Volunteer Puppy Raiser
MIKE
CROFT
An interview with Puppy Raiser, Mike Croft (Winter/2005)
How long have you volunteered with WAGS?
I started in February 2002.
What initially drew you to WAGS?
The thought of working with and caring for dogs, and seeing what
they could do for people with mobility impairments.
Do you have an especially fond WAGS memory?
WAGS’ dog, Shelby and I were in Madison shopping mall to train with
Kinsley Tarr, Kinsley’s mom (Jane) and WAGS program director/staff.
While in the food court, we were approached by a woman with a
toddler in a stroller. She asked questions about service dogs and
Shelby. After greeting Shelby, and receiving permission to pet him
and loving him up, she took the stroller and child to order her
food. We soon spotted the child’s shoe lying nearby. Most dogs love
to work and Shelby was not an exception. He picked up the shoe and
walked over to the toddler’s stroller just as the mother started to
look for the missing shoe. As if on cue, Shelby approached and the
boy laughed and threw his arms open with his palms up. Shelby placed
the little shoe onto the open tiny palm. The boy instinctively
closed his hand and brought the shoe to his chest, laughing and
smiling. Shelby backed away and looked up. It was very rewarding to
see this capable dog in action, and to see the reaction he could
bring to people. Do you think this toddler will be a life-long dog
lover? I know the mother will be! It’s great that the year or so
that I help train a WAGS dog can help give someone 10 years of more
of working companionship, affection and love. And, when I am working
with a WAGS dog in the community, it is astounding to hear how many
children tell their parents that they have to ask before petting the
dog because it is working. The kids have usually learned this from a
WAGS demo or from a volunteer trainer. (Shelby graduated in
September 2003 and is now the service dog of Kinsley Tarr.)
Do you have a funny or embarrassing WAGS story?
Since us dog-people sometimes talk like vet technicians, here goes:
Before entering a large public facility with Ubi, I tried and tried
to get him to pee, but he just could not find a spot to go. We went
inside where I found a restroom, this time for myself. While keeping
Ubi’s nose off the floor and the urinals, he eventually sniffed the
floor drain in the middle of the floor. The next thing I know, he
had lined himself up and was using the floor drain as a pee spot.
And his aim was perfect. WAGS dogs develop into such problem
solvers! (Ubi graduated in November 2004 and is now the service dog
of Tracy Canniff.)
Note: As of August, 2008, Mike has helped train Shelby, Ubi,
Winston, Dylan, Echo, Ezra, Gracie, Haley, Hero and Henna.
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