4 Paws For Ability

We’ve all seen them on campus. In class, outside of White Hall, and even on the intramural field, UK’s friendliest faces seem to be everywhere these days—including The Study! Ladies and gentlemen, meet Jarka.

Jarka, pictured here with trainer Kelsey Hiatt, is one of many dogs currently in UK’s chapter of 4 Paws for Ability and is a frequent visitor at The Study where Kelsey’s co-trainer, Gabby Woods, is a tutor.

 Brought to campus in 2009, “4 Paws for Ability” is based out of Xenia, Ohio and its chapter here at UK has grown to include almost 30 members. In the program, students are given a 5-6 month old service dog for a semester in order to help socialize and reinforce training.

So how does it work?

 The 4 Paws process starts months before the puppies even set paw on campus. Before they are given to a student, each puppy participates in a prison program where inmates potty-train them and begin to teach them basic commands like “sit” and “down.” Most of the dogs used in the program are bred by 4 Paws but occasionally the organization receives puppy donations. While the puppies are mainly breeds like Golden Retrievers, Golden Doodles, Labradoodles, or Lab Retrievers, smaller dogs such as Papillion are sometimes used too.

Once arriving at UK, the dogs are given special service vests and are allowed to go anywhere the student goes as they socialize the dogs. "This is important because when the dog is placed with a family, they will be going everywhere the family goes, " says UK chapter President Caitie Little. "The dog should be comfortable around anyone and in any situation."

Besides socializing the dogs, student trainers are also required to attend a monthly meeting. Here, a trainer from 4 Paws headquarters comes down and teaches the student trainers what commands and tricks he or she should be working on with their dogs. This is also a time to refresh and reload on puppy supplies that 4 Paws provides. Along with the food, toys, crates and other supplies, 4 Paws also covers any other costs associated with taking care of the puppy.

Once they have spent the semester at UK, the puppies return to Xenia to continue advanced training. In this phase, puppies are taught specific things to help them best serve the families they will be placed in. For example, the dogs might learn how to fetch things for an owner that might be in a wheelchair, or they might learn to track a child in case the parent’s lose them from their sight. Puppies can even be trained to alert someone before they’re about to have a seizure!

 4 Paws for Ability trains dogs for Autism Assistance, Mobility Assistance, Seizure Assistance, FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) uses, Veteran Service, Hearing Ear use and other multipurpose uses.  Her trainer Kelsey says that knowing what Jarka will be doing in the future is one of the best parts of participating in the program.“I love that I get to share with everyone just what she’s going to do! She’ll be a service dog for a family that needs her much more than I do.” This, says Kelsey, is what makes it easier to deal with the idea of parting with Jarka at the end of the semester.

So how do you get involved with “4 Paws for Ability?” 

First, since the dog lives with you, you have to be an off-campus student or an RA. Also, the program requires that you’re at least a sophomore.  Second, you have to be chosen. Applicants should be enthusiastic and excited about the opportunity but also ready for the responsibility and seriousness of their role as student trainer since the dogs will be working. Applications are reviewed prior to the start of each semester and interviews scheduled to determine who gets a dog.

 Due to high interest, students aren’t allowed to be a trainer for two semesters in a row but can always volunteer to be a “sitter” for when the dog’s owner is busy. All of the spots for the Fall semester have been filled but applications for Spring 2013 will be given out around the beginning of November. To get one, or to ask any other questions, students can email uk4paws@gmail.com or visit http://lmbrig2.wix.com/4-paws-at-uk .

Tips for Being Prepared for Cold and Flu Season

Whitney Barnett, Outreach Coordinator

It is that time of year again when the weather is colder, sometimes rainier, and when we may start to see snow. That’s right: it is cold season in Kentucky! Classrooms will soon be filled with the sounds of the sniffles, sneezes, and the dreaded mucus cough. Do yourself a favor — be informed about how to stay healthy and avoid getting a cold or even worse, the flu.

Here are a few helpful tips for flu and cold prevention:

Apparel: It is time to put away the shorts and flip-flops. Bring out your coats, hats, gloves and scarves so that you stay warm walking to and from class.

Weather: Always pack an umbrella with you so that you can stay dry if it happens to rain or snow. Also, having a good pair of waterproof boots to keep your feet dry is a good idea.

