There will soon be some new four-legged members of the CU Anschutz community.
CU Anschutz students will help raise and train puppies destined to become service dogs for people with disabilities through the newly launched Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (IPE) Collar Scholars organization. The initiative was developed in partnership with Canine Companions, a national organization that provides expertly trained service dogs to adults, children and veterans. CU Anschutz is the first medical campus in the United States to establish a Collar Scholars chapter.
“I love IPE Collar Scholars because, not only is it meaningful work to train service dogs for people with disabilities and/or health conditions, but IPE is all about creating a sense of community at CU Anschutz,” said Faith Jung, co-president of IPE Collar Scholars and a second-year master's student studying drug discovery in the CU Anschutz Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “And what better way to do that than with cute little pups?”
Interested in joining IPE Collar Scholars? Sign up to attend an interest meeting here.
A student idea takes off
The idea started when Erika Freitas, PhD, director of the CU Anschutz Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, associate professor and associate dean of culture and wellness in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, asked students what could improve their well-being and sense of community at CU Anschutz.
Their suggestion? Bring puppies to campus.
Freitas initially considered bringing animals to campus for wellness events but soon saw an opportunity to turn the idea into something more meaningful.
The interprofessional focus is a key part of the program. Students from different schools and programs will work together outside the classroom while strengthening connections across CU Anschutz.
“This is another activity that strengthens those interprofessional ties,” said Lindsey Yates, DDS, FACD, FNAP, associate professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and assistant director of the Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. “The student leaders are coming from all different programs on campus. I think that makes it unique as well.”
For Holly Nowak, co-president of IPE Collar Scholars and a third-year dental student, Canine Companions' mission was a major reason to get involved.
“I strongly believe in the mission of Canine Companions – to provide individuals with disabilities service dogs at absolutely no cost,” Nowak said. “I am really excited to be a part of the very first medical campus to help Canine Companions achieve its mission!”
Training the trainers – and the puppies
Before CU Anschutz welcomes its first puppies, students have some training of their own to complete.
The organization is recruiting members and preparing students to become certified puppy sitters. Students interested in becoming puppy raisers must first complete that certification before applying through Canine Companions. Approved students can raise a puppy individually or co-raise one with another certified participant, helping them balance the responsibility with classes, clinical rotations and exams.
IPE Collar Scholars has been approved for three puppies initially, and organizers hope to welcome them in early spring. The puppies will arrive at approximately 8 weeks old and remain with their raisers until they are about 18 months old.
During that time, students will help teach them more than 30 foundational skills while exposing them to different people, places and experiences. Eventually, the dogs could learn to retrieve dropped objects, open doors, turn lights on and off, alert to certain sounds, serve as medical alert dogs and perform other tasks.
After their time at CU Anschutz, the dogs will return to Canine Companions for additional professional training and evaluation before potentially being matched with someone.
For the students who helped raise them, that could culminate in a special moment.
“If one of our dogs graduates, we get a call and they say, ‘You are invited to walk across the graduation stage and pass the leash on to the person who will receive the dog that you raised for life,’” Freitas said. “It’s a beautiful opportunity.”
Paws on Campus
While CU Anschutz doesn't have its own puppies yet, campus community members may have already met some Canine Companions dogs at recent events. Established programs around Colorado are helping the new organization get started through training and campus visits.
Through the new chapter, basic expenses associated with raising the puppies will be covered, including food, routine veterinary care, vaccinations, basic medications and supplies. Organizers hope this support will allow more students to participate.
Now, the focus is on growing membership, training puppy sitters and preparing for the arrival of the first three puppies.
“You’re going to see them around,” Freitas said. “They will always wear a yellow vest to identify that they are service dogs in training. It will be a joy to see the campus community connect with these special dogs as IPE Collar Scholars help prepare them for a future of service, companionship and greater independence for people with disabilities.”
Photo at top: From left: Erika Freitas, Holly Nowack, Olivia Buss (IPE Collar Scholars Treasurer), Faith Jung and Giselle Martinez (IPE Collar Scholars Vice President).
The dogs from left: Glenn (service dog in training), facility dog Peppi (a graduate, also called "the Dogtor" at HCA HealthONE Rose Medical Center, Denver) and Blintz (service dog in training).
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