While many junior high students keep busy just by juggling school work with a social life, Amy Cannons decided to do even more by adopting and training a leader dog for PAWS with a Cause.
Cannons, 15, is the daughter of Dave and Janet Cannons of Clarkston and has two brothers, David and Matt. She is a ninth-grader at Clarkston Junior High School and a member of the 4-H Veterinary Science Club.
While watching television one day, Cannona said she saw a presentation about the PAWS Foster Puppy Program. The program places a young puppy in the care of individuals who take the responsibility to raise and train the dog for approximately a year. At the end of the basic training year, the dog returns to PAWS and completes advanced training to become a helper dog to those with disabilities.
‘It’s a big commitment,? said Janet. ‘You have the dog with you all the time. They sleep by you, they eat next to you, they’re with you like they would be with person with special needs.?
After working as a pet and babysitter, teaching piano and saving for nearly a year, Amy raised enough money to participate in the program, something she wanted to do on her own.
In January 2005, Cannons went through interviews and screenings with PAWS and was approved to adopt Nanook, a Golden/Black Labrador mix who was only seven weeks old at the time.
For the next year, Amy and Nanook were practically inseperable. As he grew, Amy trained Nanook in basic obediance and socialization. This meant many long hours training and attending obedience classes. Cannons also brought Nanook along to the mall, stores, restaurants, school functions and her brothers? hockey games to help him get used to being around people.
‘One of the more importatnt parts is socializing the dog because if you don’t socialize them they won’t be good in public,? said Cannons. ‘That’s mostly what they’re needs are is in public and where people are concerned.?
Socializing with other animals is equally important for a PAWS dog, so fortuantely Cannons was able to train Nanook with help from the family’s Black Labrador Corky, even if Corky was not keen on the idea.
‘She doesn’t like him very much,? Cannons laughed, ‘They’re not good friends.?
Despite Corky’s aprehension about another dog stealing some attention, Cannon said she did intrude on Nanook’s training because he was very diciplined and easy to train.
‘He’s a really fast learner and he’s really, really smart. Basically, you only have to tell him to do it three times and it’s engrained on his brain. Four or five and it was perfect,? Cannons said.
Despite all the extra work, Janet said her daughter took full responsibility for Nanook upon herself.
‘It’s been wonderful,? said Janet. ‘She’s done everything. It hasn’t effected any of us other than having a fun dog around. She’s been very responsible and even in the first few months when dogs always have to go out in the middle of the night, she did that even when she was sick, she had exams. She just really took it all and has run with it the whole time, so it’s been a joy.?
Going in, Cannons new the fun would not last though. On Feb. 20, the Cannons had to say goodbye to Nanook, at least for for now.
If the person Nanook ends up agrees to visitation, the Cannons family can still spend time with him. But going in, Cannons knew Nanook had an important job to do, and so visiting might not be possible.
‘I’ve been preparing for it because I know he’s not really my dog. It’s just like I’m borrwing him,? said Cannons. ‘But it’s still going to be really hard because he’s pretty much around me all the time, so it’s like giving up a limb or something. But it makes it really worthwhile to know that someone else is going to get him and it will really change their life so that will pretty much be a comfort to me.?
‘During the advanced training, they’ll see what special skills he has.? said Janet. ‘They’ll match him up with a client who has those needs and then they will give the person either a special memento book that you make for them and her name and address so they can initiate contact.?
Even if she cannot see Nanook, Amy said she hopes to participate in the program again and would enjoy training another puppy.
PAWS with a Cause is always looking for volunteers like Amy for the Foster Puppy program. For more information on how to participate, call 248-844-5656 or visit www.pawswithacause.org.