During my first few days at Union in the rush of Welcome Week and moving in, I noticed something: other than the sea of new faces – I noticed a lot of dogs amongst the freshmen. Small dogs, little dogs and fluffy dogs, but all sporting blue and red vests.
I immediately thought of my own dog at home. As much as I love my dog, the dogs I was encountering during Welcome Week fulfill a job my own pets probably never will.
For many students at Union University, a service dog is essential to not only their college experience but also to everyday life. Service dogs can retrieve lifesaving medication for their handler, remind their owners to breathe in moments of anxiety or alert of a medical emergency.
One of the first service dogs I met on campus was Ellie Mae. Her handler, junior communications major, Kaylee Johnson relies on Ellie Mae to alert her of seizures and retrieve help when needed.
The first thing I noticed about Ellie Mae was her size. A grey and white Shizue, Ellie Mae stands only a few inches off the ground. However, her stature does not stop her from doing her job. Even as Johnson and I spoke, Ellie remained alert, standing proudly in her purple vest.
“The Lord knew exactly what He was doing when he gave me her because a very, very small percent of service dogs can smell seizures…the Lord knew that Ellie was gonna have that gift.”
Ellie Mae’s size has also allowed Johnson to travel with ease knowing that her dog can easily fit in a car or under the seat of an airplane and still alert Johnson of an oncoming seizure.
In addition to fulfilling her everyday duties, Ellie has also prompted conversations where Johnson is able to share her faith.
“When I went to Utah, I was able to go to areas in the temple square where it’s more so like special areas for their religion where animals wouldn’t be allowed at all,” Johnson said. “There have been many times in situations like that where people have asked about Ellie, and it’s led to conversations about the gospel.”
Along with Ellie Mae, another wonderful service dog seen walking the halls of the PAC is Milo, a red mini golden doodle. Often seen sporting a variety of bandanas around his neck and little black boots on his paws, Milo serves as a medical alert and response dog for his handler, junior psychology major Abbey Blake.
Before Milo, Blake was dependent on others for safety and transportation.
“I couldn’t go anywhere without a parent or a friend because well what happens if I’m driving and I can’t get home,” Blake said.
Milo has given Blake confidence, independence and peace of mind knowing that her dog can alert her of an oncoming medical emergency.
“I can go to Target, I can go to Kroger, I can drive to Memphis and go to the zoo for the day because if something happens, I’ll be able to get myself somewhere safe,” Blake said.
Blake described the Union community as generally welcoming and accommodating towards Milo. Students are often curious about her dog and respectful when asking questions.
“Some people just, I think they see a service dog and go ‘oh well this person has a disability’ and like they don’t really want to interact with you,” Blake said. “But I think the Union student body is so much more open and inclusive in a lot of ways.”
While the Union student body contributes to creating a welcoming environment for service dogs, administrative faculty like Office of Disabilities Coordinator Esperanza Gonzalez work hard to ensure service dogs are registered through the office of disabilities and that accommodations are made for them.
Gonzalez ensures that all service animals are ADA certified and their handlers have proper medical documentation. She encourages students to communicate with their professors about their service dogs so that Union can maintain an accommodating environment for students with disabilities and service animals.
“Communication is the basic and most fundamental thing to do for students,” Gonzalez said.
If you visit Union’s campus, Buster may not be the only dog you see. While spotting a dog in the middle of your Comp I class is exciting, these dogs serve a purpose beyond being cute and well-behaved. Service dogs go through life with their handlers so that their handlers can live life to the fullest.
Photo by Laila Al-Hagal
