Monday, I bring Sandy to school. She just stays there with me and makes me feel happy.
LANDON: Sandy, ready for your breakfast?
[Kibble clatters, upbeat music continues, bag rustles]
DESCRIPTION: In his room, Landon pours kibble into Sandy’s food bowl. They play on the lawn. Near a patio, Landon picks up dog feces in a bag.
LANDON: Letting her go outside in the backyard, just hanging out with her. Sometimes taking care of Sandy means picking up a lot of poop.
DESCRIPTION: Ashley and Adam sit in the kitchen.
ADAM: It's amazing to see how Landon's independence has grown with Sandy. He now is responsible for a living animal. When he wants to retreat into his own world, well, there's somebody else there that needs to be looked after first.
ASHLEY: Being responsible for a dog's well-being is a big task, and he does it really well, and he's proud of that.
DESCRIPTION: In the foyer, Landon fastens Sandy’s vest. A photograph shows Landon posting on the football field with another player. Both wear a blue-and-black Ravens uniform and hold helmets. In a photo, Landon poses on a ski hill, wearing skis. A photograph at a hockey arena shows Landon sitting on a bench, wearing headphones, with Sandy beside him.
NARRATOR: Becoming Sandy's independent handler was a turning point for Landon. It wasn't just about taking the leash, it was about taking control of his own journey. That confidence spilled into every part of his life. He joined his high school football team, signed up for a gym membership, and even hit the slopes as part of an alpine ski team. It's even given him the confidence to do things that once felt impossible, like cheering on his brother at hockey games or enjoying family bowling nights full of laughter and noise.
[Ball rumbles, pins clatter]
DESCRIPTION: In a bowling alley, Weston pets Sandy as Landon bowls.
ASHLEY: Good one!
DESCRIPTION: On the couch, Sutton sits beside Weston.
WESTON: It means a lot for Landon to come to my hockey games 'cause he is my older brother, and I love him, and it's just, I like when he cheers me on.
[Applause]
DESCRIPTION: In the bowling alley, everyone claps, and Landon smiles at Weston. On a pool deck, Landon leaves the men’s change room holding a towel under his arm and Sandy’s leash. Sandy sits on the deck. Text on her vest reads, “Assistance Dogs International. Accredited Member.” A patch shows a red line over an image of a person petting a dog. Text on the badge reads, “Please don’t pet me. I’m working.”
NARRATOR: Now he's setting his sights on a new goal. Landon is at the Barrie pool. He's training to get his bronze cross, which is one step away from his pursuit to becoming a lifeguard. Sandy is poolside as Landon is ready to take the plunge.
DESCRIPTION: In the pool, Landon dunks his head beneath the water. On the deck, Rebecca has her brown hair pulled away from her face. She wears a black swimsuit.
REBECCA: I'm Rebecca. I'm Landon's swim teacher. I've been working with Landon for almost two years.
[Water splashes]
REBECCA: Let's start off with our front crawl. Ready, let's go there and back.
DESCRIPTION: Landon swims the front crawl. On a bench on the deck, Ashley and Adam watch, with Sandy sitting on the deck beside Adam. In an interview in front of a fireplace, Landon sits with his arms crossed.
LANDON: I wanna become a lifeguard because it makes me active, and also because I could be responsible for others.
[Water splashes]
DESCRIPTION: In the pool, Landon swims.
REBECCA: Keep going, keep going! Let's keep kicking.
DESCRIPTION: Rebecca stands on the deck for an interview.
REBECCA: The bronze cross is one level down from his lifeguard certificate, so there's a lot of physical and demanding things that he has to do.
DESCRIPTION: Rebecca walks on the deck beside Landon as he swims.
REBECCA: Good breath and kick. Good.
DESCRIPTION: Rebecca stands on the deck for the interview.
REBECCA: He also has to know how to do first aid things, as well as rescuing people, and then putting it all together.
DESCRIPTION: Landon swims to the bottom of the pool and then swims backwards.
REBECCA: So, you're gonna swim with your head out of the water to there. Soon as you get there, show me a nice surface dive all the way down to the floor. Touch the floor, come up, and then I wanna see your eggbeater to the wall, and touch the wall. Almost there. Turn and look at the wall. Good job!
DESCRIPTION: Landon swims to the bottom of the pool and picks up a brick.
REBECCA: So I'm gonna put the brick right about where the yellow torpedo is. So the same thing we just did. You're gonna swim with your head up to the torpedo. You're gonna swim down to pick up the 10-pound brick. Come straight up, holding it. You're gonna swim with your eggbeater to touch the wall.
DESCRIPTION: Rebecca stands on the deck for the interview.
REBECCA: Landon's a great candidate to pass his bronze cross because he's really focused, he tries really hard, and especially when Sandy's around watching, it's amazing.
DESCRIPTION: Ashley and Adam sit in the kitchen.
ADAM: I think Landon will make a fantastic lifeguard. He's proven that he can look after others, and I think he's very observant, and it'll serve him well.
DESCRIPTION: At home, Landon stands on the lawn.
LANDON: I think my swim practice went pretty well. I think I'm ready for my Bronze Cross.
[Cheer, water splashes, whoosh, upbeat music continues]
DESCRIPTION: At the pool, Landon jumps in holding the selfie stick. Landon swims in the pool.
ADAM: It's been really amazing watching Landon grow up, and Sandy has given him the confidence to want to try new things, and it's been amazing to see.
DESCRIPTION: At home, Landon walks down a staircase.
LANDON: Sandy, come, let's go work out.
DESCRIPTION: Video footage shows Landon picking up weights. On the football field, he catches the football. At the pool, he swims underwater.
ASHLEY: Sandy by Landon's side, I really believe that he can do anything he wants to do, and he's proven that in the last year or so with all of the new experience he's had because of her.
DESCRIPTION: In the living room, Weston and Sutton sit on the couch.
WESTON: Landon and Sandy are a good match because they're both a little playful and funny.
SUTTON: Sandy helps Landon calm down when he is upset.
DESCRIPTION: Landon stands on the lawn with Sandy.
LANDON: What do you think, Sandy?
[Sandy pants]
DESCRIPTION: In video footage, Landon feeds Sandy and kneels on the football field beside her.
ASHELY: And it really all stemmed from the confidence he got from learning how to be Sandy's caregiver.
DESCRIPTION: Landon kicks the football over the goal post and holds his hands up victoriously.
LANDON: Go long! Waa!
[Bright music plays]
DESCRIPTION: In the hospital playroom, the golden retriever sits beside the white-haired volunteer. The dog has a volunteer pass on their collar with their photograph and the name Lark Lambert.
NARRATOR: These are some very important paws. They belong to Lark, a golden retriever visiting the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. But Lark's not here for a checkup. She's here on duty. She's a therapy dog.
DESCRIPTION: The white-haired volunteer, Ann, puts her hand on the golden retriever, Lark. Outside, a sign on the building reads, “CHEO.”
ANN: My name's Ann, and this is Lark, my golden retriever. I'm a volunteer with auto therapy dogs, and we come to Cheo every two weeks, and Lark really enjoys coming.
[Ann laughs]
DESCRIPTION: In a hospital hallway, Gaby wears a shirt with the text “Child Life.” Gaby has long, straight, dark brown hair.
GABY: My name is Gaby. I am a child life specialist.
NARRATOR: Gaby helps facilitate pet therapy at Cheo.
DESCRIPTION: In the playroom, Ann sits on the couch next to Lark.
GABY: One of the activities we offer is participation in the pet therapy program.
NARRATOR: Meet today's visitor, 10-year-old Z.
[Upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: The brown-haired girl, Z., enters the playroom with a person pushing an I.V. stand behind her.
