Therapetics Service Dogs of Oklahoma is looking for a few good dog lovers who also want to help other people.
A beautiful, buttery-yellow litter of Labrador puppies was born this month, the third for the Tulsa-based nonprofit agency's breeding program.
Executive director Susan Hartman said the group formerly received puppies donated from kennels, but that they began a breeding program two years ago "so we can have the healthiest puppy possible with the best temperament."
Volunteer coordinator Jenny McElyea said the days-old puppies already have a mission: to help those with physical disabilities lead more independent and happier lives.
Dogs are trained to open and close doors, pull a wheelchair, provide balance, turn lights off and on, retrieve dropped items, go get help, and more.
"It can take up to two years and more than $15,000 to train one of these extraordinary dogs for partnership," McElyea said.
Donors are at the heart of Therapetics, making it possible to place highly trained dogs with people who need them for no charge.
And volunteers play a critical role too, and not just with fundraising or special events but when a new litter of puppies arrives.
People are needed to serve as puppy raisers/trainers for the future superdogs.
Puppy raisers/trainers must:
* Attend training classes on a regular basis.
* Follow Therapetics training techniques and recommendations.
* Communicate about the puppy's behavior, good and bad.
* Provide a safe, consistent and enriched social environment.
* Be positive and engaging to the public as a representative of Therapetics.
* Have fun with the puppy and the organization.
You might just call the job "fostering a hero."
To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Therapetics, attend the seminar (see box), call McElyea at (918) 270-4226 or e-mail info@therapetics.org.
Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx?subjectid=425&articleid=20110124_17_D3_CUTLIN707021