At Kent State, students can help train future service dogs on campus by exposing them to different scenarios to prepare them for assisting children and veterans with disabilities.

Paws for a Cause is affiliated with Paws for Ability in Xenia, Ohio. The student-run organization plays an important role in a service dog’s early development, ensuring the dogs are well socialized before they start advanced training.

Paws for a Cause works with about 15 to 20 different campuses around Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, with five dogs currently being trained at Kent. 

Kaitlyn Rice, vice president of the organization, got involved after finding the organization during Blastoff at the start of her freshman year. She is currently training Flora, a 1-year-old golden retriever mix. 

During socialization, the dogs go through an assessment at 6 months old to evaluate performance and address issues. 

Around 1 year old, they go through an advanced training evaluation, which decides if they can return to Paws for a Cause to be placed in a home, or experience more training.

While training, students are provided with gear, food, medication, a kennel and all possible vet bills are covered, Rice said. 

However, even with support and resources, not every dog completes the program, with an average of two out of three flunking out, Rice said.

Julia Reading, president of Paws for a Cause, explained that sometimes a dog may not be suited for service work due to not growing out of puppy behaviors like jumping or mouthiness. These dogs earn the title of “fabulous flunkies.” 

“Sometimes there’s a case where they’re just not meant to be a service dog,” Reading said.

Support animals help children and veterans with disabilities by assisting with seizure alerts, calming post-traumatic stress disorder breakdowns, grabbing medicine bags and attending to diabetic alerts. 

Beyond training, the organization also raises funds to help families afford service dogs, as price is the biggest obstacle ranging from $20,00-$40,000 per dog depending on the breed. 

“They do fundraising, and a lot of schools will help sponsor kids,” Reading said. 

Paws for a Cause accepts donations and often hosts auctions and raffles. 

Raising and training a service dog can be challenging, but Rice said the experience is rewarding. 

“At graduation, seeing the impact makes everything worth it,” she said. 

Sydney Craig is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].