How a Service Dog Buys Socks

May 9, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Did you know service dogs can make purchases? SSD Colorado, one of Susquehanna Service Dogs’ service dogs in training, is practicing how to make purchases at Foot Locker in Capital City Mall in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

Colorado spent his first 18 months with his puppy raiser, who taught him 26 different cues and good house manners. For the past few months, he has been in advanced training with Susquehanna Service Dogs’ professional trainers, where he is being individually trained based on his partner’s needs. One of the specific tasks he’s learning is how to make purchases.

Since 1993, Susquehanna Service Dogs (SSD) has placed over 265 service dogs. SSD raises, trains, and places service dogs with children and adults with disabilities to assist them to live more independent lives. SSD places service dogs to assist individuals with autism, psychiatric disabilities, mobility issues, hearing impairment, and seizure disorder, as well as with military veterans experiencing PTSD. SSD also places courthouse dogs and facility dogs in schools.

Accredited by Assistance Dogs International, SSD is a nonprofit organization and a program of Keystone Human Services. They rely on a dedicated group of volunteers and donations.

On May 21, Susquehanna Service Dogs is participating in the Highmark Walk for aHealthy Community in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, along with 46 other localorganizations. Because Highmark Blue Shield generously underwrites the cost of theWalk, all of the money raised for SSD comes directly to SSD. Please consider supporting Susquehanna Service Dogs in the Highmark Walk as a virtual walker or donor and #WalkforSSD.