Library Forum to Explore Service Dogs’ Unconditional Benefit

Published 10.17.2013

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A personal demonstration of service dogs’ invaluable and unselfish companionship will be provided during the next Madigan Library Forum at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

“Not All Disabilities Are Visible: A Professor and His Service Dog” will be presented from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, in the second-floor reading loft of the library. Light refreshments will be available during the program, which is free and open to the public.

The fall forum will feature Alfred Thomas II, a Vietnam veteran and an associate professor of collision repair in the School of Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies, and his border collie, Jesse. They will demonstrate the importance of service animals in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, a story that is also featured in the latest issue of the institution’s One College Avenue magazine.



Alfred M. Thomas II and Jesse, side-by-side in Penn College’s collision repair lab.Attendees will learn about the symptoms and effects of PTSD and how service animals can be trained to provide affection, companionship and protection. The audience can interact with Jesse as Thomas shares their everyday experience of working together, at home and in the collision repair lab.

The event also is being offered as a professional-development opportunity for college faculty/staff, who can register for the course (PSD 301) through the Employee Information System.

There is limited parking for visitors at the rear of the library; additional space is available at the nearby Student and Administrative Services Center.

For more about Madigan Library, call 570-320-2400, ext. 7923.

For more about Penn College, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.