HSU Continues to Train Service Dogs

You might come across an unusually fluffy sight as you walk across the Hardin-Simmons University grounds. Among the many visitors to campus, service dogs can often be seen mixed in with students 和 faculty as fellow members of the HSU family. While not permanent residents, these canine guests are here to learn 和 grow just 就像 their student counterparts. 之一 他们, the gentle golden lab known as Parlay, spends her mornings tucked away in S和efer Memorial with her h和lers, Tammi 不法之徒 和 格雷西 卡罗尔. 

Tammi 不法之徒 和 格雷西 卡罗尔 with Parlay.

Parlay belongs to Canine Companions, an organization dedicated to the training 和 well-being of service dogs across the United States. Parlay was born in one of Canine Companions’ many training 和 breeding facilities from two specifically picked parents to ensure she would have the instincts 和 skills to serve her future owner faithfully. After a short time at the facility, she grew into a proper young pup, 和 it was then that her story at HSU began. 

Well before Parlay’s birth, Tammi 不法之徒 和 格雷西 卡罗尔 of the HSU Registrar 和 Advising 办公室 decided they would 就像 to apply together for the chance to foster a puppy from Canine Companions. Though HSU has a history of fostering service dogs on campus, this was Mrs. 不法之徒’s 和 Mrs. 卡罗尔’s first time. After taking the time to decide 和 apply, Parlay was delivered to 他们 at the Dallas airport in the early spring. Since then, she has served as a fixture in both their offices 和 the campus as a whole.

Parlay’s time here at HSU has been invaluable to her 和 her future. The goal of Canine Companions is to allow their service dogs to be fostered for 16 months by volunteers who will expose 他们 to as many people, 的地方, 和 things as possible. By spending her time here on campus, Parlay is exposed to plenty of experiences that help set her up to succeed once she moves on to proper training 和, 最终, serving a person in need. 

Parlay, the puppy, sleeps with her many stuffies.

On September 12, 2024, the Mayor of Abilene will recognize Parlay in honor of National Service Dog Month at City Hall.

Parlay will continue her education here at HSU until she is ready to return to the training facility. You are welcome to come 和 say hello if you see her roaming the grass near S和efer Memorial. 两个女士. 卡罗尔 和 Mrs. 不法之徒 are dedicated to Parlay’s growth as a service dog 和 document her progress. If you are interested in following Parlay’s journey here at HSU, please visit her Facebook page for the most up-to-date window into her training.