They don’t call them man’s best friend for nothing, and NAU’s Office of Employee Assistance and Wellness recently provided a first-hand look at just how valuable these four-legged comrades can be.<\/p>\n
The group, which provides free services for NAU employees and their families for a variety of work-related concerns, recently sponsored a wellness program called “Who Is That Doggy in the Office.” There, a captive audience of dog-loving NAU employees learned the benefits of training service dogs.<\/p>\n
“We sponsored the program because we had a service-dog-in-training in our office for about a year, and it was a wonderful experience,” said\u00a0Tricia Fortin<\/strong>, health educator for Employee Assistance and Wellness. “We received so much interest and so many questions from other employees that we decided to inform more people of what a wonderful program Canine Co-Pilots is.”<\/p>\n Jana Edmondson, executive director of the local non-profit agency, Canine Co-Pilots, explained how her organization matches highly skilled assistance dogs with people who are disabled and in need of a service animal. Trainers typically spend between a year-and-a-half to two years bonding with and improving the dog’s skills. They are then paired with someone in need.<\/p>\n The specially trained dogs can help in a variety of different ways, such as alerting a deaf person when a smoke alarm is going off or helping to retrieve or carry items.<\/p>\n “Service dogs help increase a person’s independence so they rely less on attendant care,” Edmondson added.<\/p>\n Canine companionship, getting out more often and the inevitable conversations resulting from having a working dog in public combats loneliness, explained Edmondson, who has placed 10 service dogs since starting Canine Co-Pilots in 2004.<\/p>\n Fortin said having a dog in the office every day provided comfort and entertainment to the staff and also to clients, and hopes the workshop encourages others on campus to consider becoming a service dog trainer.<\/p>\n “It’s a wonderful way to volunteer and you have the chance to really make a difference in the lives of those in need,” she said. “As a trainer, you really get a lot out of it.”<\/p>\n For information about Canine Co-Pilots or to volunteer, visit\u00a0www.caninecopilots.com<\/a>\u00a0or call (877) 596-6366.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"