Officers of the Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Coffeyville Community College formally presented Abby, a service dog, to The Little Light House in Tulsa on Wednesday, December 3.  The presentation of Abby concludes a year-long Honors in Action Project by the Eta Gamma Chapter titled, “How do Service Dogs Enhance the Quality of Human Life?”.

In March, members began working with Marj Satterfield with Glad Wags in Tulsa to find and train a service dog.  Abby, a smooth haired Collie, was selected.  Abby has been trained to read and pick out colors.  As a certified service dog, she is trained to do a variety of tasks such as turning off lights, retrieving, and responding to tornado sirens.  At The Little Light House, Abby’s special duties will include walking along the side of children on the balance beam, retrieving balls, and providing a calming and stabilizing effect for the children.

In researching their project, Eta Gamma members conducted field trips to the International K9 Search and Rescue Conference in Crisis City, KS and observed the Prison Pups program at Ellsworth Correctional Facility in Ellsworth, KS.  Eta Gamma also met with members of the Freedom Service Dogs of America organization to learn more about service dogs.  In addition to learning about service dogs, members of the chapter also raised funds to be able to provide Abby for The Little Light House.  Fundraising activities included picking sand plums, cleaning the fairgrounds after Coffeyville Fair and Rodeo, and bake sales.

“This project has been a double blessing,” said Linda McFate, Advisor of the Eta Gamma Chapter. “Not only with the benefit that Abby will provide the children of The Little Light House, but it has also enabled our members to grow and develop their servant leadership skills.”

The Little Light House is a tuition-free Christian Developmental Center that provides educational and therapeutic services in a Christ-Centered environment to children with special needs since 1972.  Children from the Coffeyville area have been students at the school.  Children attending the school are from birth to age six with developmental delays as a result of physical or mental challenging conditions.  Some of these conditions include Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Downs Syndrome, Autism, visual and hearing impairments.  Children from all races and religious backgrounds are welcomed at The Little Light House.

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