Indiana Jones leads ladies by the hand, loves long walks and is always the perfect gentlemen. He can fend off a pack of pit bulls, has a weakness for peanut butter cookies and obeys every command. Indiana would be the perfect companion for any woman.

The only problem is Indiana is a dog.

Indiana is a 9-year-old assistance dog to blind City College student Susan Brewer. That makes him 63 years old in dog years. Even though he has inflammation in his legs, he is happy when he works.

Indiana is a beautiful yellow English Labrador retriever, with big brown eyes, and a sweet demeanor that makes even the toughest guy want to pet him.

“He has the sweetest face I have ever seen,” student Kylen McCudden says.

But while his harness is on, Indiana is working and petting him is not allowed. Indiana’s main concerns are Brewer’s safety and sudden changes to their environment. Indiana follows the same path to the bus stop everyday. But if there is road construction or new land developments, then Indiana has to quickly find a new path.

Indiana always leads, and Brewer follows, holding a harness attached to him. If Brewer tries to go a different way that is not safe, Indiana will cut in front of her to block her from advancing. When reaching a flight of stairs, Indiana will sit to let Brewer know that she has to descend.

When guiding Brewer through the halls of Rodda North, Indiana never bumps into poles or walls. He veers right to guide Brewer away from obstacles. He never falters. Indiana makes it look easy to maneuver himself and his charge through a crowded campus.

While in class, Brewer takes his harness off to give his body a break. His favorite treat is Old Mother Hubbard’s P-nuttier Dog Biscuits. When Brewer speaks about Indiana’s favorite food, she has to spell out b-i-s-c-u-i-t so Indiana will not get excited and think he is getting a treat at that moment.

Indiana was born in Alaska, where he was bred to become a guide dog. At a mere 8 weeks old, Indiana was separated from his parents and placed with a volunteer trainer. Until 18 months, Indiana was trained in basic commands. He was then transferred to Palm Springs Guide Dogs of the Desert for more advanced training.
Even though Indiana likes to work he usually gets one day off a week. Indiana earns around $60 a month for his services from the state’s Assistance Dog Special Allowance program. The money usually goes toward his medical expenses.

At 63, he works harder than most senior citizens and does not plan to retire any time soon. Brewer is able to live a normal life and venture outside of her home thanks to Indiana’s hard work and excellent job skills.

There has only been one occasion when Indiana and Brewer broke the rules and did not follow training guidelines. While at a street fair some kids had their pit bull dogs attack Indiana. Indiana did not back down, and Brewer interfered, even though she could have been seriously injured. Both of them got away with only a few minor scrapes and bruises.

Indiana’s presence in the classroom makes 80 minutes of lecture much more enjoyable.

“Indiana Jones is the best behaved and sweetest dog I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting,” City College professor James Naify says.