At Sunday church services three years ago, Carolyn Place of Independence Township noticed something unusual.
‘Here walks in a woman and a dog,? Place said.
She had owned dogs all her life, but wasn’t in the habit of bringing them to church. Talking with the woman, Chris Wellsandt, Place learned she was a puppy raiser with Paws with a Cause, helping train a future assistance dog.
‘The first lesson (at church) was ‘what is your mission in life,?? she said. ‘I had a calling ? I thought, ‘you can do this, you’ve had dogs.? I investigated it and got involved.?
Paws with a Cause trains and provides assistance dogs for those with disabilities.
‘It gives people their independence,? Place said.
For example, if a client drops a pencil, the dog picks it up. At a store, it takes a credit card in its mouth from a person confined to a wheelchair, put the paws up on a counter, and hand it to the cashier.
But before they can do that, Paws with a Cause needs people’s help. They need volunteers who can foster puppies, socializing and house training them.
When they’re old enough, they get sent to ‘college,? Paws headquarters in Wayland.
‘They get 6-9 months of intense training,? Place said.
Dogs first learn how to retrieve items such as credit cards, keys, money, and telephones, open and close doors, pull wheelchairs.
Then they are matched to a client and taught skills specific to the client’s needs.
‘They can be taught to pull up bed covers, remove shoes and socks, put clothes in the washing machine ? it’s incredible what can be taught,? Place said.
The client and dog are then trained together in the client’s home.
Service dogs are recertified every 18 months, to ensure they can meet clients? developing needs.
Puppy raisers are an important part of the process, with important duties ? they train them in 20 basic commands, such as ‘sit,? ‘stay,? and, ‘break,? to go outside independently to answer the call of nature.
They must be trained to stay off furniture, no jumping up on people, no begging.
‘We have to make sure they don’t learn bad behavior,? Place said.
When trained, the dog is worth about $20,000. Clients don’t pay, but must undergo a rigorous application process. After submitting an application, Paws people meets with applicants and their families with a demonstration dog for a videotaped meeting.
Then, a three-person panel at headquarters makes the final decision.
‘It’s a really involved situation,? Place said. ‘It can take up to nine months from application to dog.?
The working life of a service dogs is from about 2 1/2 years to about 9 years old. They can then retire, becoming a pet with the client’s family or even the dog’s puppy trainer.
Puppy raisers also go through an application process. They aren’t required to be trained experts in dogs or have specialized training equipment, she said.
‘You don’t have to be a trainer ? you just have to love dogs and want to do a service,? she said.
Puppy raisers socialize the young dogs by taking them to parks, stores, church, theaters, businesses, everywhere they go.
‘The socialization part is terrific,? she said. ‘When I’m out with the dogs, it’s rare that someone doesn’t see them and smile.?
The dogs wear coats identifying them with Paws With a Cause. This should grant them access to places a trained service dog is allowed to go, which is everywhere.
‘We’re rarely turned away,? she said.
They are required to attend monthly Paws outings in Auburn Hills. There, dogs socialize with other dogs, and trainers receive tips and suggestions from Paws people.
‘They’re there to help you,? Place said.
When training is complete, the dogs go to headquarters for advanced training.
‘You know from day one, that’s not your dog,? she said. ‘You cry when they leave you, but they’re going on to a life of service ? you think of what this dog will do for this handicapped person.?
Place and her husband, Don Place, brought four Paws dogs into their home so far. Carolyn Place’s first two, Zorro and Slate, were black labrador retrievers, one of her favorite breeds.
Zorro lives with a blind woman in Maine.
‘She now lives in an apartment by herself, and works a parttime job, all because of Zorro,? Place said. ‘He’s her eyes.?
Slate is the son of Wellsandt’s Paws dog, Flicka. After a career change, he serves with the Border Patrol in Florida, sniffing out illegal immigrants and narcotics.
‘He’s now Officer Slate,? Place said.
Because of his Paws training, he lives at his human partner’s home, she said.
She is training two female yellow Labrador retrievers, Hope and Star.
‘They’re my first yellow labs,? she said. ‘They’re so smart, so easy to train.?
Hope is destined to be a breed dog for Paws ? six litters, then she can retire.
‘The person who walks all her puppies gets to keep her,? Place said.
Star is on track to become a Paws service dog, she said.
She takes her Paws dogs to schools and events such as Salute to Safety in Independence Township.
‘They attract kids like magnets,? she said.
For more information, call Paws With a Cause regional office 248-844-5656 or check www.pawswithacause.org.