1

Running head: WILDCAT SERVICE DOGS

Wildcat Service Dogs Impact on Society and Culture

Payton Novak
University of Kentucky

WILDCAT SERVICE DOGS

Abstract

WILDCAT SERVICE DOGS

Wildcat Service Dogs Impact on Society and Culture

We see these puppies with the blue vests all around campus with common
generalizations; these dogs do nothing but work all day long. Common assumptions with service
dogs are that the handler must have something wrong with them, or these dogs only help blind
people. Wildcat Service Dogs (WSD) go beyond all these stereotypes portrayed by society.
The original founder Katie Skarvan never thought she would start an organization. She
trained a dog-named Graham on her own time through a woman in Louisville. Graham attended
classes with Katie, and people started to notice. More and more people came to Katie asking how
to get involved with service dogs until finally they had enough people. She figured why not start
an organization, and with the plethora of people it was founded fall 2011. WSD is a strong
community dedicated to training puppies for people in need of service. Being a puppy raiser is a
strong commitment with many benefits along with difficulties. The puppies they take care of do
not come trained, and it is a vigorous task to train them. Although this job seems difficult, the
outcome is beyond words of gratitude.

Puppy raisers are the initial trainers of these puppies and primary caretakers. However,
you must have a certain amount of points to become a puppy raiser. In WSD, members are
required to earn points by attending events; these events vary in what takes effect. For example,
there are events where they have police dogs come in with their trainers. Also the Bluegrass
Barkery, a trusted pet food source in Lexington, has come in to talk about a proper nutrition for
the dogs. Bluegrass Barkery only carries products with natural ingredients free of corn, wheat,
soy, bi-products, and chemical preservatives (Our Nutritional Philosophy). WSD also has fun
socialization events where members can teach the puppies new tricks. The organization tries to

WILDCAT SERVICE DOGS

have about five meetings a semester. If the person is a certified trainer then they are only
responsible to attain five points to stay active in the community. The minimum amount of points
to be a puppy raiser is ten points. On the other hand, if someone is not fully committed to
training a dog, then they can be a puppy sitter by obtaining only five points per semester.
Sitters are necessary when trainers are in class so the dogs are not left unattended and
make a nuisance of them selves. There have also been cases where puppy sitters have been too
lenient with the puppies while their trainers attend classes. One case last year a sitter was
reported to be handling the puppy too roughly and playfully, and were later removed from the
trainers list. WSD is very serious about making sure the trainers know this dog is not their own,
but is someone elses boon. One rule stands that the dogs are not allowed on the furniture. This
applies as a reminder to the trainer that this is not his or her own dog, but also because it is easier
to teach a dog to never go on furniture rather than to get off the furniture. Although the puppy
sitters watch the dogs temporarily, a puppy raiser is constantly training and correcting the dog.
The title puppy raiser comes with many responsibilities. To even be considered they
must attend the orientation meeting, two training classes for humans, two weekly training classes
with the dog, pass a handling evaluation and policy test, attend a socialization event, and lastly
take a program dog to class with the supervision of a trainer (About Us). Puppy raisers are
responsible for the training of the puppy along with food, grooming, treats, and veterinarian bills
as well. A background in training is not required whatsoever.
WSD teaches the puppy raisers as well as puppy sitters everything they must know. This
includes the basic commands such as down, sit, stay, touch, mark, and hit handicap buttons. One
of the most efficient ways of training is using the clicker, which is a handheld device that makes
a clicking sound so the puppy knows they did something correctly.

WILDCAT SERVICE DOGS

Service dogs can be very difficult to train; sometimes the dogs arent cut out to be service dogs.
For example, they may be reactive towards other dogs, have fear issues, be too hyper, or have
health problems. Many different factors play a roll in the behavior of the dog. One of the major
struggles of training a dog is staying positive and keeping your patience. The dogs have bad days
too, and will sometimes shut down on the trainer. If the puppy refuses to perform tasks they
usually preform effortlessly. Despite how unwilling the dog may be that day, the puppy raiser
should remain calm and not punish the dog. After about two to two and a half years of training,
these puppies move on to advanced training.
Organizations such as Assistance Dogs For Achieving (ADAI) continue with advanced
training a dog through a series of tests for two to three months of boot camp. These tests make
sure the dog will not be distracted while preforming their tasks. For instance, they put different
costumes on such as masks and hats. In addition to this, they try to expose the dogs to different
types of environments and noise levels. In advanced training, dogs also get exposure to
wheelchairs and walkers. Working with wheelchairs requires dogs to retrieve objects when they
are dropped (Service Dogs). The dogs will help with balance with a technique called bracing.
Bracing requires the dog to stand still and endure the weight of their partner. After passing the
evaluation test, the dogs move on to be placed with their forever person.
Service dogs help aid a wide variety of people. One group of people they help is people
who are artistic. Especially in public, these dogs are used to calm their owner down. They also
help soldiers with posttraumatic stress disorder that are having flashbacks from the war and need
to come back to reality. A new awareness that has come about is a diabetes awareness dog,
which could help alert others when the diabetic is experiencing hypoglycemia also known as low
blood sugar.