ANN: Hi, Z.
Z.: Hi!
ANN: Come to see Lark.
Z.: Yeah.
ANN: Yes.
DESCRIPTION: Z. sits on the couch beside Lark and pets her. Ann holds the photo album and flips to a picture of a row of dogs.
ANN: A typical session is about 15 minutes. The child will come in and sit beside the dog, and pet and cuddle, and we'll have a chat. And I have a photograph album which we look through, with lots of pictures of what Lark does.
Z.: I like scratching her head.
ANN: Yes, and she likes her ears done. Pull gently like this. It's like massaging her ears, so you pull 'em very gently, and they're so soft.
DESCRIPTION: Ann gently runs her hand over Lark’s ears, pulling them. Z. rubs Lark’s neck on both sides as Lark sits with her mouth open and upturned lips. Z. rests her head against the top of Lark’s head.
ANN: The purpose of a therapy dog is to relax and help the patient or the person feel better. And this is what the children find, that it really does relax them. And often children will say, oh, I feel better from petting the dog. And I think personally…
[Ann laughs]
ANN: When you're not well and you pet your dog, you seem to feel a little bit better.
GABY: What's fantastic about pet therapy is it gives us an opportunity to work towards patient goals, offering a sense of comfort and normalcy.
DESCRIPTION: Ann shows Z. a photo album with cat pictures.
NARRATOR: Each visit is different. Some are filled with stories, and others just quiet connection.
GABY: What I really love is being able to see kids light up when they go and see Ann and Lark. What's wonderful about this is that they're volunteers, and so they're not medical professionals. They're a familiar comforting face.
NARRATOR: She may not wear scrubs, but Lark brings something to this hospital that's just as powerful as medicine, comfort, calm and care. She's more than a visitor, she's part of the team.
[Whoosh, upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: In a room, Isabella looks down at a camera.
ISABELLA: Let's go!
DESCRIPTION: Video footage shows Isabella dancing in a studio, hanging from bars on a ceiling in a room with a mat and large stuffed animals beneath her, and playing with toy horses in her bedroom. She dances beside the blonde-haired woman.
NARRATOR: Meet Isabella, a high-energy fourth grader who likes horses, stuffed bears, and dancing with her older sister.
BLONDE-HAIRED WOMAN: Oh yeah!
DESCRIPTION: Isabella holds a stuffed bear who wears eyeglasses and a colourful shirt. A black fish swims near the surface in a fishbowl.
ISABELLA: My name's Isabella, and I'm 10 years old. This is Cuddles. He is so cute. Say hi to my fish? It's Bubblegum.
DESCRIPTION: A photograph shows Isabella posing with the blonde-haired woman, her sister.
ISABELLA: Here is my sister. She is the best.
DESCRIPTION: In a living room, Isabella’s sister, Olivia, sits on a couch. Video footage shows Isabella and Olivia dancing in the basement. On a couch, a woman with long brown hair and a man with short black hair watch. The man plays tug-of-war with a Labrador retriever.
OLIVIA: I'm Olivia. I'm Isabella's older sister. Isabella likes to make up some dances. That's where both of us show our personality a lot, so we like to do it together.
[Olivia laughs]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella and Olivia hold hands and dance in a circle. On the porch, Isabella, Olivia, the brown-haired woman, the black-haired man, and the dog pose in front of patio chairs. Everyone pets the dog.
NARRATOR: Isabella and her family live in Breslau, Ontario, Canada with Isabella's service Dog, a yellow Labrador named Rosie.
ISABELLA: Rosie, say hello to everyone watching now.
DESCRIPTION: In her bedroom, Isabella sits beside the dog, Rosie. In the living room, the brown-haired woman, Tamara, and the black-haired man, Corey, sit on a couch.
TAMARA: My name is Tamara, I'm Isabella's mom.
COREY: Hi, I am Corey, I am Isabella's dad.
[Footsteps tap, soft music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella runs up a staircase. She sits on a couch with Rosie. In the basement, Isabella plays tug-of-war with Rosie.
ISABELLA: I love Rosie so much. She is the best dog ever. My favourite thing about Rosie is that she's always there. She's always so nice, so funny.
[Upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: A photograph shows Isabella as a toddler hugging a stuffed animal in a crib. Video footage features Isabella watching children pop bubbles.
TAMARA: We realized when Isabella was about two years old that she had anxieties. She was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, so she was very sensitive to bright lights, and sounds, crowds of people. You could tell she'd wanna do the things that the other kids were doing, but she just, she couldn't do it. She was too afraid.
DESCRIPTION: In the house, a woman with her brown hair in a ponytail crouches and pets Rosie.
WOMAN WITH PONYTAIL: Hi, Rosie girl.
DESCRIPTION: In an interview, the woman with the ponytail, Jackie, stands beside Emma, who has wavy blonde hair.
JACKIE: I'm Jacqueline Gory, and I am the executive director of Partners With Paws.
EMMA: I'm Emma, and I volunteer for this amazing organization.
DESCRIPTION: In Isabella’s kitchen, Jackie, Emma, Isabella, Tamara, and a blond-haired man interact with Rosie and a brown Labrador retriever. In video footage, Isabella runs across a carpet, and Rosie, as a puppy, walks to her.
JACKIE: I've known Tamara for many, many years, and she started sharing with me all about Isabella's struggles. And it reminded me so much of my childhood struggles that I started to put the idea in Tamara's mind about what would it be like if Isabella had a service dog. I really believed that it could help her the same way as my current service dog was helping me.
EMMA: Right from day one, I knew who Rosie was going to be paired up with. So she was introduced to Rosie at the puppy stage. She was there for a lot of our training sessions.
JACKIE: It was so clear from the day they got together that they were two peas in a pod. Just like magic, they were meant to be together.
DESCRIPTION: In the kitchen, Jackie pets Rosie.
JACKIE: Hi, Rosie girl! Taking care of Isabella for me.
DESCRIPTION: In a foyer, Isabella fastens Rosie’s red service dog vest.
ISABELLA: I have a service dog because I have a lot of anxiety, and I get scared a lot.
DESCRIPTION: Tamara and Corey sit on the couch.
TAMARA: Isabella's anxieties were so high, we weren't even able to get her to school some days. After we got Rosie, I thought it was gonna be a long process before we saw changes, but Isabella went to sleeping on her own for the first time without needing me there.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella lies in bed and snuggles with Rosie.
ISABELLA: Every night I sleep with my mom, and since Rosie came, I literally asked my mom to not sleep in this room.
DESCRIPTION: Rosie jumps onto the bed, and Isabella sits up.
ISABELLA: Good morning, Rosie!
NARRATOR: Sounds like the whole family is sleeping better thanks to Rosie.
[Whoosh, kibble rattles, bowl taps, upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella scoops food into Rosie’s bowl and puts it on the floor.
NARRATOR: Pretty soon, the duo developed a special bond, and as Isabella took on chores such as feeding Rosie, something wonderful happened.
[Isabella laughs, speaks to Rosie]
DESCRIPTION: Tamara and Corey sit on the couch.
COREY: The biggest change I've seen in Isabella since getting Rosie is her confidence. If we are downstairs, she can now go upstairs on her own. She never used to do that. She always needed to have somebody with her and feel safe and comfortable.
DESCRIPTION: In the basement, Isabella plays with her horses as her parents sit at the other end of the room in chairs.
NARRATOR: With Rosie by her side, Isabella's confidence began to blossom, and she even started to spend time playing on her own.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella holds a plastic toy dog figure. It wears a red vest and a green leash.
ISABELLA: This is my Rosie figure. I hold this when I like am scared or something, and I made this a service dog. I actually have like a vest that I made, and I hold it when I'm scared, and it just makes me feel better.
