MU| F e a t u r e s
W
hen Mary Lahman ’83
first broached the idea
of creating a service dog
program at Manchester
University, family and
friends warned her. Lahman, professor of
communication studies at MU, loves dogs, and
the people who knew her best saw some heartwrenching goodbyes in her future. “I get so
attached,” she says.
non-stressful environment that is good for
learning.”
But Lahman yearned for a way to honor her
friend Janet McElwee, who died in 2013. She
and Lahman used to walk their golden
retrievers together and dreamed for years that
they needed to raise goldens, known for their
gentleness, to promote world peace.
There are different levels of involvement in
the 4 Paws program. Pups live full time with
primary handlers like Lahman. Secondary
handlers can take the dogs for certain
activities, and pet-sitter handlers can provide
care and daily exercise if a primary handler
needs help. Faculty, staff and students can
apply for any of the three levels if they qualify
and are trained. Students can be primary
handlers if they live off campus and have
their landlord’s approval. MU student Allyson
Smith ’16 is a primary handler this fall.
In fall 2013, Lahman read about the service
dog program at Miami University in Oxford,
Ohio, where she earned her master’s degree.
There, 4 Paws of Ability involved Miami
students in training service dogs to help people
with a range of disabilities including autism,
seizures, diabetes and mobility limitations. The
puppies go to a prison first, where inmates
provide early care and basic training. Then the
service dog puppies head to universities for
further socialization and go nearly everywhere –
including classes – with their primary handlers.
In 2014, Manchester gave Lahman permission
to start a service dog program on the North
Manchester campus. She went to 4 Paws, based
in Xenia, Ohio, for training and MU became
one of the 13 universities in Ohio, Indiana
and Kentucky where 4 Paws has service dog
handlers. Etsy, an English golden retriever,
was Lahman’s first service dog in fall 2014.
Saks, a black golden-lab mix, was her constant
companion during the spring semester.
The MU program is growing. Sreenath
Majumder, associate professor of economics,
had a service dog on campus last spring. “It’s
such a noble cause,” says Majumder, who cared
for golden retriever Avril. A service dog in the
classroom, he says, “generates a comfortable and
VIDEO
See the video at
magazine.manchester.edu
“Our whole purpose is to socialize them,”
says Lahman, who keeps a crate in her office
and takes her service dog to class, meetings,
stores and church. On campus, students and
colleagues have embraced the dogs – literally.
“The support I feel here is amazing,” adds
Lahman.
A new student organization, spearheaded by
student Jeremy Williams, will further support
MU’s service dog program. “Having these
animals on campus has provided so many of
us with a surrogate for beloved pets left at
home,” says Williams. Saks, he notes, spent
a good bit of time in counseling services,
“offering a non-judgmental ear for those in
need.”
When it’s time to say goodbye, the dogs are
returned to 4 Paws to begin their lives of
service. Saks now lives in Montana, serving as
a seizure alert