Lake Bluff Woman Begins Midwest Chapter of My Angels With Paws

Serena and Jack are eager to help around the house.

Ask them to carry packages and they don’t answer back. They turn off lights when they leave a room, bring you cold drinks, turn down the bed and close bureau drawers.

Though the duo are canines, they are very much family to Lake Bluff resident Sarah Townsend.

Serena and Jack are service dogs for the My Angels With Paws (MAWP) nonprofit organization headquartered out of Deland, Fla. MAWP’s mission is to provide expertly trained dogs free of charge to assist adults and children with mobility impairments and provide emotional and social support.

The 23-year-old Townsend is the Midwest volunteer head trainer for the My Angels with Paws group, which grew from her interest in animal training and behavior.

"I knew I did not want to be a vet, so I majored in animal science at the University of Illinois," Townsend said. "I now have an office job in Lake Forest and figured as long as I have a paid job, I can also do what I love.”

Upon graduation, Townsend discovered My Angels with Paws and with it a full awareness of the difference a service dog can make in the lives of children and adults challenged with physical disabilities. Before long, Townsend signed up to commit to the 18 month training program to turn retrieving breed puppies such as Labradors, Labradoodles and Golden Retrievers into stellar service dogs.

All the puppies who participate are donated by private breeders, purebred rescue groups or rescued from shelters, explained Townsend. By the end of training, each dog should know 90 separate commands.

Sharing her knowledge

Serena, a small black lab, was five months old when Townsend brought her home to begin training. After a year, Serena was released from the program because of a bad hip. Dogs with physical disabilities are not placed in homes with individuals with disabilities explained Townsend.

Townsend adopted Serena to use as a demonstration dog to educate the public and help with training new puppies.

“Serena knows her job and what to do," Townsend said. "If we are out in public and I go to a restaurant, our puppy in training will go under a booth first, and then Serena will go in and lay down. The puppy will follow Serena’s lead and lie down and be calm as well.”

Fellow University of Illinois student Kaylee Heath, who joined MAWP a year ago, is also raising a puppy in training. The 21-year-old doesn't hesitate to tap into Townsend's experiences.

"I have worked with Sarah alot," Heath said. "My dog Bree and I have gone to the sky box in the Wills Tower with Sarah, and we also just went to the Brookfield Zoo. It's very easy for me to talk with Sarah and get advice because we are very close in age."

Currently Townsend and Dr. Alice Landis are co-training a year old, 90-pound Labrador named Jack.

“Co- raising a puppy makes it easier for everyone,” Townsend said. "Jack alternates weekly with each trainer, allowing both of us some freetime and making a more well-rounded dog."

Townsend's dedication to her 'other' job is apparent.

"It's been wonderful to work with Sarah to train Jack," Dr. Landis said. "This is my first experience training a service dog and Sarah has been there to help me every step of the way. Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and her love for the animals and dedication to MAWP's mission are readily apparent in her interactions with the public."

Training is Serious Fun

There are few moments in training the dogs, which make sure to keep the trainer on their toes as well.

“I love working with the dogs and showing them off, although Jack is still a goofy and immature puppy at one year old” explained Townsend. “But Serena went through a teenager rebellious stage too where I would say heel and she would sit. One night I did not have the treat to give her after she turned out the lights, and the next thing I know the lights came back on as if she was saying, 'Hey you did not give me the treat.'”

Early training begins with play, explained Townsend. Fetch begins with a game of ball and expands into picking up a fallen glove, or a game of rope tug develops into using a rope to open a door.

"If I am getting ready for work I say to Jack bring me this, close that cabinet, pick up my clothes. I tell them they are wonderful and they get so excited about it,” Townsend said.

When Jack turns 2 year old, he will return to the main organization in Florida for final training. There he will meet the people he will be placed with. “My Angels with Paws is into making everyone a family. The trainer gets to do follow up visits with the owner,” Townsend said.

Going Public with the Dogs

Serena has been on airplane trips, cruises, train rides, two shows in Chicago, numerous restaurants and the Harry Potter Park in Orlando. Whenever she is out in public, she wears a vest with pockets and her name on it.

“It is an honor to be in public with your dog so it is courtesy that everywhere you go, you have a vest on. It answers questions people might have,” Townsend noted.

If you are out in public and see a service dog, you don’t want to go up and pet it right away because the dog is working when he/she is in public. It is better to ask the owner if you could pet the dog. We have a meet someone new; “Make a friend” command," Townsend said.

To see Serena in action, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAHdupc8V6w

Learn how Anthony Prevatt’s service dog Sophie has made a difference in his life. Visit: http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/west-volusia/2011/03/02/deland-group-teaches-dogs-to-help-disabled.html