[Doorbell rings, door opens]
DESCRIPTION: On the front steps in front of a house, Isabella holds a stuffed horse toy and a brown cushion. She rings the doorbell, and a girl with long brown hair opens the door.
LONG-HAIRED GIRL: Hi, Isabella, come on in.
ISABELLA: Hi!
DESCRIPTION: In Maya’s bedroom, Isabella sits beside the long-haired girl, Maya, and puts on lipstick.
NARRATOR: Isabella's new-found confidence has allowed her to accept an invite to a sleepover at her friend Maya's where they're busy trying on makeup.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella has red lipstick on her nose.
ISABELLA: I got it in my nose!
[Isabella laughs, upbeat music continues]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella and Maya run down a staircase.
ISABELLA: Let's go to the playroom. Come on now.
[Children laugh]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella runs to a climbing wall and grabs a handhold. Isabella and Maya run towards each other, holding large stuffed animals, and bounce off each other.
NARRATOR: Before Rosie, Isabella was pretty much glued to her mom, and so in their short time together, life has already changed in big ways.
[Children laugh]
MAYA: That was so fun.
DESCRIPTION: In the playroom, Maya sits by the climbing wall.
MAYA: I'm Maya, I'm 10 years old. Isabella is one of my best friends because she's really kind, and she got really brave since she's had Rosie.
ISABELLA: She wasn't there, so I just think about her, and that makes me feel much better.
[Children chatter, Isabella grunts]
DESCRIPTION: In Maya’s bedroom, she and Isabella dance. In the playroom, Isabella lets go of the climbing wall and dangles from a bar on the ceiling.
MAYA WHISPERS: She let go of the handlebar. That's good, that's really good for her.
ISABELLA: Oh, I'm scared.
MAYA: It's okay, don't be.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella swings to another bar.
ISABELLA: Ah!
MAYA: If you don't wanna do it- Oh!
DESCRIPTION: Isabella drops onto cushions on the floor. She looks up and points at another bar on the ceiling.
ISABELLA: Should I go that bar?
DESCRIPTION: Tamara and Corey sit on the couch.
TAMARA: I think her confidence has grown so much that Rosie's gonna help her get to the point where she's doing things like everybody else, and she's not even thinking about it.
DESCRIPTION: In the playroom, Isabella swings from bar to bar.
MAYA: Come on! You're so close, Izzy.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella swings to the last bar.
ISABELLA: Oh my God.
MAYA CHEERS: Yes!
DESCRIPTION: Isabella drops to the floor and covers her mouth.
ISABELLA: I have never done that. Guys-
MAYA: Good job.
[Isabella claps]
ISABELLA: I'm proud of myself. Ready? Cross your fingers and bow and give your pat on the back.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella crosses her fingers and bows. She pats herself on her shoulder and nods.
NARRATOR: Great job conquering your fears on the arm bars, Isabella. Rosie would be proud.
[Whoosh]
DESCRIPTION: In her kitchen, Isabella holds a treat, and Rosie follows her. Rosie sits, lifts a paw, and lies down.
ISABELLA: Good. Ready? Can you sit? Yeah, sit? Sit? Paw? Good girl. Down?
OLIVIA: I'm so proud of her. I think that dance was a part of me that really brought out my personality and confidence. It's so great to see her kind of have that same outlet and kind of find herself through dance.
DESCRIPTION: By the foyer, Isabella kneels beside Rosie.
ISABELLA: Let's go to dance class.
DESCRIPTION: Tamara and Corey sit on the couch. Video footage shows younger Olivia and Isabella dancing.
ISABELLA: So, one thing I never thought I would hear Isabella say was that she wanted to try a competitive dance. She had always watched her sister growing up do competitive dance, but with Isabella's anxiety, it wasn't something that was ever even on her radar. And after Rosie got here, she said to us, I really wanna try competitive dance. And we just looked at each other and thought, is she serious?
[Upbeat music plays]
[Text on a sign] Bojangles Dance Arts. Established 1980.
DESCRIPTION: In front of a pink studio wall, Melanie leans against one of the two barres. She has long black hair and wears a black sweater. A photograph shows Isabella posing with another brown-haired girl, with Rosie sitting between them. Isabella enters the dance studio and hugs the brown-haired girl. Olivia, Corey, Rosie, and Tamara enter behind her. Isabella changes into red shoes and enters the dance studio.
MELANIE: I'm Melanie Hill, and I'm one of the senior instructors here at Bojangles Dance Arts. I've been teaching Isabella dance for the last, I wanna say, four years. She started coming to class very, very timid. This past year since she's gotten Rosie, there has been a huge shift. I don't have to read her anymore. She comes in, she's so confident.
ISABELLA: This year I'm doing competitive dance. This is a big deal to me because I really never thought I was gonna do this.
DESCRIPTION: In the studio, Isabella and the brown-haired girl put their arms behind their backs and run to the side.
MELANIE: Five, six, ready, we run to our spots. Two, three, four, go down, arms up and around. Bounce at one.
[Melanie speaks in the background]
DESCRIPTION: In the studio, the brown-haired girl, Kora, sits in front of a pink-and-white wall. Video footage shows Isabella and Kora practicing.
KORA: My name is Kora. I'm 10 years old. I go to dancing school with Isabella. Before she got Rosie, she would get really anxious to go to like camps with me, but after she got Rosie she would be more excited to do things like that.
COREY: She's gone from dancing at the back hiding in her dance class to right in the front.
DESCRIPTION: Tamara, Corey, Olivia, and Rosie sit in another room and watch the practice through a window.
OLIVIA: And since she's had Rosie, she has so much more confidence where she gets to express that through dance, so then I get to cheer her on and see that in the audience.
[Whoosh, upbeat music plays, family applauds, cheers]
DESCRIPTION: In her basement, Isabella plays with her horses.
ISABELLA: This is so fun.
DESCRIPTION: In the kitchen, Isabella feeds Rosie.
OLIVIA: I expected more to see like direct interactions between Rosie and Isabella, and Rosie directly helping her. And then I got to realize more that it actually is helping her in so much more ways that Rosie doesn't necessarily need to be present. Just having her in her life is giving her so much more confidence to be able to do more.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella holds a pink bunny toy, and Rosie tugs on it.
ISABELLA: You got your bunny toy.
[Smooch]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella kisses Rosie.
ISABELLA: So, Rosie makes me feel so brave, so much safer. I literally go everywhere now that I couldn't go before.
[Isabella laughs, smooch, whoosh, upbeat music plays quietly]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella kisses Rosie. At the front door, Isabella wears a jacket, jeans, and a touque. She kisses Rosie’s head and pets her.
TAMARA: I love you. Have fun at the park.
ISABELLA: Bye, Rosie. Love you.
[Children shout]
DESCRIPTION: At the park, Isabella and other girls climb metal bars and run up a slide.
NARRATOR: Thanks to Rosie, Isabella's not just able to enjoy new hobbies and sleepovers, but Rosie also gives Isabella the confidence to make new friends.
DESCRIPTION: A girl with dark brown hair wears a grey coat and a hooded sweatshirt.
ABBY: I'm Abby. I'm 14, and I'm Isabella's neighbour. Before Isabella got Rosie, she was like a little shy around big crowds of people.
DESCRIPTION: Tamara and Corey sit on the couch.
COREY: We went to the park, she would be so petrified. She would never go down a slide. It would be way too scary for her.
[Girls shout]
DESCRIPTION: At the park, Isabella holds onto a metal bar on a play structure. Isabella sits on a trampoline and watches the other girls on the play structure.
