LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – After working as a nurse for seven years, Raylee Davis realized it was not her life passion.
Growing up with a brother who lives with autism helped her find her current career path; she still helps people in a different way.
Davis went to school and received her bachelor’s in canine studies. In 2017, she created South Plains Service Dogs.
“Got really interested in autism dogs and how they can help people with autism,” Davis said. “Specifically, just to be able to have life, and be more independent, and cope with all the things and sensory issues they have to deal with.”
People can contact Davis to see what kind of service dog they may need. Those who already have trusty companion at home can bring them to Davis for an assessment. Davis will determine if the dog qualifies. If not, she will help find the right dog for the job.
Puppy training begins with normal commands, such as “sit down” and “stay.” Then, there is more specific training, which includes retrieving items and opening and closing a door.
After that, they head out into more public settings.
“Anywhere that the person goes, if they go to church, the dog goes to church with them,” Davis said. “If they go to school, the dog goes to school with them, if they go to the grocery store, Costco, Target, we do lots of training at those places.”
Taking the dogs in public trains them to work around distractions.
“The dogs have to be able to ignore everyone else that’s around them, they have to ignore all the smells and really focus in on their person and perform these tasks.”
If the dogs make it through initial training, they then take a public access test in order to graduate. Once they do that, they can begin to change lives.
“There are people with all kinds of abilities everywhere, and not everyone can get through their day just on their own, some people have a really hard time,” Davis said. “Whether that’s emotionally or mentally or physically, and we found through just experience and research and time, that the dogs can help so many people do so many different things.”
Davis said the goal is to help individuals live their lives to the fullest.
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