Catasauqua Middle School students took part in an assembly Oct. 1, which included Heather Lloyd from Tails of Valor as well as her service dog in training, Dietz.

Lloyd gave students an overview of what her job at Tails of Valor entails. She works to train service dogs to assist our country’s veterans in their health and wellness when they return from serving their country.

She brought along a special guest - her current trainee, Dietz. Dietz was named after Danny Dietz Jr., a U.S. Navy SEAL who died serving this country while he was deployed.

Dietz, who is 8 months old, showed the students some of what he has already learned from Lloyd. Dietz demonstrated he is able to listen to his handler and showed his ability to turn a light switch off and on. He will eventually use his skills to assist a service person who has post traumatic stress disorder or a traumatic brain injury.

The students of CMS are being asked to work as a team to donate to this worthwhile cause. Students are able to make their contribution by buying “paws” and help a “vet get a pet.”

The paper paws, designed by Sevyn Jones, are available for sale during student lunch times and cost $1. Each purchased paw will then be hung in the cafeteria for all to see. All funds raised will be given to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7293’s auxiliary in Whitehall.

The auxiliary is currently raising funds to provide a service dog to a local area veteran. The total cost of a trained dog is anywhere from $35,000 to $40,000. It is our hope CMS students can work together to help the VFW auxiliary reach that goal.

To contribute, contact Lisa Roth at CMS at 610-264-4341.