(Published Friday, August 17, 2007 11:13:02 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Frank Schultz fschultz@gazetteextra.com
One of the new students entering Craig High School this fall will never make the honor roll.
He will be there to learn, but he won't absorb anything about literature or math or computers.
He'll be a Craig Cougar. But he's a dog.
Weily is his name, and he has permission from school district officials to be there every day.
Craig senior Kathy Moe asked permission to bring Weily to school. Principal Mike Kuehne thought it was a good idea, and he helped Kathy bring the idea to the Superintendent's Advisory Committee, which gave its stamp of approval.
Weily is special. He is training to be something more than just a lovable black Labrador. He's going to be a guide dog for people with visual handicaps.
Craig senior Kathy Moe takes Weily, a service dog owned by Madison-based OccuPaws, for a training walk through the aisles at Woodman's in Janesville. Moe, a volunteer, will raise Weily until he is 18 months old, when he will be ready for more intense work. Weily will attend class with Moe at Craig this fall to practice being in public places.
Dan Lassiter/Gazette Staff
Moe learned about the opportunity at a dog show at the Rock County 4-H Fairgrounds. She had trained dogs for agility and obedience competitions and was intrigued.
The OccuPaws Guide Dog Association is just getting itself established, and it is looking for people to raise puppies, getting them ready for the more intense training after they reach 18 months.
The Moe family, which already had two dogs, embraced Weily, a donated puppy who was named after OccuPaws trainer Douglas Weil.
Kathy and her parents, Randall and Theresa Moe, took on responsibility for raising Weily, including food, shots and vet bills.
Kathy has gotten Weily used to walking with his harness and vest, which allow him to enter public places where other dogs are banned, such as stores, theaters and schools.
"He has a fan base at the grocery store," Kathy said.
Weily needs to get used to ignoring distractions and keeping his mind on his duties. So spending time at Craig should be good training.
Kathy said she doesn't mind if students want to pet Weily, but it's a good practice to always ask permission before doing so.
In class, Weily will lie down and be quiet, just as he does under the table of a restaurant, Kathy said.
"People just have to learn that once class starts, he's just there, and you have to ignore him," Kathy said.
Weily has gotten used to two canine roommates at home, a Sheltie named Lizzie, and Sky, a Labrador mix.
All three dogs bark in excitement when strangers enter the house, but Weily already has learned that it's all business when he wears his vest.
"He's awesome out in public. His attitude just changes, and he knows he's not supposed to act like a crazy dog," Kathy said.
Everyone asks Kathy how she'll be able to give up Weily when the time comes. She said it will be good to know that he'll be helping someone.
"It's just amazing what a difference he can make in someone's life," she said.
To help
Weily belongs to OccuPaws, a new, Madison-based organization dedicated to training dogs to help people with vision problems.
Nicole Meadowcroft, a Madison woman who started losing her eyesight while in high school, is not only the OccuPaws founder, she's its first customer.
OccuPaws will train clients in their communities, rather than the traditional method, which can involve weeks at a residential facility, Meadowcroft said. All OccuPaws dogs still are in training, so new students aren't being accepted, yet.
California is the only state that requires a certification for guide-dog trainers, and OccuPaws' Doug Weil has that certification, Meadowcroft said.
The nonprofit organization relies on contributions and an all-volunteer staff, and it seeks volunteers to train puppies.
To volunteer to raise a puppy, contact puppy-training coordinator Marlene Morga of Beloit at (608) 362-6710 or marlene@occupaws.org.
