Seeing eye dogs explore Steamtown National Historic Site
By Sarah Hofius Hall (Staff Writer)
Published: June 7, 2010
 
A group of dogs that has visited the Empire State Building and
rode on an Amish buggy had a new experience on Sunday.
 
The Seeing Eye training dogs visited the Steamtown National
Historic Site.
 
As part of the PawsAbilities club, the eight dogs and their
trainers explored the park and even took a train ride.
 
"It's all about socializing the dogs," said Al Kingsbury of
Kingston Township.
 
On Sunday, that socializing included climbing the steps of the
train and listening to the whistle of a steam locomotive.
 
PawsAbilities, a Luzerne County-based club whose members raise
seeing-eye puppies, meets twice a month in Dallas for training
and socializing. Members receive the dogs at 7 weeks old and
raise them until they're about 15 months old, when they return to
Morristown, N.J., for additional training.
 
Though it's hard to give the dogs up, "they're doing something
better down there," said Lisa of Scranton, who is training
German shepherd Kimba with her family.
 
The puppy raisers take their dogs with them just about
everywhere, from restaurants to a group outing to see the movie
"Marley and Me."
 
Inside Steamtown, the group gathered in a training circle with
their dogs. Kim Ultsh of Larksville, gave instructions as park
visitors watched.
 
This is the fourth year the group has visited Steamtown, said
Mark Brennan, chief of visitor services and public affairs, who
added the park is more than happy to accommodate the pups.
 
Ultsh is raising her fifth puppy, after her oldest son got the
family involved for his senior project in 2006.
 
"It makes it easy to give back because we're doing it for a good
cause," she said.
 
More information about the club is available at papaws.org
 

 

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