CLEARFIELD – On Monday, Clearfield County District Attorney, Ryan Sayers, and Child Advocacy Center of Clearfield County (CAC-CC) Director, Mary Tatum, are pleased to announce the CAC-CC’s newest team member, Kirby.
Kirby was born in Lancaster and was one of three puppies from their litter to be selected as pups for the United Disabilities Services Foundation (UDS) service dog program.
UDS service dogs are trained from pups for over two years by a team of dedicated volunteers and professionals. Then, they are partnered with people who have a mobility disability or autism to help them live fuller lives.
Not all dogs that come through UDS become service dogs though. In Kirby’s case, he was placed at the CAC-CC as a facility dog. Kirby is allowed to go where other dogs are allowed to go, and he is also allowed to go where he works. Kirby can work at the CAC-CC, the Clearfield County Courthouse and Clearfield’s Children, Youth & Family Services office.
Sayers reported that Kirby came to the CAC-CC through a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. When the CAC-CC began the grant writing process Tatum contacted UDS in Lancaster, Pa., to begin the facility dog application process.
Tatum and the CAC-CC’s Case Manager Sierra Clark started dog handler training in October of 2020 and immediately brought Kirby back to Clearfield County. Kirby has been helping the children that come to the CAC since that day.
UDS also partners with prisons, including SCI Houtzdale, to provide special one-on-one training for future working dogs. The Relying Upon Furry Friends (R.U.F.F.) program began at SCI Houtzdale in 2016 with the arrival of four Labrador retriever puppies. Since then, they have assisted in the early training of 31 dogs for UDS.
When the puppies arrive at Houtzdale, they are assigned to their inmate handlers responsible for the pups training and supervision during their time there. The handlers teach them basic commands such as sit, stay, come, etc.
They also teach them more extensive commands such as turning a light switch on and off, retrieving items such as their leashes and opening/closing doors. Kirby was trained at SCI Houtzdale and is a favorite by all at the institution.
The CAC-CC is delighted to welcome its newest team member to Clearfield County. Kirby’s job is to help provide comfort to the children and families that visit the CAC-CC. Kirby passed his facility dog test in January. To date, Kirby has helped over 50 children who have come to the CAC-CC.
If you are interested in volunteering or helping the CAC-CC, please feel free to call 814-768-3155 or if you would like more information please visit its Web site at www.cenclear.org/domain/94 or e-mail at cac@cenclear.org.
If you suspect child abuse, you can report it by calling 1-800-932-0313 or contacting any local police department.