A Dogged Dedication to Service
A little more than a decade ago, one of Jeffrey Eagle’s early morning Flagler Drive jogs was shockingly interrupted by a violent commotion behind him. A fellow runner had been stricken by a wayward vehicle. The injury was clearly serious. His heart went out to the man and Jeff gave thanks to his lucky stars for making it home unscathed.
Several months later, Jeff and his wife Charlie were approaching the entrance to a local Publix when they encountered a woman with a service dog. Canine lovers and owners all their lives, the two struck up a conversation. The woman was a service puppy trainer, fostering the dog temporarily and helping it to socialize and learn its job.
When prompted as to how she found such a vocation, the woman explained that her husband was quadriplegic—the result of a tragic jogging accident that had happened along Flagler Drive only a few months prior.
Jeff and Charlie suddenly found their new life’s mission, and shortly after founded Genesis Assistance Dogs in early 2012. Working exclusively with Golden Retrievers, the Genesis training process is extensive and intensive; beginning at eight weeks and continuing through the ensuing two and a half years. During this period, not only are the puppies trained, socialized, and evaluated—so are their potential human matches.
Charlie and Jeff Eagle, founders of Genesis Assistance Dog
The most crucial aspect of the program is introducing the puppy to—for lack of a better term—chaos. The more varied the dogs’ situations, the better prepared they are to focus on their work under potential duress. To wit, Jeff and Charlie have partnered with five puppy trainers across the state of Florida. For three to six month periods, each provides revolving conditions—from singles to couples to families with children and other pets—under which the puppies learn and hone their skills. The volunteer raisers also commit to their own weekly coaching and evaluation sessions by Genesis’ chief trainer. Being as most beneficiaries are mobility-impaired, whether from accidents or debilitative medical afflictions like muscular dystrophy or MS, the dogs learn to open and close doors and refrigerators, retrieve papers and cell phones from the floor, and more.
Charlie Eagle with the assistance dogs.
Potential recipients are also thoroughly vetted based on their home and work lives, personalities, and needs. Once matched, the duo then undergo a rigorous two weeks of instruction and practice lasting eight to ten hours a day.
However, the work continues even after placement, as Jeff, Charlie, and their network of trainers provide ongoing training and care for life. Though requiring upwards of $30,000 to complete, the entire process is funded through grants and donations with no passed through costs to recipients.
Going above and beyond for their clients is a shared value Jeff and Charlie have found at Braman Motorcars. The 20-year Club Braman veterans are currently enjoying their newest purchase—a hybrid MINI Cooper SE Countryman.
Despite its outward appearance, multiple Golden Retrievers, a Christmas tree, and Jeff’s 6’2 frame have all intermittently fit comfortably within the MINI’s considerable confines. The fact that the brand originally hails from Charlie’s native England is an added perk.
Genesis Assistance Dogs’ Golden Retrievers and Braman Motorcars’ hybrid MINI Cooper SE Countryman.
To date, Jeff and Charlie have taken delivery of close to a dozen vehicles from the Braman campus; and proudly coupled nearly as many dogs with their perfectly-paired companions, with each being a special event. Earlier this year however, they were granted an opportunity that elevated their mission from serendipitous to downright miraculous; the two brought together a freshly-graduated Genesis Assistance puppy and a local man who’d suffered a traumatic accident several years ago.
The very jogger who’d been behind Jeff that fateful winter morning.