Newswise — If this academic year is anything like last year, there will be a bit of snoring going on in Rowan University classrooms and labs.
Professors don't need to worry that the snoring is any reflection on them though; it's just that puppies seem to have a hard time staying awake through calculus, engineering and English lit classes.
For the second year, Rowan University will host puppies from The Seeing Eye, the Morristown, NJ, based nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of people who are blind through the use of Seeing Eye dogs.
Students living on and off campus, as well as staff and graduates, will spend part or all of the next year helping to raise and socialize 13 puppies, up from the five who started the 2004-05 school year at Rowan. Among them are the leaders of the University's puppy club, Rowan University Forward to Freedom (RUFF), George Brelsford, dean of students, and his wife, Robin Brelsford, a Rowan staff member. The Brelsfords are raising their third Seeing Eye puppy, Nacho, a Labrador retriever/golden retriever cross.
The puppies will spend virtually every hour of the day with the puppy raisers and their housemates, who are critical to the program and often invest as much time with the dogs as their primary caregivers. The puppies will attend class, visit the dentist and go shopping with their students, though they will not visit grocery stores or restaurants.
"Raising a puppy means a lot of sleepless nights and careful planning. The pup must be cared for 24 hours a day," Robin Brelsford said. "It also means a lot of fun. These puppies are so smart and engaging, they're delightful to raise. The pups, like our students, thrive on social contact. The students are often stopped while walking across the campus and questioned about their dogs and The Seeing Eye program. There's been a tremendous amount of interest in the program and overwhelming support. People really enjoy having the pups on campus, and professors have welcomed them into their classes. One of our students was threatened with being thrown out of class if she didn't bring the dog."
The Brelsfords introduced the program to Rowan last year after their Seeing Eye puppy coordinator asked them to involve Rowan with The Seeing Eye. Rowan is the third college participating in the program.
RUFF is a good example of Rowan's approach to outreach.
"Rowan has a strong commitment to community service. We believe that service is a powerful way to assist college students in their development as individuals," said George Brelsford. "Robin and I have enjoyed the program and have gotten a great deal out of it. We hope to provide our students with the same positive community service experience."
The project, of course, is important to others as well.
"The Seeing Eye has found that puppies raised with lots of exposure to crowds, traffic, stores and more are well prepared for their service as guides. We have all of those elements right on campus. We hope that some of these pups will be placed with college students who are blind, since the dogs already will be well accustomed to campus life. Regardless of where they go, guide dogs provide an opportunity for individuals who are blind to be more independent. We're pleased our students can play a role in that," Robin Brelsford said.
The students, whom The Seeing Eye provides with a stipend to cover dog food and veterinarian bills, meet with the Brelsfords on a regular basis.
Some of the dogs will return to The Seeing Eye shortly and most others by the end of the year. From there, the dogs will participate in an extensive training program under the guidance of experts.
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