by Hannah Fair, Public Relations Writer
Cedarville University student organization K9s at the Ville will partner with 4 Paws for Ability, a nonprofit organization in Xenia, Ohio, that trains service dogs to aid veterans and children with special needs, to bring puppies to the Stevens Student Center (SSC) on December 13 from 12-2 p.m. for the annual Pause 4 Paws event. This is a traditional event during finals week.
This event benefits 4 Paws because the puppies will eventually become service dogs that must be comfortable in all social situations. Having an abundance of loving students play with and pet the puppies prepares them to eventually be placed with a family in need.
Students with K9s at the Ville help socialize the dogs throughout the school year. The pups are regularly seen on campus wearing their familiar colorful 4 Paws vests.
“Puppies need to be familiar with human contact, as this prepares them to be service dogs,” noted Elizabeth Coy of Twinsburg, Ohio, a senior applied communication and international studies major and president of K9s at the Ville. “This event is great because it helps 4 Paws puppies socialize and students de-stress during finals.”
Katherine Ancil of Zeeland, Michigan, a senior strategic communication major, interned with 4 Paws during fall semester. “My time with 4 Paws for Ability has been a privilege, as I have been able to see the incredible progression of little puppies become service dogs,” she said. “I have been blessed with the opportunity to work at 4 Paws and have seen firsthand the smiles and tears of the families receiving their long-awaited service dogs.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,963 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.