Guest post by Lisa Edwards, partnered with SSD Phelps
This October, I successfully
obtained a service dog through Susquehanna Service Dogs. His name is SSD Phelps. SSD Phelps is a
gentle giant and he is attentive and supportive of my anxiety from PTSD due to
my military service. As we embarked on our journey together, it was clear to
the staff, volunteers, and other partners that Phelps was clearly allowing me to
gain confidence. Without the support from his whelping family, puppy raisers Katie
and Eddie, and with the army of support from staff, trainer, volunteers and
everyone who make SSD the organization that it is, Phelps and I could not have
made the strides that we have in changing my life. Phelps is my lifeline to the
world and has opened doors that I would have never dreamed could be open again.
When Phelps was born his whelping family made sure that he got used to lots of different sounds and objects. She
worked on socialization him with his siblings, essential training needed for newborn
puppies. After 8 weeks, she successfully transitioned Phelps to his puppy
raisers, Katie and Eddie, who were instrumental in preparing Phelps for a life
of service. They helped him learn basic cues, and then things I need him to do
for me. They orientated him to the
public and other animals and prepared Phelps for advanced training. For 2 years,
they went to puppy classes, progressing Phelps through the different stages of
training until Phelps was ready for advanced training. At the SSD facility, Phelps stayed at the kennel
Monday through Friday and went back to Katie and Eddie on the weekends where
they continued to work with him.
Once Phelps entered advanced training, Kara (one of SSD's trainers) took over his training to do specific tasked that I needed him
to do for me. She taught him lap,
squish, go behind, find the phone, find me, and other tasks. Phelps knew the cues when we started team
training. I believe it was easier to train Phelps than it was to train me. Kara could not do this alone. The other SSD staff made sure that Phelps was
ready for training every day and after training, they took care of him in the
evenings. They made sure he was fed, and
had time just to be a dog by allowing him to play with the other dogs in the
kennel with him.
None of this could not of
happened without the dedication of SSD
staff, and countless volunteers who made sure that Phelps made all his
veterinary appointments, transported him back and forth to different training
sites around Harrisburg, and watched him when his raisers left town. The fundraisers
that are set up throughout the year to support all the dogs in the program are
critical, as well as educating the community about what a service dog is and
where these dogs can go in public.
SSD Phelps has already made a
difference in my life. He has become the lifeline to a world that had been
closed off to me for many, many years. Phelps
and I have been to state parks that I had not been to in many years. We have
been to the movies, which I had not been to in 22 years. We have gone out to
eat. We have gone to many stores in my area, and have many more adventures
ahead of us. We even have some speaking engagements where I will educate people
on service dogs, service dog etiquette, and explain what SSD does and what
the process is for obtaining a service dog through them.
Phelps has given me a lifeline to
the world!
Help a dog help a veteran by donating to Susquehanna Service Dogs. SSD is in the middle of a capital campaign to build a new training facility to train and place life-changing service dogs. Your donation makes a difference and changes lives!
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