Listen Here
By Morgan Wissinger, WissingerM@Findlay.edu
With the hustle and bustle of campus life coming back to life this fall semester, students are settling into their routines. Among them are primary handlers from the 4Paws program, seen walking across the University of Findlay campus with their fluffy service-dogs-in-training (SDITs).
But why are these dogs only seen in academic buildings? Keira King, a sophomore primary handler, sheds some light.
“Any service dog in training is technically allowed to be in any location an actual service dog is,” King said. “Since all academic buildings here are public facilities, where people primarily go to learn and pursue an education, kind of like a school building, the SDITs are allowed in there as long as whoever is in there has obtained permission first from the professor and faculty running that department.”
Alexis Bishop, a senior primary handler, adds further insight.
“They are allowed in all of the academic buildings,” Bishop said. “We cannot let them off leash because it’s a safety thing. They are not supposed to be off leash no matter what, unless you’re in the housing that you live in.”
On campus, the 4Paws dogs are allowed in specific housing options like the Cottages, Townhouses, Oiler Point, and UF houses. However, they are not permitted in the dorm halls.
“They are allowed in a couple residential buildings on campus, such as the Cottages and apartments, but they are not allowed in the dorm rooms,” King said. “That’s probably more for campus policy. But honestly, I do think that 4Paws dogs kind of benefit better from having a more home-like place to live.”
As for why the dorms are off-limits, handlers do not know the complete reasoning.
“They don’t give us a good reason why. We are thinking that it’s because it’s too small of a living space and they’re not specifically trained for a task; and since they’re still trained for manners, such as potty training.” Bishop said. “They don’t want them to be destructive to the environment. They don’t want them ruining the furniture, the floors, and stuff like that.”
Despite the restrictions in certain housing areas, the 4Paws program has a far-reaching impact. The program is currently looking for volunteers and secondary handlers.
