UNIVERSITY PARK – In 2016, Susan Lechtanski began volunteering as a puppy sitter with Roar for More — the Penn State chapter of Susquehanna Service Dogs (SSD).
“They say these dogs change lives,” she said. “The thing they don’t tell you is the first life they change is your own.”
Six years later, on Nov. 2, Susquehanna Service Dogs honored Lechtanski with the 2022 Nancy and Robert Fierer Spirit of Volunteerism Award for her dedication and broad range of contributions to the organization.
“I feel so honored,” Lechtanski said. “All the previous award winners are my mentors. I’m truly honored that these past award winners are my mentors and friends. And now I’m one of them.”
Lechtanski works full-time as a project manager for Auxiliary and Business Services at Penn State University and estimates that she volunteers an average of 20 hours per week with Susquehanna Service Dogs.
“We get paid in puppy love,” she said. “I’m truly passionate about this program, meeting people and seeing how these dogs changed their lives, giving them independence.”
In addition to puppy sitting and socialization, Lechtanski transports puppies and maintains Roar for More’s social media. She does most of the home visits with prospective puppy raisers and sitters in the Centre Region and brings puppies with her to see how the family pet feels about living with a puppy.
Roar for More has puppy raisers in Centre County and beyond, including Williamsport, Jersey Shore and Huntingdon. Some are community members and some are college students.
“We’re always looking for puppy raisers and sitters in Centre Region,” she said. “We never have enough.”
Lechtanski adopted SSD Kelp and trained him to be an ambassador dog after he was unable to complete advanced training due to kennel stress.
“He has to be with his people,” she said.
When she does community presentations, SSD Kelp accompanies her and demonstrates how he can do tasks to help
a person with a disability, including opening a door, getting medicine, retrieving an object, alerting his person to a noise, and going to get help. He joins her on home visits to see how the family interacts with a dog.
“Kelp also shows raisers and puppies how to go on and off an elevator safely,” she said.
Lechtanski assists Dr. Nancy Dreschel with teaching the three levels of puppy training classes, which focus on the click and treat training method, using a handheld clicker to mark the behavior and rewarding it with a treat. Dreschel, a Penn State professor of animal science, founded Roar for More in August 2014, with encouragement from her students. Since then, 100 puppies have come through the program.
In the beginner class, 8- to 10-week-old puppies learn the basics, including sit, stay and loose leash walking. The second class teaches the 6- to12-month-old puppies skills such as targeting and shaping that will be used to help them learn more complex skills. The third class for 12- to 18-monthold puppies builds on what they’ve learned and combines two skills to create a new skill.
Leshtanski said at approximately 18 months, puppies begin advanced training at the Susquehanna Service Dogs main training center in Grantville, near Hershey.
“During this time, the professional trainers evaluate their skills, learn what makes the dogs happy, and determine an appropriate career path for each dog,” she said.
“During advanced training, the dogs meet potential partners. Once a tentative match is made, the trainers further develop the skills needed for that partner.
“At approximately 24 months old, the dogs undergo team training with their new partner. During these three weeks, the new partner learns how to use their new dog, and the dog learns how to help their new partner best,” she said. “We train the dog to fit the person.”
She said puppy raisers can meet the puppy’s new partner and stay in touch with them, on the partner’s terms. Susquehanna Service Dogs matches dogs with applicants within a 4-hour radius of Harrisburg and provides support throughout the working life of the dog.
Lechtanski said SDD is accredited through ADI — Assistance Dogs International — and is a 501(c)
(3) nonprofit organization.
The professional trainers attend annual conferences and constantly update their knowledge. SSD is in a breeding cooperative with other service dog organizations to breed for the best qualities while maintaining genetic diversity. SSD works with Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and mixes of these breeds.
“It costs $30,000 to fund an assistance dog from birth through their working life,” Lechtanski said. “What we’re asking of partners, the fee is minimal.”
After the dogs retire, they are adopted into families.
Susquehanna Service Dogs was founded 1993 by Nancy and Robert Fierer, who started in their home near Grantville. In 2014, SSD moved to its current property, a 55-acre converted horse farm, and in May 2022, the new training center was completed.
Susquehanna Service Dogs and Roar for More welcome volunteers and donations to help train current and future service dogs. For more information, call (717) 599-5920 or visit www.khs.org.
