Feature Story
Lieza Klemm
In a cozy living room, a miniature Christmas tree stood, decorated with golden retriever
ornaments. The overcast weather outside suggested snow, fitting the holiday season. In the
corner, four golden retriever puppies slept, surrounded by a metal fence, enclosing a little slide,
pillows, and other dog toys. A five-year-old golden retriever, Traveler, laid down on an oriental
carpet, content on receiving pets. Tracy Conley, her owner, brushed Traveler with her hand.
“She just really likes people coming over,” Conley said.
The puppies were seven weeks old. “It gets really difficult when it gets closer to turn in
time,” Conley said, “you spend all this time raising them, and then you have to give them up.”
Conley is a volunteer for Paws With A Cause, a company that raises dogs to be service dogs for
people with disabilities, for five years.
“I’ve always loved dogs; I kind of wanted to be a dog trainer,” Conley said, “and I wanted
another dog, but I didn’t want a 14 year commitment . . . I’ll take a puppy and raise it for a year
and I’m also giving independence to another person.”
Conley found herself jumping into the process. “I really just went for it, which is unlike
me,” she said. After the orientation, Conley was given Traveler as a breeding dog, and has
raised all three of Traveler’s litters. “It’s definitely a ton of work, and I feel like I sacrifice a lot,”
Conley said, “There’s a lot of sacrifice, but in the end, it's extremely rewarding.”
A majority of the puppies Conley has raised have gone to children with disabilities, like
autism, or have continued into the breeding program. “I have compassion for other people who
need the help of Paws With A Cause,” Conley said, “and I’m really proud that I raised $4,000 for
the organization.”
She has met some of the individuals who were helped by Paws With A Cause. “One of
the puppies from Traveler’s second litter is a service dog to a lady in a wheelchair,” Conley said,
“it’s a huge relief for her husband because he has a sense of security when he leaves for work
knowing that his wife is being taken care of.”
Conley’s relationship with Traveler was emotional, considerably more than with previous
litters. “I am so glad I got her back,” Conley said. Nicole LaCroix, a friend of over 17 years,
witnessed the toll it took on Conley. “Tracy was well aware, right from the beginning, that she
would have to return Traveler for more training when she reached 12 months old,” LaCroix said,
“This was heart-wrenching for Tracy. Out of love for the program, and the truth that Traveler
may someday help someone who is incapable of performing daily tasks without the help of a
service dog, Tracy chose to foster.”
Conley was not unfamiliar with the grief of losing a loved pet. “I had to put my dog, Lucy,
down right after I had to return Traveler,” Conley said. Lucy often accompanied Conley to the
elementary school she worked at to encourage kids with behavioral issues. “Tracy learned ‘love
and loss.’ She learned the painful emotions of separation.” LaCroix said.
Finding time for herself is a challenge. “The hardest thing is it kind of runs my life right
now,” Conley said, “this is Traveler’s last litter, so this summer I’m hoping to take a trip up north
with my parents.”
“She gives her time, often her sleep, her money and her home to help others,” Sherrie
Brower, a longtime friend and former co-worker of Conley’s, said. Volunteers who foster dogs,
whether it be as breeders or through their training, provide the dogs with shelter, toys, and
patience. “Yes, the personal sacrifices are great, but in the end, there is an unmeasurable
benefit,” Brower said.
Her friends could see the change Conley experienced being a volunteer. “She learned
that she could ‘do hard things,’” LaCroix said, “she was willing to love, and let go, and that takes
tremendous strength.”
“Seeing her grow from Paws With A Cause inspired me and another co-worker to raise
puppies also,” Brower said, “she made connections with so many other puppy raisers and
volunteers from Paws, and even pursued her certificate in dog training.”
Dawn Bohan, the national breeding program coordinator with Paws With A Cause, has
worked with Conley for years. “Being a volunteer takes emotional strength,” Bohan said,
“spending time with a dog and building a connection, only to return them after some time is
difficult.”
Despite the sacrifices, Conley wouldn’t change anything. “All I can say is that it’s
rewarding,” she said, “yes, I cry on turn-in day when I have to give the puppies to Paws, but I
know I’m helping someone who needs it.”
“It is beautiful to see Tracy grow,” LaCroix said, “and it’s all because she is willing to love
and lose.”
Sources, as mentioned:
Tracy Conley, Paws With A Cause volunteer, tconley@hollandpublicschools.org
Nicole LaCroix, former co-worker and friend, lacroixclan@yahoo.com
Sherrie Brower, former co-worker and friend, browersher@gmail.com
Dawn Bohan, Paws With A Cause national breeding program coordinator,
bohand@pawswithacause.org