TAMARA NARRATES: If there were more than two or three people, she'd sit on the edge, and she'd wait for people to leave.
[Upbeat music plays]
GIRL SHOUTS: Izzy, come play!
DESCRIPTION: Isabella runs to the play structure.
ABBY: She went from being so shy and could only have one person around her to having like a big group of people and staying comfortable.
[Girls shout]
DESCRIPTION: A girl chases Isabella. Isabella runs to the play structure, and the others run up the stairs.
SECOND GIRL SHOUTS: Isabella's it!
DESCRIPTION: At the park, Isabella lies on a swing and swings. At home, Tamara and Corey sit on the couch.
COREY: Our daughter has overcome so many different struggles that she used to have, and she's just one of the other girls now, and on the playground.
DESCRIPTION: At the park, Tamara arrives with Rosie wearing her red service vest. Corey and Olivia stand nearby, watching.
ISABELLA: Look, there's Rosie! Rosie!
[Girls laugh]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella and the other girls run to Rosie and pet her. Rosie wags her tail.
THIRD GIRL: Hi, Rosie!
DESCRIPTION: Tamara and Corey sit on the couch. Isabella drags a stuffed bone on the carpet, and Rosie grabs it. She lies on the floor beside Rosie and kisses her.
MAYA: Down the road, when Isabella's, you know, a teenager or past that, she won't need Rosie to do a lot of those things that she needed at the beginning.
COREY: Yeah, it's just so relieving to know that your child now has that confidence to do what they want and not be held back by whatever their anxieties were.
TAMARA: So right now Isabella actually feels like she can do anything, and she said Rosie's almost like her superpower.
[Triumphant music plays, whoosh]
[Title] Collar of Duty Kids
[Whoosh, upbeat music plays]
[End Credits] Directed by Melissa Peters. Produced by Laura Lillie. Featuring Landon and Sandy, Isabella and Rosie. Narrator: Craig Smith. Executive Producers: Laura Lillie, Raj Panikkar, Christopher Szarka. Original Theme Music Joel Silver. Copyright 2025 Purple Panda Productions Incorporated. All rights reserved.
DESCRIPTION: The Purple Panda Productions Incorporated logo includes a photo of a child and a German Shepherd.
[Logo] S.M.I. Summerhill Media Incorporated.
[Logo] Produced in association with A.M.I.
Descriptive Transcript
[Upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Landon, a teenager with short brown hair, plays with a black Labrador retriever on a lawn. He wears a grey-and-blue plaid jacket and blue jeans.
NARRATOR: 14-year-old Landon becomes one of the youngest handlers of an autism service dog.
DESCRIPTION: By a school, Landon poses with his dog on a football field. The dog wears a purple service vest. In a living room, Landon sits with his arms around the dog.
LANDON: I have really big emotions, and Sandy helps me with that.
[Whoosh]
DESCRIPTION: In a hospital playroom, a volunteer with short white hair holds a photo album. On a couch, a girl with long brown hair pets a golden retriever lying beside the volunteer.
NARRATOR: Time for a bit of fur-apy at an Ottawa children's hospital.
[Whoosh]
DESCRIPTION: On a porch, a girl with long blonde hair kisses a Labrador retriever. In a basement, she dances beside a woman with long blonde hair.
NARRATOR: With service dog Rosie, 10-year-old Isabella is dancing with confidence.
ISABELLA: She is the best dog ever.
[Bright music plays, dog barks]
DESCRIPTION: In an animation, a dog runs with a ball in their mouth. A red vest appears on the dog, and the dog sits and watches a squirrel run past. The vest has a Collar of Duty badge on the front.
NARRATOR: When my vest is on duty calls. When kids and animals team up, the paws-abilities are endless. Collar of Duty Kids.
[Title] Collar of Duty Kids.
[Logo] Collar of Duty.
[Whoosh, upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: In a basement storage room, Landon holds a camera. In a dining room, he pets a golden retriever lying on a dog bed.
LANDON: Hey guys, it's Landon.
NARRATOR: Landon is a bright, determined 14-year-old.
DESCRIPTION: On the football field, Landon throws a football to another teenager.
LANDON: Go long.
NARRATOR: With a love for football.
LANDON: Nice catch.
NARRATOR: Working out.
DESCRIPTION: On a weight bench, Landon bench presses a barbell.
LANDON: I'm really into fitness because I wanted to become healthy.
DESCRIPTION: Landon sits on a gaming chair, holding a controller. On an office chair beside him, a teenager with short blond hair leans forward, holding a controller.
NARRATOR: Gaming with his friends.
LANDON: You're gonna lose, bro.
DESCRIPTION: Landon smiles. The blond-haired teenager lifts his arms victoriously.
BLOND-HAIRED TEENAGER: Boom, shakka-lakka!
DESCRIPTION: On the lawn, Landon plays with the black dog, Sandy. On the football field, he kneels beside her.
NARRATOR: And hanging out with his best friend, Sandy. Sandy isn't just any dog. She's a highly trained autism service dog, and together they're an unstoppable team.
[Upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: In the living room, Sandy sits in front of a couch.
LANDON NARRATES: And here's my dog. She's a black lab. She has a black coat, black nose, white hairs on her chin.
LANDON: Sandy, come.
DESCRIPTION: Landon and Sandy walk up a staircase.
LANDON NARRATES: On a daily basis Sandy helps me like be happy. She always helps me when I'm sad, angry, feel calm when I'm feeling overwhelmed.
DESCRIPTION: Landon enters a bedroom. He pats the bed, and Sandy jumps up. Landon points to a food bowl beside a mini fridge.
LANDON: So this is my room. Sandy sleeps right on the bed with me here. This is where she gets her food. Sandy, mat.
DESCRIPTION: Landon drops a toy on a mat at the end of his bed, and Sandy jumps onto the mat and sits. Landon walks to the other side of his room towards an exercise bike with a built-in screen and a desk. He crouches beside the mini-fridge and opens it, revealing cans of pop.
LANDON: This is my exercise bike, and best of all, my mini fridge. I'm gonna show you my family now.
DESCRIPTION: By a staircase, Ashley sits on a couch. She has long, dark brown hair and wears a blue shirt and blue jeans. In an interview in a kitchen, Ashley sits beside Adam, a man with short, dark brown hair wearing a blue shirt.
ASHLEY: I'm Ashley. I'm Landon's mom.
ADAM: I'm Adam, Landon's dad.
ASHLEY: And we're here in our family home in Innisville.
DESCRIPTION: On the lawn in front of his house, Landon poses with his parents, two younger brothers, Sandy, and the golden retriever.
LANDON: Here's my brother Weston.
DESCRIPTION: Inside the house, Weston lounges on a bed with a smartphone.
WESTON: My name's Weston, I'm 13.
DESCRIPTION: In the living room, Sutton sits on the couch. Later, he wears headphones and sticks out his tongue.
SUTTON: I'm Sutton, and I am nine years old.
[Water bubbles]
DESCRIPTION: At a pool, Landon holds a selfie stick and films himself dropping into the water.
WESTON: If I could use one word to describe Landon, it would be silly.
SUTTON: I think Landon is a good match for Sandy because Sandy and him are both playful.
DESCRIPTION: On the lawn, Landon throws the football and then catches it.
NARRATOR: For Landon, who lives with autism, the world can sometimes feel difficult. With the assistance of Sandy, Landon's found calm, courage, and confidence.
LANDON: Autism for me is that I have really big emotions, and Sandy helps me with that.
DESCRIPTION: On the lawn, the blond-haired teenager, Jacob, throws the ball.
