XGI coll
From left, PSH students Salar Khawaja, behavioral science, Dina Val
labh, biology, Doug Baldwin, environmental engineering, and Raba
Rizvi, biology, wait to donate blood.
Paws with a purpose: Seeing Eye dog
By Karen Finkenbinder
Staff Reporter
kxfl7s@psu.edu
For the next 16 months, students,
staff, and faculty at Penn State
Harrisburg will be seeing an
adorable, yellow Labrador
retriever puppy on campus. His
name is Barney and he is in
training to be a Seeing Eye dog.
Part of Barney's training includes
socialization and obedience
training. His foster trainer is a
Penn State doctoral student in
the School of Public Affairs. Until
Barney is 6 months old, PSH is
allowed to pet and love Barney
as they would any other dog.
After that time, it is important
that the handler is asked prior to
petting. Also, do not be offended
if the answer is no, for working
dogs are not petted by outsiders
while working.
A few guidelines need to be put
in place for Barney and PSH to
happily coexist. A working dog is
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performing a job and cannot be
distracted by people wanting to
pet or play with him or her. Also,
ney_e_r, offer a guide dog or dog
in training food, as its handler
or trainer should only feed these
dogs. That way, the dog will not
take food from strangers and will
not interfere with a very strict diet
consisting of a specialized dog
food. Barney, unlike Ralph back
at home, will never partake in
"people food."
When Barney is "working,"
he will begin to wear a green
"Seeing Eye" scarf. That is a
clue to ignore him, even though
he may want to say hello (and it
is hard to ignore that cute little
face). The scarf will eventually be
replaced by a harness, which the
visually impaired person will use
to be guided by Barney.
Barney will finish his socialization
and basic obedience by 18
months his time. Then he will go
back to the Seeing Eye Institute
for about four months of intense
ects
By Sharon Furfaro
Assistant Editor
srfl7l@psu.edu
XGI sponsored a visit from the
Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank
(CPBB) at Penn State Harrisburg
on March 30 from 10 a.m. to 6
p.m.
According to Chris Kramm, former
XGI president, approximately 100
pints of blood were drawn, edging
out last fall's 94 pints. The slight
boost in amount of blood donated
could be attributed to various
factors, especially the increased
number of available beds from
four to six and also the addition
of one more registration person
(from two last fall to three).
The addition of beds and help
allowed CPBB to draw more
training with a special trainer. At
the end of this period, he will be
matched up with a person who
needs a Seeing Eye dog. They
will have an intensive training
program together so that they
can bond and the new handler
learns how to work with Barney.
He will be almost two years old
when he becomes a fully trained
guide dog, and he will work until
he is around 10 years at which
point he will "retire."
PSH has had working service
and guide dogs on campus in
the past and will continue to have
them in the future.
For more informa-
tion about service
dogs, contact Karen
Finkenbinder at
kxfl7s@psu.edu.
News
pints for
blood and reduced the time
spent waiting in line for blood
donors that was experienced in
October's blood drive.
PSH student Andrew Dale,
environmental engineering,
said, "I always give blood when
Freshman Jack Ambler, civil engineering major, 'grins and bears it' as
he is prepped to have his blood drawn.
Barney, a yellow Labrador retriever puppy, can be seen "working" on campus for the next 16 months. He is
currently in training to become a Seeing Eye dog.
I have the opportunity. My
brother's fiance's father had
surgery to remove a tumor, and
required 10 units of blood during
the operation. This is a reason
that I donate."
Anticipated results were to
Photos by Kathryn Herr/Capital Times
The Capital Times, April 4, 2005
life
have been 130-150 total pints
of blood due to the added staff,
which is much higher than the
actual results. Donor turnout was
much lower than expected, which
resulted in the minimal increase in
pints drawn.
John K. Blouch demonstrates
with a strong arm and smile that
you are a hero when you donate.
at PSH
Photo by Karen Finkenbinder/Capital Times