Hamburg High School students will be joined a furry, four-legged new student this year, Wolfgang, a German Shepherd puppy.
Hamburg Area High School teacher and librarian Teresa McCarthy is raising Wolfgang, training him to be a Seeing Eye dog. When Wolfgang is one, she will give him to Seeing Eye, “a philanthropic organization whose mission is to enhance the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of blind people through the use of Seeing Eye dogs,” according to their website, http://www.seeingeye.org/.
“Wolfgang is so smart and has been learning the basic commands very quickly, such as sitting and resting (same as stay), sitting before he gets his food, parking (going potty) outside, walking with the leash, and sleeping in the crate,” said McCarthy. “I’ve had him to school a few times so he gets used to the building before all the students come back. He enjoys the car rides, and he gets along well with my dogs and cats at home.”
High School Principal Chris Spohn said Wolfgang is being treated as a student at the high school.
“He’s a student like everyone else,” said Spohn. “This is someone who’s here to learn like everyone else.”
At the end of the year, Wolfgang will graduate and be given to Seeing Eye.
“Seeing Eye said they wish more schools would do this because they get experience being around large numbers of people, they get experience around hallways and bells,” said Spohn.
Wolfgang will be trained on what do in a crowded cafeteria, for example.
“They love the fact that this is preliminary training for these guys. And, of course, it can’t hurt to have a puppy. Everybody loves a puppy,” said Spohn.
This is the high school’s second Seeing Eye dog. A black lab named Homer was a student in Gail Braun’s Life Skills class at Hamburg High School about 10 years ago.
“We heard reports that he was absolutely phenomenal,” said Spohn.
Spohn said the superintendent and school board jumped on the opportunity to have Wolfgang attend Hamburg High School this year.
“They were outstanding in their support,” he said.