TAMPA, Fla. — A Hillsborough County woman is involved in a several great causes including raising and training service dogs. Carole Adamczyk is the group leader for MacDill Puppy Raisers. 

On a recent evening Adamczyk and about a dozen other volunteers from the group were at a Lowe’s parking lot in Brandon training the future service dogs. Part of the training was to get the dogs to stay still at their handler’s side.

What You Need To Know

 Carole Adamczyk leads the MacDill Puppy Raisers group

 Group members raise labrador service dogs for Dogs Inc

 Adamczyk leads group training sessions twice per month

Adamczyk has raised about a dozen of the service dogs in her home 
HELP PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING DOGS TO PEOPLE WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES: dogs inc.

“If your dog gets up during it, just put him back in his sit again. It’s okay,” said Adamczyk.

The dogs are all Labradors, and the organization Dogs Inc. will place them with the person who needs a service dog. That could range from a blind or sight impaired person or a veteran with PTSD.

Adamczyk facilities the real world training twice a month. That includes taking the dogs inside the Lowe’s store to get them used to unfamiliar places with lots of people.

Dogs can get excited about a new person coming up to them, but they are taught to stay very calm.

“They have been practicing this for a while, so they know not to lunge when somebody approaches them,” said Adamczyk.

Adamczyk has raised about a dozen dogs in her home including her current dog, Chloe. She demonstrated how she trained Chloe at her kitchen counter using treats and a paw pad.

“I’m training her to stay on my left-hand side because that’s where we want them as they continue to grow,” she said.

Adamczyk also takes Chloe for long training walks in her neighborhood using a special collar. The training is a rewarding experience when she sees her dogs make progress. “And the first time they get it, you are overjoyed. It’s wonderful.”

The best part of the experience is when the dog is ready to be placed in a home.

“That day that you meet that person is wonderful. When they tell you they saved their life, it’s amazing,” she said.