Learn more about 4 Paws for Ability at the bottom of this story.
Photos and story by Monty Siekerman
How many children can pet a puppy at one time? The answer: lots.
Thursday was Treat Day at the Ada Schools. The visit of five puppies to the second grade classes was a treat for the kids...and the children gave treats to the puppies.
The handlers, all ONU students, visited the second graders in their classrooms. The children learned about dogs in general, how they are trained to be service dogs, and asked questions about canines.
Before the bell rang, the children were free to pet the pups while the dogs made their way through the crowd of kids seated on the floor...smiles all around from the children. The pups enjoyed the attention as well
How popular has the dog training program been at ONU? There are 75 students signed up to assist in the socialization of a dogs next year.
The Xenia-based organization has agreed to increase the number of dogs at ONU from 7 this year to 12 next year.
Some pups stay with students in the residence halls while others live off-campus.
The pups go to classes, the dining hall, and are introduced to traffic on Main, among many other learning experiences.
And, the pups, most only 6 months old, performed commands for the second graders: the usual, sit, stay, and shake, but the more complex, too such as high five, jump, and chase your tail.
After meeting with the classes, the dogs paraded down the Ada Schools hallway to the cafeteria. Did they beg for food? Nope, their bellies were full from the treats given in the classrooms. Nevertheless, they have been trained not to beg anyway.
Happiness all around for the kids and dogs, a treat for all.
Here is information about 4 Paws for Ability written by Mackenzie Zembower, public relations chair of ONU's Polar Paws program.
4 Paws for Ability was founded in 1998 by Karen Shirk. Its mission is to provide children with disabilities and veterans with quality, task-trained service dogs to increase their independence and provide them with the care these dogs are trained for.
They also hope that through 4 Paws for Ability they can educate the public on service dogs and assist with animal rescue when possible.
Polar Paws was established on April 4 as an official campus organization at Ohio Northern. We have teamed up with the On-Campus Program: 4 Paws University.
The goal for this program is to allow students to foster service puppies for a semester, bringing them everywhere from class, to meetings, shopping and basically everywhere the handler goes.
This gives the handlers a chance to not only train a service puppy but also to have a better understanding of why these dogs are being trained to do what they do.
Also, they get an opportunity to educate their campus and community on the role of service dogs.
Polar Paws has two member positions, Fosters and Sitters.
Fosters are assigned to a specific dog that they will train through a whole semester at their university. They are in charge of the care of the dog such as grooming, feeding, and other personal care.
A Sitter is not assigned a specific dog but instead assists the fosters in the care of the dogs when needed. This includes during labs, events where the trainer cannot hold onto the dog properly the whole time (marching band, dance class, etc.).
There are many breeds that 4 Paws for Ability offers that range from German Shepherds to Labaradoodles.
More information about about 4 Paws for Ability is available at the website http://4pawsforability.
Pictured are (from left) Jacob Dingess and Ally Riley who are trainers of McCoy, a Labradoodle; Alison Campbell who is trainer of Babs, a Golden Lab; Alison Storch trainer of Scarah, a Golden Lab; Jordan Mikesell, Matthew Sutton, and Ashley Grisnik who are trainers of Primrose, a Collie; and Audrey Livingston who is trainer of Munch, a Labradoodle.
