When your school’s athletic mascot is a dog and your nickname is “the Volunteers,” it only makes sense to blend the two together and that’s just what a group of University of Tennessee, Knoxville students are doing.
Students from UT’s Honors & Scholars Programs and Haslam College of Business have partnered alongside Smoky Mountain Service Dogs (SMSD) to become the first cohort of UT students socializing puppies as part of the dogs’ training towards becoming service animals.
“I am pleased to announce our exceptional UTK students have completed training and are now ready to embark on an exciting journey of socializing puppies for Smoky Mountain Service Dogs,” said Amber Williams, Vice Provost for Student Success. “This program embodies the spirit of volunteering and fostering collaboration across multiple colleges and departments, especially with our veterans and veterinarians, and brings me such immense joy and excitement!”
After completing 12 hours of rigorous online training and an additional eight hours of hands-on training with members of SMSD, the students will move on to working directly with the puppies. They will meet with their furry companions each Tuesday throughout the semester and will socialize the puppies by taking them through campus and into classrooms, getting the dogs used to being around people and crowds of all shapes and sizes.
By utilizing students, the dogs can help be exposed to different environments than what the normal service trainers might have in mind. “Many of our long-term volunteers are seniors; they live pretty predictable lives,” said Amy Clugg, faculty lecturer at the Haslam College of Business’ Department of Marketing and SMSD volunteer. “(The regular volunteers) are incredible in terms of raising these puppies but (the puppies) are not getting a diversity of experiences: ages, situations, environments, youthful energy, sporting events, elevators, library, classes and more!”
Founded in 2010, the Smoky Mountain Service Dogs provide mobility support dogs for other-abled military and first responder veterans. A fully accredited institution by Assistance Dogs International, SMSD has placed 60 dogs and worked with 55 U.S. veterans.
In addition to the Honors and Haslam students, SMSD will also partner with other departments throughout UT and the Division of Student Success, including the Veterans Success Center, ROTC and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
“It’s a magical realization of a small idea and a tremendous school where the volunteer experience is alive and well,” said Clugg.
ABOUT UT
The University of Tennessee is a statewide system of higher education with campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and Memphis; the UT Institute of Agriculture with a presence in every Tennessee county; and the statewide Institute for Public Service. The UT System manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory through its UT-Battelle partnership; enrolls about 54,000 students statewide; produces about 13,000 new graduates every year; and represents more than 433,000 alumni around the world.
ABOUT SMOKY MOUNTAIN SERVICE DOGS
Smoky Mountain Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to Enhance the Physical and Psychological Quality of Life for Veterans with Disabilities by Providing Custom-Trained Mobility Assistance Service Dogs. SMSD trains mobility assistance service dogs for veterans with service-connected physical disabilities where canine assistance is appropriate like balance assistance, picking up dropped items, et cetera. SMSD’s service area is regional, serving a 350-mile radius or an approximate six-hour drive from Knoxville, Tennessee. SMSD serves the entire state of Tennessee and portions of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia regionally.
Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Division of Student Success
Patrick Garlock
865-974-8930