Morgan King '17 has had dogs in her life since her family brought home their pup Xavier when she was 10 years old.  As a senior at the University of Cincinnati, Morgan is balancing her education and training as an occupational therapist with fostering service dogs through 4 Paws for Ability's college program.  We spoke with Morgan about her involvement with the program and how her love of dogs extends to other parts of her life.

What is the mission of 4 Paws for Ability?

4 Paws for Ability was founded as an organization to place service dogs with children, but it has expanded to help veterans with PTSD.  The founder tried to get a service dog when she was younger, but her condition was deemed too severe by multiple organizations.  Their mission is that no disability is too severe, no person is too old or too young, for us to provide a service dog.

What are your responsibilities as a foster in the program?

I participated in orientation, training, and on-site work at 4 Paws for Ability with the dogs.  Then I was placed with my foster for about year.  Most dogs are placed around eight weeks old and can be placed as old as two or three years.

I work with dogs on basic obedience, socializing them in public, making sure they aren’t scared of anything, and love all people.  I also encourage people to ask to pet the dogs because the dogs are so young, so I want to make sure they’re friendly with all ages and types of people. Once this is over, I return the dog to 4 Paws for Ability for advanced task training.

How did you learn about the program?

I heard about it through [Andrea Poole ‘17] and some other friends from Wright State.  I looked up 4 Paws for Ability and realized it’s close to my home in Xenia.  I decided to be a puppy sitter at first because I wasn’t ready for my own dog yet.  I did the same orientation as a foster would to learn about the expectations and work with the dogs.  I joined the club at the University of Cincinnati where I would watch the full time sitters’ dogs for a few hours a day.  I did that for a few months and then got my first foster, Passion.

What are the challenges of raising a foster dog as a full-time college student?

It’s not something that is for everyone.  You’re given an eight-week-old puppy along with taking 18 credit hours of classes.  It’s stressful, but for the people who are good at managing their time, it’s manageable.  The biggest challenge was public awareness, though.  Most people aren’t as educated on the topic of service dogs as I am.  People in public can distract the dog from their training.  Other people stare and try to figure out why I have a service dog.  From the school aspect, there are times when it is overwhelming.  If the dog is sick, I have to drive from Cincinnati to Xenia and back in the middle of the week to take care of the dog.  Giving the dog back is another big struggle.  It’s hard to give up a dog you’ve been with for a year to a random person, but the process of watching the dog be placed with a family and change a kid’s life is worth it.

What are the rewarding parts of this program?

I study occupational therapy, and I’ve always been pulled to the special needs and pediatric side of things.  The club intertwined with me being in school for O.T. to see all the different types of disabilities and how the organization places service dogs, what they teach the dogs, and how it changes the kids’ lives.  It was also a great starting point for me at UC as a transfer student.  I made so many new friends and performed so many service hours.

The biggest reward is seeing the end goal; whether it’s seeing the dog become a service dog or one who doesn’t quite make it as a service dog become a client companion as an in-home dog for a family.  From an academic and professional aspect, it’s also a great thing for my resumé, especially as I prepare for grad school.  It’s a great conversation starter to introduce people to the program because we’re always in need of fosters and sitters.

How did Carroll help prepare you for this?

Leadership and responsibility are definitely two things that I took with me from Carroll.  I was involved with clubs, sports, and outside events.  Taking on those roles helped give me the courage to join an organization like this and start my own business.  Not being afraid to get out there and do something outside my comfort zone is something I took with me.

Morgan’s family adopted her most recent foster, Adler in June.  She also runs her own small business, Morgan's Creations, that makes and sells custom bandanas, collars, and accessories for dogs.  Morgan plans to graduate from the University of Cincinnati in Spring 2021 and begin Occupational Therapy school.