“How could I not raise a service dog?”

Guest post by Meghan Miller. She and her husband have raised SSD London and are currently raising SSD Garnet and SSD Slider.

How? 

It's the number one question I am asked as a puppy raiser for SSD. How long do you raise them? How much do they pay you? How can I get involved? And both my most frequently asked and the most heart wrenching: How can you give them up? 

Before our first dog was placed, all I could say was, "I don't know but it will be worth it."  Now that we have said our goodbyes and our boy has started the life he was meant for, my first thought is “Don’t cry.” And I usually say, “It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.”  The truth of the matter is that it is extremely hard to give up your dog. You try to tell yourself they never belonged to you, but after 18 months of training and cuddles and puppy kisses, they certainly feel like your dog. 

The question I am always waiting for, but rarely asked, is why?  Some raisers do this as a way to teach their child about volunteerism, or because they want to make a change in someone's life, or because they love dogs, or because they love the mission of SSD. Our reasons were originally far more selfish:  I found myself on an impossible phone call one day while living in Portland, Oregon. Three thousand miles away, my best friend had received potentially terrifying news from her doctors. "They are talking about the big C," she whispered—cancer. We couldn't even say the word. It was one of those moments where the world came to a screeching yet silent halt, the kind you find yourself gripping the counter so you don't go flying off. A moment you know will affect you in a profound way, but one you have no control over.

I'm the type of person who likes to have control over the every possible detail, so I found myself bargaining with God, Buddha, the universe, anyone and everyone who would listen. I was doing dozens of good deeds each day, from holding doors for the person who's about 30 feet out of appropriate door holding range, to moving slugs into shadier spots on the side walk, to giving out money and granola bars to homeless people. I seized every opportunity, reaping almost instant reward - no one had better luck than me. But what I was hoping for was some karma to be sent back east to my best friend.

When my husband and I moved back to PA, we started raising for SSD, hoping that fundamentally changing the life of a person in need would provide the necessary cosmic debt to reverse my friend’s ill-boding omens. I was handed a chubby ball of fluff, a licking machine named SSD London. I could outline how much and why I love SSD London in great detail, but this story isn't about falling in love – it’s about finding incredible satisfaction among equally incredible heartbreak. When I dropped him off at the kennel on the final night before Team Training, I cried the whole way there and sobbed the whole way back. I had prepared myself for the pain that would come with being raiser, even cautioning myself that it would be worse than I imagined. And it was. So. Much. Worse.

But a funny thing happened over the next two weeks as I watched my dog fall in love with his new partner. Just hearing the stories about them absolutely wasn't enough. I still thought, "It's impossible for someone to love him more than I do."  But the moment I saw her, the newest love of London's life, sleeping on “my” dog, was the moment I truly understood he was never my dog.

We were lucky enough to share a meal with London’s forever family and hear all their hopes and concerns about bringing a new dog into their life, one for which they had been waiting for over four years. At the end of the night I kissed my boy goodbye and wished them well, and once again sobbed the whole way home. 

Since then we've kept in touch. I have been able to watch London give his partner a whole new life - new freedoms, new responsibilities, and new dreams.  I have watched other teams stop seizures, help with walking, and open doors both literally and figuratively. Every interaction between dog and partner has been worth the tears I shed when I said goodbye. When I am at my wit’s end or feeling discouraged, I cling to the knowledge that I have made a real and lasting positive impact on someone's life.

The night we learned that London would be starting Advanced Training was also the night I received a text message with a picture of my friend's clean bill of health. By that time we had started a new journey with a second dog. My friend was sure to thank us for raising them, citing our dogs as the reason for her good karma.

And so we give up "our" dogs.  We raise them for the friend I couldn't help and for the family we could. For the mission statement. For the community of raisers, sitters and huggers. For the opportunity to teach about giving. For a shorter waiting period for the next partner. For another dog in the house. For the opportunity to change a life.  So in the end, the answer to that constant “How” question is just another question.

How could I not?

Join Meghan and Susquehanna Service Dogs for the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community on May 16. 

Event Details

When

Saturday, May 16

On-site registration starts at 7:45 a.m.

5K Walk begins at 9 a.m.