JACOB: My name's Jacob, I'm 14, and Landon's been my best friend since grade one. Well, Landon's a really good friend because he's kind, he's caring, he's very compassionate. He's always there to listen when you need to. Sandy's there for Landon when he needs her. Sandy's really helping with his confidence.
DESCRIPTION: Ashley and Adam sit in the kitchen. Video footage shows Sandy fetching a stick. Additional video footage shows Sandy wearing her vest and sitting beside Landon.
ADAM: When we're home here in the house, and Sandy is very much just a family dog. But the minute her vest goes on, and she's out in public, her personality changes, and it's all business with her.
DESCRIPTION: In the house, the golden retriever lies on the dog bed.
NARRATOR: Sandy isn't Landon's first service dog. When Landon was four years old, he was matched with Lola.
LANDON: She's a lab slash golden retriever. She's pretty old.
DESCRIPTION: A photograph shows Landon, as a young child, standing beside Lola and holding her leash. In a second photo, Landon kneels beside Lola, who wears her service vest. In a third photo, Landon kisses Lola, who has her eyes shut. In a photograph, at school, Landon writes at his desk while Lola sits on a mat beside his desk, wearing her service vest. In a photograph of Landon as a child in bed, he leans against Lola as he reads a book.
NARRATOR: Lola didn't just become his service dog; she became his safe place. She went to school with Landon, stayed by his side in class, and curled up next to him each night at home.
[Upbeat music continues]
DESCRIPTION: In a training room, Rochelle sits on a chair. Service dog vests hang on hooks on a nearby wall. Rochelle has long blonde hair, wears eyeglasses, and is wearing a purple shirt. A photograph shows Landon walking beside Lola, holding a short leash.
ROCHELLE: My name's Rochelle, and I am the director of People and Programs here at National Service Dogs. When Landon was much younger, safety was a real concern for his family. He would run away unexpectedly. So, Lola's job with that was to stop Landon from running into dangerous situations.
DESCRIPTION: A photograph shows Landon and Lola sleeping in bed.
ASHLEY: Not only did Lola keep him safe, he slept through the night for the first time ever.
DESCRIPTION: In a photograph, Landon sits on the ground and leans against Lola. In a second photo, he crouches beside Lola with his arm around her. A photograph shows Landon on skis with Lola beside him, wearing her service vest.
NARRATOR: Her steady presence helped pull Landon out of his bubble, giving him the confidence to connect with the world around him. But because Landon was so young, it was his mom who officially became the handler for his first service dog, Lola.
DESCRIPTION: In video footage, the family poses on the lawn. Ashley reaches down and pets Lola.
ASHLEY: I was trained as her primary handler, which means I'm the one that gets to hold the leash, and she listens to my voice.
[Landon speaks to Lola]
DESCRIPTION: In the house, Landon gives Lola a treat and pets her.
NARRATOR: Now 14 years old, Lola is enjoying a well-earned retirement, still living at home with Landon, still loved beyond words. She paved the way for Sandy and for Landon's growing confidence and independence.
LANDON NARRATES: When I found out Lola was gonna retire, it made me feel kind of sad. I didn't know if I was gonna get another service dog.
DESCRIPTION: Ashley and Adam sit in the kitchen.
ASHLEY: His needs changed a lot. Landon didn't know life without a dog by his side. He ultimately chose for himself that he would like to continue life with a dog.
DESCRIPTION: As Landon pets Lola, Sandy arrives. He smiles and pets them both. Sandy wags her tail.
LANDON NARRATES: Well, I remember when I first met Sandy, she was brought to my house. She was running around. Sandy's very different from Lola because she's like really athletic, and she's really small.
NARRATOR: Small in size and big in personality.
DESCRIPTION: On the lawn, Sandy rolls on the grass. Sutton and Weston sit on the couch.
WESTON: If I could describe Sandy in one word, it'd probably be that she is silly.
DESCRIPTION: Ashley and Adam sit in the kitchen.
ADAM: Sandy and Lola are very different animals. Sandy comes along, and she was two years old and very much still puppy energy and just a very different personality in the house.
DESCRIPTION: In the foyer, Landon holds Sandy’s vest. She arrives, and he fastens the clips.
LANDON: Sandy!
LANDON: When I found out that I was gonna get another service dog, I wanted to be responsible for Sandy.
LANDON: Stay.
DESCRIPTION: In the foyer, Sandy sits.
LANDON NARRATES: In order to become a handler, you have to learn a bunch of cues, bond with the dog.
LANDON: Sandy, come.
[Upbeat music continues]
DESCRIPTION: In a video of a training session, Sandy sits under Landon’s chair. He sits on the floor and pats his shoulder, and Sandy sits in front of him and puts her head on his shoulder.
ROCHELLE: Landon is one of very few self-handlers in our autism service dog program. And watching him work with Sandy and be so in tune with each other was really, really amazing.
DESCRIPTION: In the living room, Landon sits on a chair, and Sandy sits on a dog bed.
LANDON: Sandy, come.
DESCRIPTION: Sandy walks to Landon. Ashley and Adam sit in the kitchen.
ASHLEY: We weren't sure if Landon would be up for the challenge of being an independent handler. It is a big responsibility, and he nailed it.
DESCRIPTION: Landon holds a treat beside his leg, and Sandy walks beneath his legs.
LANDON: Under.
DESCRIPTION: Video footage shows Landon and Sandy walking towards the school doors. Sandy wears her vest.
LANDON: I think the cue I use the most is under because I need her to go under my desk. Every Monday, I bring Sandy to school. She just stays there with me and makes me feel happy.
LANDON: Sandy, ready for your breakfast?
[Kibble clatters, upbeat music continues, bag rustles]
DESCRIPTION: In his room, Landon pours kibble into Sandy’s food bowl. They play on the lawn. Near a patio, Landon picks up dog feces in a bag.
LANDON: Letting her go outside in the backyard, just hanging out with her. Sometimes taking care of Sandy means picking up a lot of poop.
DESCRIPTION: Ashley and Adam sit in the kitchen.
ADAM: It's amazing to see how Landon's independence has grown with Sandy. He now is responsible for a living animal. When he wants to retreat into his own world, well, there's somebody else there that needs to be looked after first.
ASHLEY: Being responsible for a dog's well-being is a big task, and he does it really well, and he's proud of that.
DESCRIPTION: In the foyer, Landon fastens Sandy’s vest. A photograph shows Landon posting on the football field with another player. Both wear a blue-and-black Ravens uniform and hold helmets. In a photo, Landon poses on a ski hill, wearing skis. A photograph at a hockey arena shows Landon sitting on a bench, wearing headphones, with Sandy beside him.
NARRATOR: Becoming Sandy's independent handler was a turning point for Landon. It wasn't just about taking the leash, it was about taking control of his own journey. That confidence spilled into every part of his life. He joined his high school football team, signed up for a gym membership, and even hit the slopes as part of an alpine ski team. It's even given him the confidence to do things that once felt impossible, like cheering on his brother at hockey games or enjoying family bowling nights full of laughter and noise.
[Ball rumbles, pins clatter]
DESCRIPTION: In a bowling alley, Weston pets Sandy as Landon bowls.
ASHLEY: Good one!
DESCRIPTION: On the couch, Sutton sits beside Weston.
WESTON: It means a lot for Landon to come to my hockey games 'cause he is my older brother, and I love him, and it's just, I like when he cheers me on.
[Applause]
DESCRIPTION: In the bowling alley, everyone claps, and Landon smiles at Weston. On a pool deck, Landon leaves the men’s change room holding a towel under his arm and Sandy’s leash. Sandy sits on the deck. Text on her vest reads, “Assistance Dogs International. Accredited Member.” A patch shows a red line over an image of a person petting a dog. Text on the badge reads, “Please don’t pet me. I’m working.”
