Guide dog in training, Samuel, with American River Otters. Provided photo.

For the thousands of people that pour into Mote Science Education Aquarium (SEA) each day, the trip is relatively straightforward. Walk through the expansive aquarium in UTC, taking in the still-new building’s three floors of aquatic habitats, laboratories and educational areas. For struggling with vision loss, however, a trip to Mote SEA becomes a little more challenging. That’s where Dogs Inc comes in.

On August 18, the Palmetto-based non-profit specializing in training and raising elite working dogs—including guide, service and therapy dogs at no cost to the recipients—hosted a media event at Mote SEA, where dogs and puppies in training practiced real-world skills that are crucial to their future careers. Six guide dogs in training with their instructors and five puppies with volunteer puppy raisers went throughout each floor of the building, developing skills while around crowds and other animals in their habitats.

“The chief challenge for our dogs in an environment like this is the crowd work,” says Amra Dillard Rickwa, Regional Manager of Dogs Inc. “There are lots of kids, strollers and noises as well as some of the smells of the aquarium, which make it a unique setting. It’s a great training environment for our dogs to be able to work in. It’s funny, because the least distracting element for our dogs are the animals in the aquarium.”

For the team at Mote SEA, having Dogs Inc train there is part of the organization’s commitment to inclusivity. “Moat Science Education Aquarium was thrilled to have Dogs Inc, and the guide dogs in training, and provide an opportunity for these future service animals to experience the sights, sounds and smells and activity inside of a public aquarium,” says Amber Smalley, Marketing and Public Relations Manager at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

In turn, the dogs’ presence helps the aquatic animals at Mote SEA become more habituated to the presence of service animals. “Our American River Otters in particular absolutely love when the dogs come by, so it’s a great enrichment experience for them as well and helps them become accustomed to all of these animals coming through on a regular basis,” says Smalley.

Dogs Inc, 4210 77th St. E, Palmetto, 34221

Guide dog in training, Samuel, with American River Otters. Provided photo.

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