During the Christ’s Church at Lowhill 250th anniversary celebration and yard sale on July 27, Jarrod Clouse, with the help of his friend, Gus, explained the Train, Assist, Guide, Serve program, which began in 2012, that provides service dogs to veterans with disabilities.

Though the Dog T.A.G.S. training costs $25,000, the veteran never has to pay for the dog or its training.

A counselor/trainer helps the veteran and his or her dog work together and make sure the dog is trained for the necessary service.

There is a time commitment for veterans. They are required to meet one day a week for two hours. Training and support sessions are offered at Coles K-9 Center, Route 512, Bath.

Clouse said hot dogs are used to train the soon-to-be service dogs and that one dog in training was taken to Cabela’s in Hamburg, Berks County and the dog never made a wrong move.

Each dog is trained to help the veteran with a particular disability.

Clouse, who served in the U.S. Army, said his particular disability is when someone approaches him from behind. If this were to happen, Gus is trained to nudge him.

For information, call 717-810-7532, email dogtagsprogram@gmail.com or go to dogtagsprograms.org.

In addition to the presentation by Clouse and Gus, Dog T.A.G.S. was selling homemade jelly made from fruit grown in Topton.