Within a Partnering Organization

By Megan Waceken

Deb Tack is a director in the Susquehanna Service Dogs organization (SSD). SSD raises,
trains, and places service dogs that assist individuals with disabilities. “I just love what a dog
can do for a person,” Deb said. Her first experience with SSD was with her daughter Katie.
“When we found out that Katie had a chronic illness, we realized that she wouldn’t be able to
return to public school,” Deb said. “We looked for ways she could still engage with other
people doing something she enjoyed. And that’s when we had heard about Susquehanna
Services Dogs.” Deb found out about SSD through others who had needed their services. “I
worked with someone who had raised a dog and they actually had the same thing as Katie.
They needed to be homeschooled because of health conditions and they told me they started
doing this. And I was like ‘Oh! That’s a good idea,’” Deb said.

Deb and Katie volunteered to raise puppies for Susquehanna Service Dogs. “It seemed like a
good way to give back. So, we started raising a puppy. When you start raising a puppy, they
always say go to graduation even if you don’t have a dog graduating. You should go because
you want to see what you’ve been working toward,” Deb said. After six months of raising a
puppy, it was time to watch the puppy graduate to a service dog. “I watched the first puppy
raiser walk across the stage and hand the leash to their partner and I turned to Katie and
said, ‘I’m quitting my job.’ Katie said, ‘Mom, that’s ridiculous. They have like 10 people who
work at Susquehanna Service Dogs.’ And I’m like, ‘Nope, I’m quitting my job. I’m going to go
and work there.’”

 Deb became aware of Canines for Disabled Kids (CDK) shortly after she started working for
Susquehanna Service Dogs because of the partnership they have with CDK. “When I started
with Susquehanna Service Dogs, I worked in the partner services department. So that’s how I
first learned of Canines for Disabled Kids. The person who was there before me was like, ‘Oh
my gosh! I have this fantastic resource.’” CDK works with SSD providing information to their

clients and aiding some through the application process. “You can send parents there just to
talk about the ins and outs of their child having a service dog. When it gets down to schools,
that is not something we specialize in. It is good to know that if I have a question or if a parent
has a question, I can direct them to CDK,” Deb said “Kristin, in particular, is especially
knowledgeable. We know the law for our state, but Kristin knows it on a broader scope.”
Kristin Hartness is CDK’s executive director and the heart behind CDK’s organization.
By partnering, these organizations can reach more people who need them. “There are so
many parents all across the United States and they need something like this. For CDK to
continue what they’re doing. There are not a lot of other organizations who are providing that
service and at the level that it is being provided. I hope that they always continue to be there
and, of course, grow,” Deb said.

The support from Canines for Disabled Kids connects people to Susquehanna Service
Dogs and many other service dog organizations.