WILDCAT SERVICE DOGS

In one particular case, Katie trained Chevy to help a 14 year old boy named Miles who
posses Aspergers Disease. Miles also has cerebral palsy, brain bleeds, seizures, and migraines.
Chevy is trained to pick up dropped objects and hold it in his mouth until given the command to
release it. If Miles is uneasy, Chevy is prepared to brace him. In addition to this, he is trained to
bark and lay next to Miles when he has a seizure. This alerts others that something is wrong, and
comforts Miles when he wakes up from his seizure. Chevy is still evaluated through monthly
checkups to make sure he is still calm and focused. These dogs are not fixes, but they do help
mentally and physically. Not only the owners, but also the trainers become emotionally attached
to the service dogs.
After connecting with the puppies after years of training, it often becomes difficult to let
them go. Katie expressed how the puppy raisers have to go into this program knowing this dog is
not theirs. The dogs raised by Wildcat Service Dogs are someone elses gift. For Katie, giving a
dog to someone is the most gracious thing she could ever give. The people in need are in return
forever grateful of all the hard work and dedication put forth in training the dog. Not having the
puppy with the puppy raiser anymore constantly by their side is a big adjustment to overcome.
Many tears are shed in the process of giving up the dog, but the rewards outweigh the losses. The
public people also show appreciation for the organization.
Alex pointed out how having the dogs around campus helps the UK students as well.
They constantly have people come and ask to pet the dogs; which the dog has to sit first before
being pet. Petting the dog distresses students around campus and often helps cope with their
intense testing. Alex thinks it is great to see how interested the public is with the organization
and how thankful they are for what they are achieving. This has been one of the most enriching

WILDCAT SERVICE DOGS

things about college for him and reinforces his choice to be a doctor one day. Katie has been
even further influenced by Wildcat Service Dogs.
Being the founder of the organization, Katie was very sensitive to let it go since she had
fostered it from day one. She retired from her position as president her senior year due to some
growing pains within the group, but believes she grew more as a person since being away.
Learning from her mistakes especially, she claims not to be a perfect leader nor perfect herself.
Being a part of WSD and watching they impact her actions have on another persons life has
made her very selfless in all aspects of life. Katies biggest realization is that it is impossible to
please everyone. She is still training dogs upon graduating from UK and is involved with another
organization.
There are other organizations in Lexington who also interact with service dogs, but have
some differences. 4 Paws for Ability is another service dog organization in Lexington and is
similar to Wildcat Service Dogs with some differences. In particular, 4 Paws for Ability is more
responsible for the socialization of the dogs where WSD is required to socialize and train the dog
as well. The duration of time spent with the dog is also longer than 4 Paws for Ability. WSD
generally obtains the dog for a year and a half to two years unlike 4 Paws for Ability who houses
their puppies for a semester.
Researching the Wildcat Service Dogs community and culture has put my stereotypes to
rest. It was difficult to understand what types of services these dogs offer, let alone the vigorous
training they must endure. It is not easy to train a puppy that has a greater purpose, and there will
be times of doubt. In addition, the dogs will have their good days but their bad days as well
which requires a great deal of purpose. These dogs are not on the job all the time, and need time
to be a dog as well. Despite the difference in Wildcat Service Dogs and 4 Paws for Ability, both

WILDCAT SERVICE DOGS

are achieving a greater cause to help people in need. Interacting with service dogs is a rewarding
experience for all participants including the puppy raisers, puppy sitters, owners, and even
students on campus. This organization shapes the lives of all of those who are involved.

WILDCAT SERVICE DOGS

References
About Us. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wildcatservicedogs.org/about-us/

Our Nutritional Philosophy. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.bluegrassbarkery.com/#!about/c1wk9

Puppy Raisers. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://4pawsforability.org/foster-a-puppy-house-abreeding-dog/

Service Dogs. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.abilitycenter.org/programs-andservices/assistance-dogs-of-america-program#top