Assistance dogs-in-training get acclimated to ambulances

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Furry friends from Paws With A Cause descended on Life EMS Ambulance to get used to being in and around ambulances.

Assistance dogs-in-training and their trainers visited Life EMS Ambulance on Friday, May 20 to get acclimated with the sights, smells and sounds of an ambulance. The dozen dogs ranging from Golden Retrievers to Labs and standard Poodles had their first chance to explore the inside an ambulance.

The puppies also got a chance to bring smiles to the faces of the workers there in honor of National EMS Week.

According to Julie Thorington, national foster puppy coordinator for the organization, the puppies are placed with volunteers beginning at 8 weeks of age and are housed until they reach 14 months. They are then returned to Paws With A Cause for formal training before being placed as an assistance dog. The volunteer puppy raisers work on developing basic obedience skills and exposure to real-world situations.

“We like to expose them to the sights, smells and sounds of medical equipment when they are puppies as it helps to prepare them in the event their partner ever needs medical assistance once they are placed as an assistance dog,” Thorington said.

“It makes the sights and smells more familiar to them and not as scary. Plus, we want to show some puppy love to our first responders during EMS week and thank them for all they do,” Thorington said.

After the puppies in training explored the ambulance, they were greeted by staff from Life EMS Ambulance.

“It is a two-fold reason for being here, normally they are here for training and have expanded it this EMS week, to help our medics and EMTs lower their blood pressure,” said Mark Meijer, founder and CEO of Life EMS Ambulance.

EMS Week originated 47 years ago, thanks to President Gerald R. Ford who declared Nov. 3-10, 1974 as the first “National Emergency Medical Services Week.” This annual observance continued for four more years and was then reinstituted by the American College of Emergency Physicians in 1982. Since 1992 EMS Week has been celebrated during 3rd week in May.

Click here to see all the photos from Paws With A Cause visit to Life EMS Ambulance.

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