Sleep: Get enough sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 8.5 to 9.25 hours per night for adolescents (11-24 years old).

Wash Your Hands: Hand washing is one of the most effective and most overlooked ways to stop disease. Wash your hands multiple times throughout the day for at least 15 seconds. Disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers also work well.

Avoid close contact: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth: Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Even if you are precautious, you still might get sick. Here’s some helpful advice from recent medical literature:

•  Get plenty of rest, in addition to the recommended number of hours of sleep per night. Your body needs it in order to fight off the illness.
•  Drink hot liquids. They can help to soothe your throat, ease your congestion, and help to keep you hydrated.
•  Take a steamy shower. This can also help with congestion and to relax your body.
• Sleep on an angle. Put an extra pillow under your head at night to help with nasal drainage.
•  Sneeze onto your elbow or shirt sleeve instead of sneezing into your hand or into the air.
•  STAY IN to reduce the chance of spreading your illness to others.

If you have to miss class due to illness, take the necessary steps to catch up on your homework and assignments. Your college professors will expect you to contact them to get the missed assignments or to get class notes from a classmate. In most cases, professors will not accept anything you turn in late unless you have a doctor’s note. Make sure to review your syllabus for the absence policy.

The University of Kentucky has a great health care program for students. The University Health Service (UHS), which is across the street from Speedway and Shell.

• Appointments are required at UHS and can be made at 859-323-2778 or online at ukhealthcare.uky.edu/uhs/. Make sure you have your student ID available when you make your appointment.
•  UHS is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
•  Full-time students have access to UHS once they have paid tuition and mandatory fees.
• Part-time students may use UHS by voluntarily paying the health fee or being seen on a fee-for-service basis.
• Throughout the month of October, students can get a flu shot for $10.00. You must have your student ID. Check out the UHS website for specific times and locations: ukhealthcare.uky.edu/uhs/

Remember, getting sick with the cold or flu will likely disrupt your everyday life, including your studies and class attendance. Even with careful attention and effort, you may not be able to prevent your body from being subject to the cold or flu. However, you can follow the tips listed above to reduce the severity and duration of these illnesses, which will help you to recover and get back to your daily activities.

No Tricks, Just Treats: Fall Recipes

Nicole Brown, Marketing Intern

When the weather starts getting colder, the leaves start changing colors, and the Pumpkin Spice Latte returns to Starbucks, it means one thing: fall is here! Though most of us won’t trick or treat anymore, fall is still the perfect time to make treats for yourselves and your friends.

The choices are endless between apples, pumpkins and all of the many candy possibilities, so I’ve chosen to highlight just a few. Recipes and links are below, listed by category.

All Things Apple:

• Caramel and Candy Apples
• Whether caramel or candy coating is your favorite, these are easy to make and sure to please!
• Purchase apples, wooden sticks, caramel or candy coating, and nuts, chocolate chips, sprinkles or anything else you’d want to top your apple with.
• Wash and remove the stems from the apples.
• Skewer with a wooden stick.
• Dip them in coating and then roll in nuts, chocolate, or sprinkles.
• If you’re feeling more adventurous, try making your own caramel or candy sauce:
• Caramel: http://www.ehow.com/how_2145040_homemade-caramel-sauce.html
• Candy: http://www.life123.com/food/candies-fudge/candy-making/candy-apples.shtml
• Cider
• Apple cider, served hot or cold depending on the weather, can be a wonderful treat! Make your own improvised cider by heating store-bought apple juice with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice to taste.
• Or follow this recipe to make it from scratch: http://www.food.com/recipe/moms-homemade-apple-cider-non-alchoholic-253224
• Baked Apples
• Cut apples into bite-sized chunks and then place in a casserole dish. Cover the bottom of the dish with orange juice, then sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on top of the apples.
• Bake at 400 degrees until the apples are tender, approximately 20 minutes.