One-Mile Fun Walk begins at 9:15 a.m.

Where

Harrisburg Area Community College

1 HACC Drive

Harrisburg, PA 17110

Registration

Sign up for the walk

Our Advanced Training Dogs Go Orange 4 Owen

Our dogs in advanced training were sporting orange bandannas today while they worked on their service dog skills at Giant.

The orange was part of CBS21’s Orange Out today to support Owen’s Foundation, which raises awareness about the consequences of distracted driving. The foundation was started after 8-year-old Owen Brezitski was killed by a distracted driver as he was crossing the road with his family.

Two of our dogs in advanced training—SSD Oboe and SSD Olympia—are part of Owen’s Litter, the puppies named by Owen’s family. Oboe and Olympia both wore the orange bandanna as they trotted through Giant.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, our dogs in advanced training leave the kennel to practice their skills in public at places like Giant, the Colonial Park Mall, the Harrisburg Mall, and Target. We have a great group of volunteers who work with the dogs in public. (Check back next week during National Volunteer Week for a blog post about our public volunteers!)

Today, we went to Giant on Linglestown Road, and the dogs spent two hours walking around. Check out these photos of the dogs at work.

SSD Olympia practices "under" beneath a table of baked goods. 

SSD Hank keeps his attention on his handler. Just before this, he was working on the cue "lap," where he rests his front legs in his handler's lap.

SSD Cove rests while her handler looks at produce. 

SSD Beaker (front) and SSD Cove relax in down-stays while their handlers shop.

SSD Brickle practices working beside a shopping cart.

SSD Oboe sits in the food court/lounge area and ignores the activity around him.

SSD Nola also practices working beside a shopping cart. 

SSD Mali stays under the table. 

SSD Bridge chills out in his balance harness after practicing walking next to his handler. 

SSD Mint sits and ignores the food behind her.

Working in public is an important part of the dogs’ training. Once they’re placed with their person, they will accompany them almost everywhere. The dogs will need to be comfortable working in any environment so they can continue to assist their partners no matter what situation arises. 

Grocery stores can be especially challenging for dogs in training. In the produce aisle, there may be small pieces of vegetables or fruit on the floor that they have to ignore. They need to ignore the other shoppers, as well as the products on the shelves. No free sniffs! 

The dogs in advanced training did very well working at Giant! 

I #WalkforSSD to make a difference

Guest blog post by Nicole Slabonik. She and her mom are currently raising their fifth dog for Susquehanna Service Dogs.They're walking in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community to support SSD. Want to join them and #WalkforSSD? Sign up for the walk!

Hello everyone, I am Nicole Slabonik and I have been a puppy raiser for Susquehanna Service Dogs for about five years now. I started raising service dogs when I was 10, but a few months before that my mom and I did puppy sitting for raisers. 

SSD is one of the most amazing programs to be a part of. Many times you might hear some of us say we are a big family. Since my mom and I started in 2010, we have raised 5 dogs. We have had Discharged SSD Tanzanite, Discharged SSD Rizzo the Rat, SSD Nitrogen, Discharged SSD Drizzle, and currently we are raising SSD Elwood.

I usually get asked in public why I raise these dogs or how am I able to give a dog up after having them for about two years.  Since I’ve been with SSD for 5 years now, the questions are easier to answer. I raise service dogs because of the partners and the puppy raisers I get to meet along the way. Before my mom and I started raising service dogs for SSD, we helped out with team training. We were hesitant about becoming puppy raisers, but after we spent our time volunteering, there was no more hesitation about whether we wanted to become raisers. Being able to spend a week watching partners interact with their service dogs and work together was so amazing to experience. We were certain we could give these dogs up because we knew these service dogs would help someone in need.

On May 16, we’re going to participate in an event called the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community to help support and raise money for SSD. My mom and I walk to help create a better life for the adults and children with disabilities. I also walk to help support my family members with disabilities like my cousin who has autism and is partially deaf in one ear, or my cousin who has Down syndrome, and also my grandmother who passed away with multiple sclerosis and made her way around in a wheelchair. SSD raises, trains, and places these service dogs to help children and adults who have physical disabilities, mental illness, autism, hearing loss, and we also help military veterans. Training one of these dogs takes about two years to fully train, and they are all trained specifically for their partners needs throughout advanced training. Some people never really realize this until they see a team in action, but these dogs are truly amazing and can completely change someone’s life in the blink of an eye.

Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community

Event Details

When

Saturday, May 16

On-site registration starts at 7:45 a.m.

5K Walk begins at 9 a.m.

One-Mile Fun Walk begins at 9:15 a.m.

Where

Harrisburg Area Community College

1 HACC Drive

Harrisburg, PA 17110

Registration

Sign up for the walk

Why I #WalkforSSD in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community

Guest blog post by Stacy Tarkowski. Stacy and her family are puppy raisers, raising SSD Ellie. They’re walking in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community to support Susquehanna Service Dogs. Want to join them and #WalkforSSD, too? Sign up online to join the walk.

Though I was born and raised in Central PA, I've been out of the region for almost 20 years. Shortly after I returned home to PA, I was introduced to Susquehanna Service Dogs through a friend who'd gone to work with the organization. I've always been an avid animal lover and, in the background of my mind, I was aware of the existence of service animals but had never given much thought to them before learning about SSD.

The more I learned about this organization, the more I began to admire what it does. Susquehanna Service Dogs asks volunteers to raise their puppies and attend classes to train the pups, teaching them loose-leash walking, several basic cues and good house manners. At around 18 months old, the dogs leave their raisers during the week and attend advanced training where they work one-on- one with professional trainers to prepare for life as working dogs.  Once they're ready, the dogs are placed in many different environments:  providing confidence to a child with autism, supporting a soldier suffering from PTSD, or simply providing companionship to someone in need. The brilliance of these animals - combined with the dedication and support of the SSD community - make Susquehanna Service Dogs an amazing organization and one I am proud to volunteer for. 

My family started puppy sitting for SSD after we lost our beloved family dog to bone cancer. Through much pleading and convincing from my 17-year-old daughter, Emma, we recently decided to become puppy raisers. Emma is a high school senior, deciding whether to go to school for veterinary sciences and one day open her own clinic or going to school for animal psychology and working somewhere fun like SeaWorld, training their dolphins and whales. In either journey, volunteer opportunities like raising a service dog are great experiences for her - and for us!

Emma and I are raising SSD Ellie (with very much support from my husband and 14-year-old son), a female yellow lab born in December 2014. Ellie is full of energy and takes much of ours. But the energy she brings into our house is positive, happy energy and she has taught us so much as we work on teaching her to become a working dog. It's tough work, but it's rewarding work. I love seeing how excited Emma gets when SSD Ellie has mastered a cue! Few things I've done as a parent have provided as much of a lesson in responsibility and accountability as raising this puppy. I'm very grateful Emma convinced us to do it because it's deeply rewarding.

That's why I'm walking for Susquehanna Service Dogs in the upcoming Highmark Walk. I'm walking because my family believes in SSD and what they do for others. I'm walking because we're raising SSD Ellie and she's teaching us as much as we're teaching her. Now, if you'll excuse me, SSD Ellie and I still have to work on her loose-leash walking. The Highmark walk will be here soon!

Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community

Event Details

When

Saturday, May 16

On-site registration starts at 7:45 a.m.

5K Walk begins at 9 a.m.

One-Mile Fun Walk begins at 9:15 a.m.

Where

Harrisburg Area Community College

1 HACC Drive

Harrisburg, PA 17110

Registration

Sign up for the walk

Eva’s First Litter Has Arrived!

Do you remember SSD Eva, the dog who joined Susquehanna Service Dogs from Guide Dogs Queensland in Australia? She just had her first litter of puppies! Meet the F Litter: Forte, Freya, Fitz, Frankie, and Finnick! These five puppies were born on Saturday, February 21, and they’re growing quickly.

You can watch them on the puppy cam.

The F puppies have a big future ahead of them. Eva and her puppies are part of the Assistance Dogs International’s North America Breeding Cooperative (ABC). ABC is a group of service dog organizations throughout North America that are dedicated to producing quality service dogs. The co-op helps strengthen the genetic lines of our service dogs so the dogs we raise and train are the ones who are best suited to service dog work.

