In the upcoming future, Sinclair Community College will be offering a Dogs on Campus Club, which will give students the opportunity to socialize future service dogs through Four Paws for Ability.<\/p>\n
Students are able to sign up now, but the club has not formally started.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe may not get it started until January, but we\u2019d like to get some dogs in, if possible, this fall,\u201d Carolyn Worthen, Vet Tech program director and club advisor said.<\/p>\n
She said there are three club positions available, which includes a handler, co-handler and pet sitter.<\/p>\n
A handler will mainly be responsible for the dog, but a co-handler will also be assigned to help if the handler is unavailable at times. Pet sitter positions are also an option to students and faculty and staff members of Sinclair. Pet sitters are available if handler and co-handlers are unavailable for short periods of time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe handler will basically be 24\/7 with the dog and that\u2019s why we have co-handlers, so we can ease that burden a little bit,\u201d Wothen said. \u201cThe dog will go everywhere with them; to class, if they\u2019ve okayed it with the professor ahead of time, to the store, to restaurants \u2014 everywhere. Everywhere that they go, the dog will go with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not everyone who signs up will become a handler. A candidate for a handler or co-handler position must go through an application and interview process, home inspection, orientation and temperament test if the candidate has other animals present in the house.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey (handler candidates) need to have experience with dogs. They need to be at least experienced in some obedience training. They need to be open and available to taking the dogs just about everywhere with them, they need to have a schedule that will allow that. They have to have a home environment that\u2019s safe with the animal and obviously if you rent a place, landlord needs to know about it,\u201d she said. \u201cTo start the program, we are going to look for people who are pretty experienced in this and as people come up through the club, they will know more and will be more likely to get a position as a handler or co-handler.\u201d<\/p>\n
If a person wishes to join the club without being a handler, co-handler or pet sitter, the option is available. Members are able to join the handlers at mandatory obedience classes every two weeks.<\/p>\n
The breeds of dogs featured in the club could be a standard poodle, golden or Labrador retriever or Papillion.<\/p>\n
She said the dogs will be between 6 and 12 months in age, could be mostly potty trained, kennel and obedience trained and will know basic commands. Handlers will be expected to continue this training and will be responsible for the dogs between 11 and 14 weeks.<\/p>\n
All dogs will be current on their vaccinations and worming, but some may be more hypoallergenic.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt (the dog) may go back for further training, it may then move into the next segment, which is training specifically for a child or veteran,\u201d she said. \u201cSo that\u2019s what these dogs are primarily being socialized for. They like them to have lots of socialization.\u201d To join the club, students must pay a $20 fee. Four Paws for Ability will provide handlers with all supplies needed for the dogs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes about $22,000 to train these dogs, they\u2019re bred specifically for this purpose, they\u2019re bred for temperament,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She said when the club starts and the dogs will be seen around campus, rules will need to be followed on how other students must behave around the dogs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe prefer they not be pet unless the handler has okayed that, so ask before petting. They cannot get any food or treats other than their own food and treats, which the handler has control of,\u201d Worthen said. \u201cWe want them to have a good experience here, that\u2019s our job to make sure they do.\u201d<\/p>\n