Pictured above: Tabitha Everitt, a freshman education major, tries to get a kiss from Nicholas –– a black lab training to one day be a guide and service dog –– during the puppy kissing booth hosted by the Puppy Raisers Club on Feb. 20.
By Gabby Dacosta
A photo booth, donated dog toys and sweet kisses from puppies filled the University Student Center with smiles as the USF St. Petersburg Puppy Raisers Club hosted a puppy kissing booth on Feb. 25.
The club sold dog toys and ran a photo booth to raise money for the nonprofit Southeastern Guide Dogs to name a puppy in honor of the club’s founding advisor. The organization relies purely on donations to train guide dogs for veterans and people with visual impairments.
The nonprofit relies on the help of fewer than 1,000 volunteers across seven states.
Mackenzie Shaw, a freshman biology major, brought 7-month-old puppy Nicholas to the kissing booth. Shaw has been raising Nicholas for more than two months. Through training, Shaw and other puppy raisers learn how to teach their puppies basic commands, impulse control and other skills needed to be a guide dog in the future.
“I would love to do this as a career,” Shaw said. “Working with animals has always been my passion.”
She said it’s “amazing” that she’s able to get the experience of working with animals while in college. She said she benefits in many ways from learning about the training and the work that contributes to the “gratifying” feeling of raising a guide dog that will help someone in need.
Alexis Schlueter, a senior biology major, has been the president of the club for three years.
“The fact that I can volunteer my time, my money and my energy to dogs and be able to give back to a person and change their life is incredible,” she said.
Schlueter has been puppy-sitting 1-year-old C.W., who she brought to the kissing booth. She also raises a dog named Marty.
“It’s a good cause, and not only does it help the students, but the dogs as well,” said Abigail Bradley, coordinator of the Office of Leadership and Student Organizations.
Bradley said that she has a puppy at home and that she “loves” to see the dogs on campus.
Bradley and others stopped by the booth to pet, play with and receive kisses from the puppies.
“It’s amazing,” said Winnie Zheng, a senior biology major. “I just came out of an exam, so I really needed this.”
