Puppy Raising at The University of Vermont
ABOUT PUPPY RAISING AT UVM
UPRAWR - United Puppy Raisers of ACTS and their Wagging Retrievers
At UVM, undergraduate students work together as a club to raise and train future service and facility dogs for ACTS -Assistance Canine Training Services. This club, UPRAWR, is comprised of different positions, or ways of involvement. Students can be general members, puppy sitters, or puppy raisers.
General Members
All students who wish to become puppy raisers or puppy sitters must start within the club as a general member. In order to be a general member, a UVM student must attend one meeting each month. General members are invited to all practice sessions and events and will have opportunities for hands-on time with our service and facility dogs in training.
Puppy Sitters
In order to be a puppy sitter, a UVM student must attend two meetings each month and be approved by ACTS As puppy sitter positions open, club officials will notify members and provide any application materials. This position involves more hands-on experience with the dogs. When raisers leave for short periods of time, the puppy sitters are an integral part of helping the club by watching the dogs.
Puppy Raisers
In order to be a puppy raiser, a UVM student must be active within the club and attend four meeting each month. As puppies and older dogs become available for raising, officers will notify club members and provide any club application materials. The member will then be recommended to ACTS to begin the ACTS volunteer application process. After approval, they will be placed on a approved puppy raiser list to be considered when the right dog becomes available. This position requires the most time, but is extremely rewarding.
UPRAWR is excited to announce that we won the 2024 Outstanding Recognized Student Organization Award!
The President’s Award for Outstanding Organization is based on the organization’s leadership, active members, growth over the past year, programmatic efforts, collaborative efforts with other groups, and contributions the organization has made to UVM and/or the surrounding community.
Since its founding, UPRAWR has grown substantially. In 2023-2024, we developed our club administration, reached a new high of 17 volunteers, took on the most dogs that we’ve ever had (10), fundraised $5000, hit 1000 followers on Instagram, were featured on NBC5, and won second place for LUVMyClub.
Beyond its impressive growth, UPRAWR has had a profound impact on the community. Thus far, we’ve collaborated with Kappa Delta, Pre-Vet Club, Art Club, the Track Team, RALLYTHON, Living Well, Catamount Sport Psychology, Student Legal Services, UVMtv Tries, Civic Engagement, UVM Rescue, UVM Post-Stroke Communication Group, Tri Delta, Phi Mu Delta, and UVM Girl Gains. UPRAWR has provided 25 students with the opportunity to raise a service dog in college, contributed 50+ hours of therapy-dog services to UVM affiliates, and put 37,220 community service hours on record at UVM. Per our mission, we have 10 canine graduates that serve people and communities across the United States.
UPRAWR is honored to accept this award and thanks the Student Life Award Committee for this recognition.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Visit our UVM club page and request to be a member. Link to page - UPRAWR
Once you request to be a member of UPRAWR, club officials will add you to the club email list.
You will be provided with information about the next upcoming info session (or a recording) and future practice information.
Attend an Information Session. If there is not an upcoming information session scheduled, please watch the provided recording of the most recent info session held.
Attend our weekly on campus practices.
*Memberships requests will not be accepted until you have reviewed an info session and attended a practice. Both components must be completed.
Contact
For additional information regarding UPRAWR or how to get involved, please contact uprawr@uvm.edu.