Half of Eva’s puppies will be raised here at SSD and the others will go to other ABC members to start their service dog journey.

When Eva first joined us a little over a year ago, some of you donated $3,455 to support Eva and her future service dogs. Thank you to everyone who contributed!

Would you like to continue to support Forte, Freya, Fitz, Frankie, and Finnick as they grow into service dogs? You can make a donation online.

We’re looking forward to watching these five puppies grow into service dogs and change  lives! 

Fulfilling Their Destiny

Guest blog post by Carolann Shiley, puppy raiser and sitter

It was 8 years ago that my shy, quiet middle child of 14 years old asked me the ultimate question – can we raise a service dog? We hadn’t had a family pet in a few years and I wasn’t sure I was ready for another animal in our home. Feeling guilty about denying him something he truly felt passionate about, I reluctantly agreed to give it a shot. I knew nothing at all about Susquehanna Service Dogs (SSD) when I researched programs that would satisfy his interest. We reached out at the right time and barely a month later, SSD plopped a furry yellow puppy into our arms. We were instantly in love. Who wouldn’t be? With her adorable purple handkerchief around her neck, she looked exactly like the “No Fleas on Me” dog from the famous commercials.

Juniper

I had no idea how much our life would change when SSD Juniper joined us that spring. I was clear with my son that this was not a ‘mom’ project and he would be expected to keep up his end of the agreement. He was responsible for helping with feeding, walking, training, and engaging in the life of the puppy. More importantly, I stressed to him that he would be responsible for answering questions about why we had a dog in tow when we were at stores, restaurants, etc. With a more reserved personality, I knew this would be a challenge for him and I was prepared to back him up in hard times. I couldn’t have predicted what would happen as we grew with our puppy.

One day, I found myself staring at my son in Walmart when he was approached by a woman who wanted to know more about why we had a puppy in the store. Proudly, he explained what we were doing and why we were doing it. There was no hesitation, no shortness of words, and no lack of passion for his service puppy. At that moment, I realized that just as we were hoping SSD Juniper would go on to do great things for someone else, she was already doing something great for my son. She was pulling him from his shell and turning him into a more outgoing, outspoken child.

Time passed, SSD Juniper grew up, and she continued to provide us with amazing experiences as we prepared for her to enter advanced training. Dropping her off at the kennel was bittersweet. We knew it was something we had been working toward but we also knew there would be emptiness in our home when we returned. The first week was grueling. We waited patiently to see her after her training session on Friday and we were super excited to pick her up. She was even MORE excited to see us.

It turned out that kennel life and service dog life wasn’t something that suited SSD Juniper and she was eventually discharged from the program. We quickly agreed to adopt her and continue to love her as our family pet. When asked if I would raise another puppy, I declined. I was concerned about how Juniper would react when a new puppy entered our home and essentially took over her spot as the dog that got to go places with us all the time. I did, however, agree to be a puppy sitter and a temporary puppy raiser if there was a need.

We saw many puppies come and go over the course of a couple years and each one touched our hearts in ways we will never forget. We had one who gently walked Juniper around the house while she was on her leash, sort of like he “owned” her. We had one who took great pride in uncovering my children bright and early each morning to get their day started; they were not so thrilled with the wake-up calls. We had one who came to us in need of a longer stay. She was such a happy puppy that she ended up with what we dubbed Happy Tail Syndrome. She split open the tip of her tail and it would never be the same again. Eventually, they had to amputate part of her tail to help her heal. To this day, we still joke that if the CSI team came in with Luminol and sprayed it around, they would think we had a murder in here when the blood traces from the many, many times her actively bleeding (and wagging ferociously) tail was spraying blood all over my walls! Still, we loved them all.

Then the time came. My children were growing up, I had been through a divorce, and I was ready to take on another full time puppy. Enter SSD Reykjavik. Yes, you read that right. Reykjavik, capital of Iceland. The litter’s theme was Country Capitals. I could have gotten Ottawa, London, Berlin, Kingston…but I got Reykjavik. Not only was it hard to say, it was hard to spell, too!

