At its April meeting, the Lebanon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) learned about the jobs that service dogs perform. The group was visited by Lovell, a black Labrador retriever, and his owner, Inky Byers of Susquehanna Service Dogs.
As part of more than 25 nonverbal cues, Lovell demonstrated how he can push the button of a handicapped-accessible door and turn on and off a light switch. Positive reinforcement, such as treats, is used to train Lovell and other Susquehanna Service Dogs to help those with disabilities.
Byers, accompanied by Lovell, volunteers his time educating groups about the Susquehanna Service Dogs program. Lovell's fellow dogs, who have gone through two or more years of intense training and successful testing, can assist a human partner in having a more independent life. Some dogs have even gone on, after additional training, to work for the CIA in bomb sniffing and other jobs.
Byers explained that human partners - whether children or adults, veterans or civilians - each pay approximately $5,000 to secure a service dog. However, it takes approximately $30,000 for each dog to be bred, fed, checked by a veterinarian at least twice a year, trained, and tested within the first two to three years of their life. The difference is made up by donations. To donate, readers may visit http://www.keystonehumanservices.org/susquehanna-service-dogs.
Lebanon DAR members have also been involved in another service that uses dogs to help people. At the state level, DAR members across Pennsylvania support veterans through drawings and events and donate to Alpha Bravo Canine, a nonprofit organization that depends on donations to match a dog with a veteran. There is no cost to the veteran.
For more information about the Lebanon Chapter of the DAR, readers may contact Bonnie Loy, the organization's registrar, at bloydar@comcast.net.
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