Perfectly Pumpkin:

• Where pumpkin is concerned, you have an important choice to make: canned or fresh? During pumpkin season, choosing fresh will get you the best flavor! Follow these directions to prepare fresh pumpkin for baking: http://allrecipes.com/howto/baking-with-fresh-pumpkin/
• Pumpkin Pie
• This iconic fall dessert is fairly simple to make and perfect for sharing: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/pumpkin-pie-recipe/index.html
• Pumpkin Cheesecake:
• Like pumpkin pie, but creamier! And it’s even easier to make than pumpkin pie, so you can’t go wrong: http://www.kraftbrands.com/philly/recipes/Pages/Recipe-Detail.aspx?recipeId=53064
• Pumpkin Muffins (or bread)
• Perfect for breakfast, a snack, or dessert, pumpkin muffins are less sweet than their pie and cake counterparts: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/pumpkin-muffins-recipe/index.html

Halloween-Themed Creations:

• Decorative Rice Krispies Treats
• First, make the Rice Krispies Treat marshmallow mixture according to the recipe: http://www.ricekrispies.com/en_US/recipes/the-original-treats.html#/en_US/recipes/the-original-treats
• But before you add the Rice Krispies to the marshmallow mixture, add any coloring you desire.
• Try orange for pumpkins, and then shape the Rice Krispies Treats into balls and top with a green piece of candy. Or try leaving some of the mixture colorless, making part yellow and part orange, and shaping it into candy corn shaped cones.
• Spooky Eyeball Cake Balls
• Bake your favorite cake to the package instructions and while it’s still hot, mix in your favorite frosting. You can also mix crushed cookies, like Oreos or Nutter Butters, with cream cheese or frosting.
• Roll pieces of the mixture in your hands to form balls, then dip them in melted white chocolate or candy coating.
• Place on wax paper to cool, then top with a gummy ring and chocolate chip inside the hole in the gummy ring.
• http://family.go.com/food/recipe-628040-edible-eyeballs-t/
• Ghost Pancakes
• Follow your favorite pancake recipe (or use a pre-made mix) to make the batter. Then, pour it onto the griddle in ghostly shapes. Try starting with a half-circle and then adding the bottom half of a triangle below it.
• Using three chocolate chips, make eyes and a mouth.
• http://www.gourmetmomonthego.com/2008/10/ghostly-pancakes.html
• Pretzel Creations—Pumpkins
• Melt white chocolate and add food coloring or buy orange candy coating and melt it.
• Dip pretzel twists in the melted chocolate, add a green M&M to the top, place the pretzels on wax paper to cool, and you’re done!
• Witches’ Broomsticks
• For the perfect mix of sweet and salty, try this recipe that combines pretzels, cookies, and chocolate: http://www.thedragonskitchen.com/2010/10/witchs-broomstick-cookies.html 
• Broomstick Bites
• These are all salt and no sweet! Make these cheesy pretzel creations for a break from all the sugar.
• http://www.bhg.com/recipe/appetizers-snacks/broomstick-bites/
• Graveyard Taco Dip
• Choose your favorite taco ingredients and layer them. I’d recommend starting with a layer of refried beans, then adding cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and taco meat (beef or chicken, seasoned to your taste) in the order you prefer, and topping with lettuce. Refrigerate.
• Cut tortillas into fun Halloween shapes—like tombstones, cats and scary looking trees—and bake the pieces for 5 to 7 minutes at 350, until they are crispy. Cool, then use to decorate your taco dip like a graveyard.
• http://www.bhg.com/recipe/poultry/tombstone-taco-dip/

General Halloween Treat Tips:

• Anything to which you can add food coloring can become candy corn, pumpkins, Frankenstein, and much more—just mix in a few drops and shape the final product however you desire!
• Pretzels make great arms, legs, fingers, and more. Try sticking pretzel sticks out of a giant marshmallow to create a pretzel spider.
• Halloween treats don’t have to look beautiful! It is, after all, a celebration of scary so feel free to make your treats intentionally creepy or messy.
• Try carving your favorite cookie, cake, or other treat! Simply wait for it to cool and use a knife to cut out a Jack-o’-lantern-esque mouth and eyes. See it done with cookies: http://www.diamondsfordessert.com/2011/10/jack-o-lantern-cookies.html
• Add spider webs to decorate any food with a sauce. Just draw circles with the sauce, then use a toothpick to drag out from the center to form points, like this: http://www.bhg.com/halloween/recipes/spiderweb-soup-topping/

If you’re hungry for more, check out The Study’s “All Things Fall” Pinterest board!