Congratulations to Sharon and Brian Stalker, the August
Volunteers of the Month! Sharon and Brian raised their first puppy for
Susquehanna Service Dogs in 1995. Although SSD Sophie didn’t become a service
dog, she had a happy life and a successful career as a drug detection dog
working with a state trooper.
They decided to get involved with SSD after their family dog
passed away. A co-worker recommended SSD as a way to bring a dog back into
their lives.
Sharon says, “My favorite part of how we became raisers is
this: We were invited to a puppy class to see what it would mean to be a
raiser, and were told there was a puppy there looking for raisers. Brian said I
couldn’t go because I would just come back with the puppy. He wanted to take
more time with the decision. So Brian went to class…and came home with the
puppy! We found out right away that he is more of a softie with a puppy than I
am!”
Since then, they have raised a total of 19 dogs for us!
In addition to raising puppies, Sharon and Brian also help
evaluate our released dogs to see if they would make good companion dogs. Companion
dogs are specially trained pets that provide comfort, companionship, and
motivation for one or more family members.
They continue to volunteer because of the impact these dogs
have on people’s lives. “The second puppy we raised, SSD Lily, was placed as a
service dog,” said Sharon. “She was partnered with a young girl, and after a
few weeks, the girl’s mother called us to thank us for raising Lily. She said
that after a trip to the mall, her daughter told her “People see me now.’ That
one statement is the reason we keep raising these wonderful dogs.”
Thank you, Sharon and Brian, for helping #DogsChangeLives!