SSD Reykjavik brought new life to our family. He had puppy energy and a dangerous pouty face that made you instantly fall in love, no matter what kind of puppy trouble he was getting into. This time, I went through the program without formally including my son. It didn’t matter, though. By this time, we were in it as a family. Everyone contributed and we all took turns at training Reyky with hopes of preparing him for future service dog life. Reyky charmed everyone he came in contact with: my family, my coworkers, strangers on the street.

As we progressed with Reyky, we could tell he was something special. He oozed with snuggling affection that he wanted to give to whoever would take it. He would, undoubtedly, be a great companion for someone in need. After a brief period where SSD contemplated breeding Reyky, Advanced Training arrived. We were very excited for Reyky and confident he would do well. Unfortunately, he had an unexpected incident that made him ineligible to be placed with a partner. I was devastated. I couldn’t process what had happened to my perfect puppy. I was at a loss for words as I tried to explain to my family, friends,and coworkers what had happened to the wonderful dog they all knew and loved. With a discharged dog, comes a decision – adopt or not adopt. I couldn’t possibly let anyone else adopt Reyky but I also knew that meant no more SSD puppies for me. Three dogs in my small house would be impossible. I also had the same hesitation I felt with Juniper. What would Reyky think?

But then there’s Becky: lovable, sweet, funny, very convincing Becky. Immediately she asked if I would consider another puppy. My gut said no and I responded as such; then, I waivered. There was a puppy that needed me. SSD Luna was coming back from a litter with another program and wouldn’t have any littermates here. I agreed to take her when I returned from a road trip with my daughter. Before we left, we had Luna for an overnight stay. As with any puppy, there was instant love. It felt right. I knew I was doing the right thing.

SSD Luna

It’s been about 2 months since SSD Luna joined our family. I thought I had learned it all from previous puppies, but I’ve found that there is always something new to learn. This time, I am learning lessons from both her and my sweet, discharged Reyky. While Juniper has grown used to puppies coming and going, she isn’t very fond of them in their high energy, bite-bite-bite stages of play. She prefers that they mature into low key dogs who don’t invade her space. Reyky, on the other hand, immediately adopted Luna as his little sister. He put up with ears, lips, and a tail constantly having a puppy attached. He endured her never ending kisses. He shared his toys, his sleeping space, even his crate was sacrificed for the new puppy. He never floundered. He took it upon himself to make sure Luna had a playmate as well as a watchful eye on her when she needed it.

Reyky and SSD Luna

Everyone told me that discharged dogs aren’t failures, they are just meant to do something other than provide a service to a person in need. I now know exactly what that means. SSD Reykjavik was discharged into my family to provide the foundation for Miss SSD Luna. He is, without a doubt, the littermate she needed since her own littermates had a different path than she did. It warms my heart to see them snuggled together every chance they get. Luna feels the comfort and protection of Reyky and Reyky gets to provide the snuggling he enjoys so much. It’s a match that was made out of pure coincidence and great timing but, no doubt, as part of destiny, too!

Reyky and SSD Luna

Want to be a puppy raiser? Apply online!

Walk to Support Susquehanna Service Dogs

SSD Ellie is working hard on her loose leash walking. She’ll need it in just under three months when she walks in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community on May 16 at Harrisburg Area Community College.

Susquehanna Service Dogs is one of 46 organizations participating in the Highmark Walk. Last year, 178 people joined us for the walk and helped raise $22,994!

This year, our goal is $30,000. One hundred percent of the money raised will go directly to SSD because Highmark Blue Shield generously underwrites the cost of the walk. That means that every dollar you donate and raise will help train dogs like little Ellie to become working service dogs, like SSD Aussie, SSD Dingo, SSD Newman, and SSD Vicki who are learning to work with their new partners right now.

These service dogs are changing lives and you can help by joining the Highmark Walk.

As a thank you, we’re giving the first 100 people to sign up a coupon to Perkins, donated by Perkins Restaurant and Bakery.

How can you participate? 

• Sign up for the walk, raise money, and walk on May 16.
• Be a virtual walker. This is a great way to participate, even if you can’t make it on May 16!
• Make a donation.

We hope you’ll join Ellie and the rest of us for the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community!