Ziggy, Aivas and Roslin, 4 Paws for Ability puppies in training at Ohio Northern University, spent their Tuesday morning with Mrs. Boehm’s, Miss Harmon’s, Mrs. Preston’s, and Miss Whitsel’s second grade classes at Ada Elementary.

Matthew Sutton, University Program Coordinator/puppy raiser, along with Michael Hackelman, Program Executive/puppy raiser, and Kately Avers, puppy raiser, spoke with the students about different ways the puppies have been trained.

Students were then given the chance to ask questions about how the puppies have been trained, which breeds are best to become a service dog, and how they get to be so smart. 

To conclude the presentation students were then given time to interact with and aide in the training of the three service dogs. Students helped simulate, with the assistance of the puppy raisers, situations service dogs may encounter in their future.

Program Coordinator Matthew Sutton shared the following information with the students about the 4 Paws for Ability:

• Ohio Northern University started the 4 Paws on Campus program in the fall of 2014 with their first dog Viking, and they currently have three dogs in the program on campus resulting in a total of six dogs fostered by ONU Students.

• The purpose of this program is to socialize and provide general obedience training to service dogs in training for 4 Paws for Ability located in Xenia, Ohio.

• Ohio Northern University students volunteer their time to foster a dog for an entire semester taking the dog everywhere they go on a daily basis including classes and businesses in order to socialize the dogs, additionally many hours are spent training the dogs on general obedience.

• Student volunteers allow 4 Paws for Ability to save in costs related to training and socializing the dogs. 4 Paws for Ability is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to place quality service dogs with children with disabilities and veterans who have lost use of limbs or hearing; help with animal rescue, and educate the public regarding use of service dogs in public places.

PHOTO DESCRIPTIONS

Photo 1: Second grade students interacting with Roslin
Photo 2: (Left to Right) Matthew Sutton with Ziggy, Michael Hackelman with Avis and Katelyn Avers with Roslin
Photo 3: Second grade students interacting with Ziggy
Photo 4: Roslin giving puppy raiser Katelyn a high five
Photo 5: Second grade students interacting with Aivas