NARRATOR: Now he's setting his sights on a new goal. Landon is at the Barrie pool. He's training to get his bronze cross, which is one step away from his pursuit to becoming a lifeguard. Sandy is poolside as Landon is ready to take the plunge.
DESCRIPTION: In the pool, Landon dunks his head beneath the water. On the deck, Rebecca has her brown hair pulled away from her face. She wears a black swimsuit.
REBECCA: I'm Rebecca. I'm Landon's swim teacher. I've been working with Landon for almost two years.
[Water splashes]
REBECCA: Let's start off with our front crawl. Ready, let's go there and back.
DESCRIPTION: Landon swims the front crawl. On a bench on the deck, Ashley and Adam watch, with Sandy sitting on the deck beside Adam. In an interview in front of a fireplace, Landon sits with his arms crossed.
LANDON: I wanna become a lifeguard because it makes me active, and also because I could be responsible for others.
[Water splashes]
DESCRIPTION: In the pool, Landon swims.
REBECCA: Keep going, keep going! Let's keep kicking.
DESCRIPTION: Rebecca stands on the deck for an interview.
REBECCA: The bronze cross is one level down from his lifeguard certificate, so there's a lot of physical and demanding things that he has to do.
DESCRIPTION: Rebecca walks on the deck beside Landon as he swims.
REBECCA: Good breath and kick. Good.
DESCRIPTION: Rebecca stands on the deck for the interview.
REBECCA: He also has to know how to do first aid things, as well as rescuing people, and then putting it all together.
DESCRIPTION: Landon swims to the bottom of the pool and then swims backwards.
REBECCA: So, you're gonna swim with your head out of the water to there. Soon as you get there, show me a nice surface dive all the way down to the floor. Touch the floor, come up, and then I wanna see your eggbeater to the wall, and touch the wall. Almost there. Turn and look at the wall. Good job!
DESCRIPTION: Landon swims to the bottom of the pool and picks up a brick.
REBECCA: So I'm gonna put the brick right about where the yellow torpedo is. So the same thing we just did. You're gonna swim with your head up to the torpedo. You're gonna swim down to pick up the 10-pound brick. Come straight up, holding it. You're gonna swim with your eggbeater to touch the wall.
DESCRIPTION: Rebecca stands on the deck for the interview.
REBECCA: Landon's a great candidate to pass his bronze cross because he's really focused, he tries really hard, and especially when Sandy's around watching, it's amazing.
DESCRIPTION: Ashley and Adam sit in the kitchen.
ADAM: I think Landon will make a fantastic lifeguard. He's proven that he can look after others, and I think he's very observant, and it'll serve him well.
DESCRIPTION: At home, Landon stands on the lawn.
LANDON: I think my swim practice went pretty well. I think I'm ready for my Bronze Cross.
[Cheer, water splashes, whoosh, upbeat music continues]
DESCRIPTION: At the pool, Landon jumps in holding the selfie stick. Landon swims in the pool.
ADAM: It's been really amazing watching Landon grow up, and Sandy has given him the confidence to want to try new things, and it's been amazing to see.
DESCRIPTION: At home, Landon walks down a staircase.
LANDON: Sandy, come, let's go work out.
DESCRIPTION: Video footage shows Landon picking up weights. On the football field, he catches the football. At the pool, he swims underwater.
ASHLEY: Sandy by Landon's side, I really believe that he can do anything he wants to do, and he's proven that in the last year or so with all of the new experience he's had because of her.
DESCRIPTION: In the living room, Weston and Sutton sit on the couch.
WESTON: Landon and Sandy are a good match because they're both a little playful and funny.
SUTTON: Sandy helps Landon calm down when he is upset.
DESCRIPTION: Landon stands on the lawn with Sandy.
LANDON: What do you think, Sandy?
[Sandy pants]
DESCRIPTION: In video footage, Landon feeds Sandy and kneels on the football field beside her.
ASHELY: And it really all stemmed from the confidence he got from learning how to be Sandy's caregiver.
DESCRIPTION: Landon kicks the football over the goal post and holds his hands up victoriously.
LANDON: Go long! Waa!
[Bright music plays]
DESCRIPTION: In the hospital playroom, the golden retriever sits beside the white-haired volunteer. The dog has a volunteer pass on their collar with their photograph and the name Lark Lambert.
NARRATOR: These are some very important paws. They belong to Lark, a golden retriever visiting the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. But Lark's not here for a checkup. She's here on duty. She's a therapy dog.
DESCRIPTION: The white-haired volunteer, Ann, puts her hand on the golden retriever, Lark. Outside, a sign on the building reads, “CHEO.”
ANN: My name's Ann, and this is Lark, my golden retriever. I'm a volunteer with auto therapy dogs, and we come to Cheo every two weeks, and Lark really enjoys coming.
[Ann laughs]
DESCRIPTION: In a hospital hallway, Gaby wears a shirt with the text “Child Life.” Gaby has long, straight, dark brown hair.
GABY: My name is Gaby. I am a child life specialist.
NARRATOR: Gaby helps facilitate pet therapy at Cheo.
DESCRIPTION: In the playroom, Ann sits on the couch next to Lark.
GABY: One of the activities we offer is participation in the pet therapy program.
NARRATOR: Meet today's visitor, 10-year-old Z.
[Upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: The brown-haired girl, Z., enters the playroom with a person pushing an I.V. stand behind her.
ANN: Hi, Z.
Z.: Hi!
ANN: Come to see Lark.
Z.: Yeah.
ANN: Yes.
DESCRIPTION: Z. sits on the couch beside Lark and pets her. Ann holds the photo album and flips to a picture of a row of dogs.
ANN: A typical session is about 15 minutes. The child will come in and sit beside the dog, and pet and cuddle, and we'll have a chat. And I have a photograph album which we look through, with lots of pictures of what Lark does.
Z.: I like scratching her head.
ANN: Yes, and she likes her ears done. Pull gently like this. It's like massaging her ears, so you pull 'em very gently, and they're so soft.
DESCRIPTION: Ann gently runs her hand over Lark’s ears, pulling them. Z. rubs Lark’s neck on both sides as Lark sits with her mouth open and upturned lips. Z. rests her head against the top of Lark’s head.
ANN: The purpose of a therapy dog is to relax and help the patient or the person feel better. And this is what the children find, that it really does relax them. And often children will say, oh, I feel better from petting the dog. And I think personally…
[Ann laughs]
ANN: When you're not well and you pet your dog, you seem to feel a little bit better.
GABY: What's fantastic about pet therapy is it gives us an opportunity to work towards patient goals, offering a sense of comfort and normalcy.
DESCRIPTION: Ann shows Z. a photo album with cat pictures.
NARRATOR: Each visit is different. Some are filled with stories, and others just quiet connection.
GABY: What I really love is being able to see kids light up when they go and see Ann and Lark. What's wonderful about this is that they're volunteers, and so they're not medical professionals. They're a familiar comforting face.
NARRATOR: She may not wear scrubs, but Lark brings something to this hospital that's just as powerful as medicine, comfort, calm and care. She's more than a visitor, she's part of the team.
[Whoosh, upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: In a room, Isabella looks down at a camera.
ISABELLA: Let's go!
DESCRIPTION: Video footage shows Isabella dancing in a studio, hanging from bars on a ceiling in a room with a mat and large stuffed animals beneath her, and playing with toy horses in her bedroom. She dances beside the blonde-haired woman.
NARRATOR: Meet Isabella, a high-energy fourth grader who likes horses, stuffed bears, and dancing with her older sister.
BLONDE-HAIRED WOMAN: Oh yeah!
