Oslo the dog only looks like your typical Black Labrador Retriever. But Fort Worth resident Lou Ann Smith knows he’s a lot more.

He can retrieve her phone if Smith has left it in another room, open a kitchen drawer and even take her clothes out of the dryer.

Oslo is a graduate of Canine Companions, a non-profit service dog group that finds and trains dogs to provide service to adults, children and veterans with disabilities. Members of two Oncor Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) now volunteer their time to assist Canine Companions.

“Service dogs, service animals, have that unique ability that they can give sight to the blind, that they can hear things that I can't hear," said Floyd Ross, Manager, Waste Management, and Vice Chair of the People With Abilities (PWA) ERG. “They can sense feelings and emotions."

PWA and Valor, an Oncor ERG focused on veterans, teamed up to provide financial and volunteer support to Canine Companions.

“Valor is actually partnering with Canine Companions,” said Joy Barron, a Valor member and Supervisor, Measurement Services. “Oncor made a generous donation to them. And we are working to build our relationship with them.”

Canine Companions presented Smith with her service dog recently at a graduation ceremony for Oslo and five other service animals. Smith is a paraplegic who uses a wheelchair after an accident several years ago.

Service dogs like Oslo who graduate from Canine Companions first spend 18 months with a volunteer trainer, who teaches them foundational exercises and socialization. The dogs then undergo six months of specialized service dog training and two weeks of team training with their new companions, like Smith.

“Oslo will be my companion,” Smith said. “Oslo will get my telephone if I’m in another room. He can do light switches for me. Oslo can do all those things for me and it’s just phenomenal.”