by Assumption University College Puppy Raiser Meghan Witt
How did you decide to become a NEADS College Puppy Raiser?
Puppy raising with NEADS was by far the peak of my college experience. Although I loved my school, I missed having four-legged friends around. Last semester, I attended an info session about NEADS puppy raising, and I decided to apply. I was already an executive of my school’s Disability Awareness Team, so I knew how impactful service dogs were for people with disabilities and knew that more awareness was needed. I knew this was the perfect program for me.
What can you tell us about Service Dog in Training Robert?
I consider my time with Robert nothing if not extraordinary. Knowing that he was only 8 months old, I expected an extremely rowdy puppy, but Robert was actually the opposite. There was nothing Robert enjoyed more than a good nap. When he did want to burn energy during “Free Time,” though, he was obsessed with his stuffed toys – primarily his stuffed pickle. He was brilliant and focused on the task at hand when we went to classes and the dining halls.
Do you have a favorite experience or story?
As RAs [resident advisors], we struggled with getting people out of their rooms and interacting with one another. That all changed when Robert came to campus. Nearly every night we had approximately ten girls sitting on the hallway floor participating in Robert’s “Free Time.” They would ask about the tasks he was learning and what he would do after his time at college. We built this strong community where everyone supported each other and cared for each other. He was the source of all this.
How has Robert impacted your daily life as a college student?
Robert taught me how to take it slow in life as at the beginning it took us quite some time to hike across campus. I had to head to my classes earlier which reduced stress. Classes became way more exciting as I had a little buddy to get through it with me. I got to take him everywhere but lab. He would go to duty and all school events with me, which caused so many more people to come and talk to me and ask all about him. It is hard to be extroverted with a NEADS Service Dog in Training, so thankfully I am not.
In what ways have your friends, fellow students, and the wider school community been impacted by Robert’s presence?
I had never talked to so many in my school community as I have with Robert. Teachers and college staff I had never met started talking to me to learn about Robert. My professors loved having him in class and considered him part of the class. My classmates told me that simply having Robert in the classroom made their days so much happier and less stressful. We even ended up being the discussion of a couple of campus tours while simply walking to class. Robert’s happy smile just made the campus a happier and more inclusive place.
NEADS organizes a “pod” of fellow students who assist with Robert. Can you explain how that has worked for you?
The NEADS College Raising program consists of the primary raiser (me) and a co-raiser along with two pet sitters. My friends took on these roles, as we all wanted to do the program and knew it would be easy to work alongside one another. They were able to watch Robert when I went to my science labs and when I went home some weekends. We used Robert’s field trips as our way of hanging out, and field trips quickly became really fun!
What has been your proudest accomplishment as Robert’s Puppy Raiser?
I was really proud of how focused and good Robert was on field trips. One of the biggest trips was going to a Woo Sox game, which had more foot traffic than we were used to. Robert did amazing and did not get overwhelmed. Instead, he continued to remain calm and do all his tasks. He watched the game in a “Down, Stay” position and then ended up dozing off. When we headed back that night, he was worn out and instantly went to bed. I was more than proud of him that night.
What advice do you have for students who might be considering becoming Puppy Raisers for NEADS?
First off, I would say do it! This was the best opportunity I could have asked for. Another thing, always remain confident and calm, as the dog will pick up on your body language and behave the same way. There were a few busier events where Robert was able to remain calm because I was calm. On top of that, make sure to make everything fun. The Service Dog in Training (SDiT) wants to listen and will be way more attentive if you make a game out of it and use a happy, peppy voice. Lastly, if you ever feel discouraged that your SDIT isn’t acting the way you expect, just keep sticking to it. When they do it right, you will be more than proud of both yourself
and the dog.
Any final words?
Just know every NEADS dog is special in its own way and know what you are doing will greatly change someone’s life someday. In a world that can be quite inaccessible, Service Dogs can add a great deal of mobility and accessibility to someone’s life.
