When looking to foster a dog, junior Arcadia Pawloski didn’t care about gender or color. Her only request was that it wasn’t a poodle.
To her delight, Arcadia ended up being placed with Forest, a black Labrador puppy.
“When we first got [Forest], he was just so excited and happy,” Arcadia said. “That was just a really fun memory because we got to pick him up and drive him home. It was just fun. Introducing him to the house and all my friends [is another favorite memory of Forest].”
The puppy has sleek black fur, and his endearing liveliness shines through in just images. As of now, Forest is only 17 weeks old (roughly four months). Arcadia, for her part, is a brand-new pet-parent with six weeks of experience.
Before Forest, Arcadia had not had any other pets, despite having a long-lasting love for animals. As a foster parent, she is currently embarking on the journey of training Forest the basics, which include skills like sitting, staying, and kenneling.
The biggest challenge has been controlling Forest’s nipping and biting, as he is currently teething. However, some of his sweet quirks have added to his charm.
“He snores really loud,” Arcadia says. “He snores like an old grandpa. I don’t mean to be rude to him, but you would think [that he would have] a cute puppy snore, but it’s not. The first time I heard that [snore], I thought, ‘This is his home now for a year.’”
While Forest is still relatively new to his home, Arcadia will take care of him for a year in total. Forest is a part of the organization Paws With A Cause (Paws), which works to train service dogs. Paws is located in Wayland, Michigan, and has had the mission of increasing the independence of people with disabilities through the assistance of dogs since 1979.
Forest, after Arcadia houses and trains him, will be sent to prison. There, he will be further trained by an inmate alongside other puppies from the organization. This initiative, called Paws Prison Partners, allows for greater efficiency in the training process. Because of the many dogs to train and the time dedication it takes for just one of them, the program helps more puppies to be trained in a shorter period of time. In addition, it benefits the inmates, improving their work ethic and self-esteem.
Following the foster and prison stages, the dogs are placed with individuals whom they will assist. Through her part in the training process, Arcadia has affirmed that she hopes to work with animals in the future.
“I’m really interested in training dogs as a career,” Arcadia said. “Through getting a foster dog, you have to train them basic obedience, so I felt like [getting Forest] was a good way to [know], ‘Oh, I really do like training dogs, this is what I want to do.’ Also, [Forest] is going to be a Paws dog, so you’re helping other people in the process.”
Part of the fostering process has involved Arcadia taking Forest to “social gatherings” for the animals at Paws. At these events, he can socialize with other dogs who will one day be service dogs as well. In addition, she attends training classes once a month, ensuring that Forest learns the necessary skills for his future job.
While her focus remains primarily on the black lab, she occasionally works with other dogs at Paws. For example, she helps groups of dogs learn discipline, participating in practices designed to discourage erratically barking at humans.
After Forest has found a permanent home, Arcadia hopes to undergo the foster experience again with another puppy.
“[I’ve] kind of [always known that I wanted to work with animals],” Arcadia said. “I take care of all my neighborhood dogs, so I kind of wanted to continue doing that, but I just wasn’t sure how. I feel like Paws really opened the door for me.”
Arcadia’s involvement with Paws was sparked not just by a love for animals but by her involvement with American Sign Language (ASL) as well. At FHC, Arcadia is a soon-to-be member of ASL 4, having joined the class her freshman year.
Once a month, the upper-level ASL students travel to Paws to volunteer. There, they work with volunteers at the organization to teach them the language. As many of the people Paws helps are deaf, interacting with these individuals is integral for members of the organization.
Arcadia finds communicating in ASL to be rewarding, both at Paws and elsewhere.
“I feel like there’s a need for interpreters and people who know ASL,” Arcadia said. “In Flint, there’s a big deaf community. I know we’re not that close [to Flint], but there are people out in the world, and just being able to say ‘Hi’ or have a little conversation [in sign language] can make their day.”
In addition to the Paws excursions, Arcadia participates in the yearly ASL social at Northview High School. At the event, colleges and high schools come together to appreciate the language. The event is a favorite of Arcadia’s, as she gets to communicate with many new people.
At Paws, whether one knows ASL or not, volunteering can be beneficial for the individual, the organization, and the dog alike. Arcadia describes the Paws community as “close-knit,” making it a comfortable and welcoming environment for those who become involved.
Arcadia hopes to work at Paws as an adult, merging her interest in ASL with her love for dogs. She encourages others to help at the organization, even if for short periods of time.
“Even if you’re just going there for the day and helping out, it’s such a big help to them because they have so much to do and so little time to do it,” Arcadia said. “Just a little help is just a good thing to do. You’re giving back to people who need the help, and you also get to play with dogs.”
