Warwick townlively.com
JANUARY 24, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXIV • NO 46
PAD trains dogs to make a difference BY JEFF FALK
S
tatistically, dogs are the most popular pet in America. T hrough the years, dogs have become humans’ best friends through a symbiotic relationship that revolves around service. No one has to tell Phoenix A ssistance Do gs of Central Pe n n s y l v a n i a ( PA D ) a b o u t canine service and its importance. The local nonprofit has built its reputation by filling a need for assistance dogs. “I believe dogs have a powerful impact on society,” said PAD director and founder Linzey Zoccola. “For children, it’s as a companion. Recent studies have shown that interacting with dogs can strengthen immune systems. We have so many roles for working dogs. The physical and emotional roles that dogs play in families’ lives are so important.” PAD, which recently moved
from 30 Copperfield Circle, Lititz, to 55 New St., Ephrata, trains and places assistance dogs with individuals with disabilities. PAD also instructs people on how to properly care for and work with assistance dogs through a mentorship program.
“When I was 16, I got my first service dog. I wanted to give that gift to other people with disabilities.” “Assistance dogs have been trained to help an individual with a disability with a task,” said Zoccola. “They can perform on a cue. They can help guide a blind person, respond to a seizure, open a door, guide an individual to an exit or guide them to a car.” It typically takes 18 to 24 months to train an assistance
dog. For the most part, PAD works with dogs 3 years old or younger and generally with dogs from the Labrador retriever, golden retriever and standard poodle breeds. “They are typically the breeds that are easiest to train,” said Zoccola. “They want to be followers. They’re accepted by the community, and they’re a fit size-wise for most clients. But each dog is different.” It costs anywhere between $15,000 and $20,000 to train an assistance dog, but PAD places its assistance dogs for about $2,500. That difference is made up through fundraising and donations from the community. “I love what we do, but it’s exhausting,” said Zoccola. “The pressure of fundraising is something I don’t think I understood when I first started. But I have realized that this is my calling and it’s work that needs to be done.” And the need is great. PAD currently has a waiting list of
PAD founder Linzey Zoccola has been training assistance dogs for more
ODC to celebrate 75 years of good work BY JEFF FALK
Employment can be considered an honor and privilege, and some believe that everyone should have equal access to work. It’s a belief that Occupational Development Center (ODC) has grown into over these last 75 years. “It’s a situation where we’ve all had great jobs we’ve loved,” said Ken Mueller, ODC’s public relations and development
manager. “But we’ve all had jobs we don’t love. I got to go to work today, and I enjoy what I do, even though there are challenges. A lot of people don’t want to hire individuals with disabilities. ... Our folks want to do their jobs. They don’t complain about work. They complain when they don’t have the work.” Located at 640 Martha Ave., Lancaster, ODC trains and helps employ individuals with emotional and mental disabilities. See ODC pg 2
Hear what Patrick Reynolds’ illustrations have to say BY JEFF FALK
Illustrators tell stories or re-create events by adeptly combining drawings, words and ideas. Their tools include pens, chalk, memory, perspective and flair. Patrick Reynolds is an illustrious illustrator. “I use the term writer/illustrator,” said Reynolds. “I want to tell interesting stories in an amazing way, highlighted by some delightful drawings. On a scale of one to 10, I’m a 10 storyteller. I tell stories your history teacher has never heard of. I’ll take history and illustrations, combine them and flush out a whole story.” Reynolds will bring his unique talent and style to the Lititz Historical Foundation, 137-145 E. Main St., for a “chalk talk” on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 1:30 p.m. The Patrick Reynolds’ chalk talk at the Lititz audience should expect Reynolds to spin a number of Historical Foundation in February promises to See Patrick Reynolds pg 5 be entertaining, engaging and educational.
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