DESCRIPTION: Isabella holds a stuffed bear who wears eyeglasses and a colourful shirt. A black fish swims near the surface in a fishbowl.
ISABELLA: My name's Isabella, and I'm 10 years old. This is Cuddles. He is so cute. Say hi to my fish? It's Bubblegum.
DESCRIPTION: A photograph shows Isabella posing with the blonde-haired woman, her sister.
ISABELLA: Here is my sister. She is the best.
DESCRIPTION: In a living room, Isabella’s sister, Olivia, sits on a couch. Video footage shows Isabella and Olivia dancing in the basement. On a couch, a woman with long brown hair and a man with short black hair watch. The man plays tug-of-war with a Labrador retriever.
OLIVIA: I'm Olivia. I'm Isabella's older sister. Isabella likes to make up some dances. That's where both of us show our personality a lot, so we like to do it together.
[Olivia laughs]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella and Olivia hold hands and dance in a circle. On the porch, Isabella, Olivia, the brown-haired woman, the black-haired man, and the dog pose in front of patio chairs. Everyone pets the dog.
NARRATOR: Isabella and her family live in Breslau, Ontario, Canada with Isabella's service Dog, a yellow Labrador named Rosie.
ISABELLA: Rosie, say hello to everyone watching now.
DESCRIPTION: In her bedroom, Isabella sits beside the dog, Rosie. In the living room, the brown-haired woman, Tamara, and the black-haired man, Corey, sit on a couch.
TAMARA: My name is Tamara, I'm Isabella's mom.
COREY: Hi, I am Corey, I am Isabella's dad.
[Footsteps tap, soft music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella runs up a staircase. She sits on a couch with Rosie. In the basement, Isabella plays tug-of-war with Rosie.
ISABELLA: I love Rosie so much. She is the best dog ever. My favourite thing about Rosie is that she's always there. She's always so nice, so funny.
[Upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: A photograph shows Isabella as a toddler hugging a stuffed animal in a crib. Video footage features Isabella watching children pop bubbles.
TAMARA: We realized when Isabella was about two years old that she had anxieties. She was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, so she was very sensitive to bright lights, and sounds, crowds of people. You could tell she'd wanna do the things that the other kids were doing, but she just, she couldn't do it. She was too afraid.
DESCRIPTION: In the house, a woman with her brown hair in a ponytail crouches and pets Rosie.
WOMAN WITH PONYTAIL: Hi, Rosie girl.
DESCRIPTION: In an interview, the woman with the ponytail, Jackie, stands beside Emma, who has wavy blonde hair.
JACKIE: I'm Jacqueline Gory, and I am the executive director of Partners With Paws.
EMMA: I'm Emma, and I volunteer for this amazing organization.
DESCRIPTION: In Isabella’s kitchen, Jackie, Emma, Isabella, Tamara, and a blond-haired man interact with Rosie and a brown Labrador retriever. In video footage, Isabella runs across a carpet, and Rosie, as a puppy, walks to her.
JACKIE: I've known Tamara for many, many years, and she started sharing with me all about Isabella's struggles. And it reminded me so much of my childhood struggles that I started to put the idea in Tamara's mind about what would it be like if Isabella had a service dog. I really believed that it could help her the same way as my current service dog was helping me.
EMMA: Right from day one, I knew who Rosie was going to be paired up with. So she was introduced to Rosie at the puppy stage. She was there for a lot of our training sessions.
JACKIE: It was so clear from the day they got together that they were two peas in a pod. Just like magic, they were meant to be together.
DESCRIPTION: In the kitchen, Jackie pets Rosie.
JACKIE: Hi, Rosie girl! Taking care of Isabella for me.
DESCRIPTION: In a foyer, Isabella fastens Rosie’s red service dog vest.
ISABELLA: I have a service dog because I have a lot of anxiety, and I get scared a lot.
DESCRIPTION: Tamara and Corey sit on the couch.
TAMARA: Isabella's anxieties were so high, we weren't even able to get her to school some days. After we got Rosie, I thought it was gonna be a long process before we saw changes, but Isabella went to sleeping on her own for the first time without needing me there.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella lies in bed and snuggles with Rosie.
ISABELLA: Every night I sleep with my mom, and since Rosie came, I literally asked my mom to not sleep in this room.
DESCRIPTION: Rosie jumps onto the bed, and Isabella sits up.
ISABELLA: Good morning, Rosie!
NARRATOR: Sounds like the whole family is sleeping better thanks to Rosie.
[Whoosh, kibble rattles, bowl taps, upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella scoops food into Rosie’s bowl and puts it on the floor.
NARRATOR: Pretty soon, the duo developed a special bond, and as Isabella took on chores such as feeding Rosie, something wonderful happened.
[Isabella laughs, speaks to Rosie]
DESCRIPTION: Tamara and Corey sit on the couch.
COREY: The biggest change I've seen in Isabella since getting Rosie is her confidence. If we are downstairs, she can now go upstairs on her own. She never used to do that. She always needed to have somebody with her and feel safe and comfortable.
DESCRIPTION: In the basement, Isabella plays with her horses as her parents sit at the other end of the room in chairs.
NARRATOR: With Rosie by her side, Isabella's confidence began to blossom, and she even started to spend time playing on her own.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella holds a plastic toy dog figure. It wears a red vest and a green leash.
ISABELLA: This is my Rosie figure. I hold this when I like am scared or something, and I made this a service dog. I actually have like a vest that I made, and I hold it when I'm scared, and it just makes me feel better.
[Doorbell rings, door opens]
DESCRIPTION: On the front steps in front of a house, Isabella holds a stuffed horse toy and a brown cushion. She rings the doorbell, and a girl with long brown hair opens the door.
LONG-HAIRED GIRL: Hi, Isabella, come on in.
ISABELLA: Hi!
DESCRIPTION: In Maya’s bedroom, Isabella sits beside the long-haired girl, Maya, and puts on lipstick.
NARRATOR: Isabella's new-found confidence has allowed her to accept an invite to a sleepover at her friend Maya's where they're busy trying on makeup.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella has red lipstick on her nose.
ISABELLA: I got it in my nose!
[Isabella laughs, upbeat music continues]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella and Maya run down a staircase.
ISABELLA: Let's go to the playroom. Come on now.
[Children laugh]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella runs to a climbing wall and grabs a handhold. Isabella and Maya run towards each other, holding large stuffed animals, and bounce off each other.
NARRATOR: Before Rosie, Isabella was pretty much glued to her mom, and so in their short time together, life has already changed in big ways.
[Children laugh]
MAYA: That was so fun.
DESCRIPTION: In the playroom, Maya sits by the climbing wall.
MAYA: I'm Maya, I'm 10 years old. Isabella is one of my best friends because she's really kind, and she got really brave since she's had Rosie.
ISABELLA: She wasn't there, so I just think about her, and that makes me feel much better.
[Children chatter, Isabella grunts]
DESCRIPTION: In Maya’s bedroom, she and Isabella dance. In the playroom, Isabella lets go of the climbing wall and dangles from a bar on the ceiling.
MAYA WHISPERS: She let go of the handlebar. That's good, that's really good for her.
ISABELLA: Oh, I'm scared.
MAYA: It's okay, don't be.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella swings to another bar.
ISABELLA: Ah!
MAYA: If you don't wanna do it- Oh!
DESCRIPTION: Isabella drops onto cushions on the floor. She looks up and points at another bar on the ceiling.
ISABELLA: Should I go that bar?
DESCRIPTION: Tamara and Corey sit on the couch.
TAMARA: I think her confidence has grown so much that Rosie's gonna help her get to the point where she's doing things like everybody else, and she's not even thinking about it.
DESCRIPTION: In the playroom, Isabella swings from bar to bar.
