These dogs are special: Two service dogs visit Corpus Christi School

by Mark Jahne

Editor

 Photos by Mark Jahne

Amber and Banner were celebrities for a day at Corpus Christi School in Wethersfield. An assembly of excited students met the two dogs that are trained to serve people with disabilities including former military personnel who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The dogs are trained at the Forever in My Heart Foundation in Rocky Hill. The foundation was created in 2018 to pair homeless dogs with people who have disabilities. Ron Catania of Rocky Hill, a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War who has PTSD, is heavily involved in the nonprofit organization and matches dogs with eligible veterans in its Vets Valor program.

Ron Catania of Rocky Hill, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in the Vietnam War, is now involved with training service dogs for fellow veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. He speaks to students at Corpus Christi School in Wethersfield.

He has a granddaughter who attends Corpus Christi and she suggested the event that took place on March 5. Trainer Kimberly Arsenault brought Amber, a Labrador retriever, to meet the students. Doug Sanders came with Banner, a German shepherd.

Kimberly Arsenault brought Amber and Doug Sanders brought Banner. The students enjoyed learning about service dogs and saw how they are trained to help people.

Both are rescue dogs. Amber was among several dogs the foundation rescued from the war in Ukraine. Sanders is the foundation’s director of operations.

Catania said the dogs are highly trained. Their skills and discipline were displayed for the students, who were also taught how to safely approach a dog that is not familiar with them.

They were told not to reach first for the head or face. Let the dog sniff the back of your hand and make sure it feels comfortable before trying to pet it.

Ron Catania and Ted Dillon shared stories about their military service.

Arsenault explained that there are three different types of service dogs and three different levels of training. A general service dog is considered a pet as well as a support canine.

“We train dogs for people in wheelchairs. A full-service dog can go into any store … they can go on airplanes,” she said. “We train dogs using positive reinforcement” including verbal praise and treats.

“It’s all about the eye contact,” Sanders added.

Full-service dogs undergo 1,000 hours of training over a year and a half before being matched with a human.

Amber and Banner showed how they chase tennis balls and retrieve dropped cell phones. The trainers held a question-and-answer session for the students.

Corpus Christi students give a standing ovation to Ted Dillon, a military veteran who works at the school.

Catania took a moment to honor fellow veteran Ted Dillon, a retired special education administrator who works as a paraeducator and aide at Corpus Christi. Dillon was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

They students gave him a standing ovation to thank him for his service to this country. RHL WL

To learn more about service dogs visit foreverinmyheartfoundation.org.