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Paws with a Cause visits Freeland Elementary

Paws with a Cause

In keeping with a unit about working and rescue dogs, special education teacher Stacey Woock of Freeland Elementary, invited Ellen Herlache, from SVSU’s Paws with a Cause program, and her dog, Cisco, to come and give a demonstration to the school’s 5th graders. All students who attended were able to see, firsthand, a helping dog in action.

Cisco, a six-year-old Labrador Retriever, showcased his exceptional skills in retrieving a telephone, switching a light on and off, and alerting Herlache to a ringing timer.

Cisco further demonstrated his abilities by assisting Herlache from a prone position by allowing her to use him as a brace, helped her rise from a seated position by pulling on a hand-held, circular rope, and demonstrated how dogs like him are able to assist someone with special needs into bed by lifting their legs, one at a time. This same technique can also be used to assist a person who has limited mobility put on their shoes.

Paw with a Cause provides trained assistance dogs nationally for people with disabilities, and provides lifetime team support, which encourages independence. Herlache explained that the smaller dogs are usually trained as hearing dogs. They’re better suited to respond to vital sounds, such as the ring of a telephone, doorbells, or a crying baby, alerting a person who is deaf or hard of hearing.

According to Herlache, the larger breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers, are trained as Service Dogs, Seizure Response Dogs, and Social Support Dogs. For example, a dog can be trained to help a client get out of bed, and complete everyday tasks such as helping out with the laundry. A dog can be trained to push life-alerts, help comfort a person during a seizure, and get help or retrieve the phone. Social Support Dogs can provide emotional support and companionship.

PAWS recently initiated a two-year pilot Service Dogs for Children with Autism program, with a goal to place five dogs in 2009, followed by 10 dogs in 2010. PAWS surpassed this goal and placed six teams within the first year. These special dogs are for children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. They can help with social interactions and relationships, verbal and nonverbal communication, increase a child’s limited interests in activities and play, and help decrease stress overall within the family and home life.

If you would like to apply for a special Paws with a Cause assistance dog, or if you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer, raising a future assistance dog, hosting a breeding stock dog, or would like to make a donation, visit their website at www.pawswithacause.org.

 

 

 

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