MAYA: Come on! You're so close, Izzy.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella swings to the last bar.
ISABELLA: Oh my God.
MAYA CHEERS: Yes!
DESCRIPTION: Isabella drops to the floor and covers her mouth.
ISABELLA: I have never done that. Guys-
MAYA: Good job.
[Isabella claps]
ISABELLA: I'm proud of myself. Ready? Cross your fingers and bow and give your pat on the back.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella crosses her fingers and bows. She pats herself on her shoulder and nods.
NARRATOR: Great job conquering your fears on the arm bars, Isabella. Rosie would be proud.
[Whoosh]
DESCRIPTION: In her kitchen, Isabella holds a treat, and Rosie follows her. Rosie sits, lifts a paw, and lies down.
ISABELLA: Good. Ready? Can you sit? Yeah, sit? Sit? Paw? Good girl. Down?
OLIVIA: I'm so proud of her. I think that dance was a part of me that really brought out my personality and confidence. It's so great to see her kind of have that same outlet and kind of find herself through dance.
DESCRIPTION: By the foyer, Isabella kneels beside Rosie.
ISABELLA: Let's go to dance class.
DESCRIPTION: Tamara and Corey sit on the couch. Video footage shows younger Olivia and Isabella dancing.
ISABELLA: So, one thing I never thought I would hear Isabella say was that she wanted to try a competitive dance. She had always watched her sister growing up do competitive dance, but with Isabella's anxiety, it wasn't something that was ever even on her radar. And after Rosie got here, she said to us, I really wanna try competitive dance. And we just looked at each other and thought, is she serious?
[Upbeat music plays]
[Text on a sign] Bojangles Dance Arts. Established 1980.
DESCRIPTION: In front of a pink studio wall, Melanie leans against one of the two barres. She has long black hair and wears a black sweater. A photograph shows Isabella posing with another brown-haired girl, with Rosie sitting between them. Isabella enters the dance studio and hugs the brown-haired girl. Olivia, Corey, Rosie, and Tamara enter behind her. Isabella changes into red shoes and enters the dance studio.
MELANIE: I'm Melanie Hill, and I'm one of the senior instructors here at Bojangles Dance Arts. I've been teaching Isabella dance for the last, I wanna say, four years. She started coming to class very, very timid. This past year since she's gotten Rosie, there has been a huge shift. I don't have to read her anymore. She comes in, she's so confident.
ISABELLA: This year I'm doing competitive dance. This is a big deal to me because I really never thought I was gonna do this.
DESCRIPTION: In the studio, Isabella and the brown-haired girl put their arms behind their backs and run to the side.
MELANIE: Five, six, ready, we run to our spots. Two, three, four, go down, arms up and around. Bounce at one.
[Melanie speaks in the background]
DESCRIPTION: In the studio, the brown-haired girl, Kora, sits in front of a pink-and-white wall. Video footage shows Isabella and Kora practicing.
KORA: My name is Kora. I'm 10 years old. I go to dancing school with Isabella. Before she got Rosie, she would get really anxious to go to like camps with me, but after she got Rosie she would be more excited to do things like that.
COREY: She's gone from dancing at the back hiding in her dance class to right in the front.
DESCRIPTION: Tamara, Corey, Olivia, and Rosie sit in another room and watch the practice through a window.
OLIVIA: And since she's had Rosie, she has so much more confidence where she gets to express that through dance, so then I get to cheer her on and see that in the audience.
[Whoosh, upbeat music plays, family applauds, cheers]
DESCRIPTION: In her basement, Isabella plays with her horses.
ISABELLA: This is so fun.
DESCRIPTION: In the kitchen, Isabella feeds Rosie.
OLIVIA: I expected more to see like direct interactions between Rosie and Isabella, and Rosie directly helping her. And then I got to realize more that it actually is helping her in so much more ways that Rosie doesn't necessarily need to be present. Just having her in her life is giving her so much more confidence to be able to do more.
DESCRIPTION: Isabella holds a pink bunny toy, and Rosie tugs on it.
ISABELLA: You got your bunny toy.
[Smooch]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella kisses Rosie.
ISABELLA: So, Rosie makes me feel so brave, so much safer. I literally go everywhere now that I couldn't go before.
[Isabella laughs, smooch, whoosh, upbeat music plays quietly]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella kisses Rosie. At the front door, Isabella wears a jacket, jeans, and a touque. She kisses Rosie’s head and pets her.
TAMARA: I love you. Have fun at the park.
ISABELLA: Bye, Rosie. Love you.
[Children shout]
DESCRIPTION: At the park, Isabella and other girls climb metal bars and run up a slide.
NARRATOR: Thanks to Rosie, Isabella's not just able to enjoy new hobbies and sleepovers, but Rosie also gives Isabella the confidence to make new friends.
DESCRIPTION: A girl with dark brown hair wears a grey coat and a hooded sweatshirt.
ABBY: I'm Abby. I'm 14, and I'm Isabella's neighbour. Before Isabella got Rosie, she was like a little shy around big crowds of people.
DESCRIPTION: Tamara and Corey sit on the couch.
COREY: We went to the park, she would be so petrified. She would never go down a slide. It would be way too scary for her.
[Girls shout]
DESCRIPTION: At the park, Isabella holds onto a metal bar on a play structure. Isabella sits on a trampoline and watches the other girls on the play structure.
TAMARA NARRATES: If there were more than two or three people, she'd sit on the edge, and she'd wait for people to leave.
[Upbeat music plays]
GIRL SHOUTS: Izzy, come play!
DESCRIPTION: Isabella runs to the play structure.
ABBY: She went from being so shy and could only have one person around her to having like a big group of people and staying comfortable.
[Girls shout]
DESCRIPTION: A girl chases Isabella. Isabella runs to the play structure, and the others run up the stairs.
SECOND GIRL SHOUTS: Isabella's it!
DESCRIPTION: At the park, Isabella lies on a swing and swings. At home, Tamara and Corey sit on the couch.
COREY: Our daughter has overcome so many different struggles that she used to have, and she's just one of the other girls now, and on the playground.
DESCRIPTION: At the park, Tamara arrives with Rosie wearing her red service vest. Corey and Olivia stand nearby, watching.
ISABELLA: Look, there's Rosie! Rosie!
[Girls laugh]
DESCRIPTION: Isabella and the other girls run to Rosie and pet her. Rosie wags her tail.
THIRD GIRL: Hi, Rosie!
DESCRIPTION: Tamara and Corey sit on the couch. Isabella drags a stuffed bone on the carpet, and Rosie grabs it. She lies on the floor beside Rosie and kisses her.
MAYA: Down the road, when Isabella's, you know, a teenager or past that, she won't need Rosie to do a lot of those things that she needed at the beginning.
COREY: Yeah, it's just so relieving to know that your child now has that confidence to do what they want and not be held back by whatever their anxieties were.
TAMARA: So right now Isabella actually feels like she can do anything, and she said Rosie's almost like her superpower.
[Triumphant music plays, whoosh]
[Title] Collar of Duty Kids
[Whoosh, upbeat music plays]
[End Credits] Directed by Melissa Peters. Produced by Laura Lillie. Featuring Landon and Sandy, Isabella and Rosie. Narrator: Craig Smith. Executive Producers: Laura Lillie, Raj Panikkar, Christopher Szarka. Original Theme Music Joel Silver. Copyright 2025 Purple Panda Productions Incorporated. All rights reserved.
DESCRIPTION: The Purple Panda Productions Incorporated logo includes a photo of a child and a German Shepherd.
[Logo] S.M.I. Summerhill Media Incorporated.
[Logo] Produced in association with A.M.I.
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