Collar Scholars program connects student volunteers with future service dogs
By: Jessica Nelson
and last updated 2021-02-25 13:11:25-05
HELENA â College can be lonely at times, especially for students who moved far away from family and friends, but a new club at Carrol College is giving students a chance to have manâs best friend by their side while helping those with disabilities.
Ashley Wilt and Alyson Galow are co-leaders of the Collar Scholars Club at Carroll College.
âWe are volunteers of Canine Companions for Independence which is a national non-profit organization, and they place service dogs free of charge to people with disabilities. As puppy raisers, our role is to receive an 8-week puppy, like Phil, and we raise them for about a year and a half and during that time we train over 30 commands,â Ashley says.
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A new club at Carroll College is raising puppies to be service dogs for those in need.
The Collar Scholars club was started by two anthrozoology students in November. Seniors Ashley Wilt and Alyson Galow both have a history of raising puppies, which led them to pursue careers related to animal behavior and interactions with humans.
Ashley Wilt poses with Canine Companions puppy Phil. Photo Courtesy of Ashley Wilt Puppy raisers are kind of attracted to each other, Wilt said.
The club teamed up with nationwide nonprofit Canine Companions for Independence, which puts the dogs through professional training and places them with disabled individuals in need. Wilt said these dogs are typically valued at around $50,000 but are placed freely by Canine Companions.