California Baptist University 2022

S THRIVING WITH OAKLEY Carina Womack finds aid through her service dog, who accompanies her everywhere she goes Struggling with different medical issues and an exhaustion of resources, Carina Womack, junior psy chology and health science double major, sought out a service dog. Oakley, raised and trained in Ohio, as a last resort for her healthcare. workout classes, to class, church, dining halls and events. As Womack and Oakley needed to adapt to a new setting after the pandemic, being on campus was over whelming as a student with a service dog that attracts so much attention.

During the pandemic, Womack and her family re searched programs for service dogs, which normally requires a two-to-four-year waiting list to find

“It was hard when we first came to campus because, yes, we went out, but since the pandemic, Oakley was not surrounded by many people,” she says. “Seeing a lot of people who don’t have their dog and are asking me about her, or petting her — it was overwhelming.”

a suitable service dog. Through the Freedom Paws program, Womack found Oakley, who is trained as a cardiac alert dog with the abil ity to alert her to drops and spikes in cardiac rhythms. Oakley will get Womack’s attention if her heart rate dips below 60 or exceeds 120 beats per minute. In a situation where Womack is not feeling well, Oakley is there to respond. “If it’s getting kind of weird, she will sit up and look up at me

She is ... medical equipment on duty and a furry friend off duty. Carina Womack junior psychology and health science double major

Not only has Oakley made health care easier for Womack, but a service dog has also changed her life as a student for the better. “She makes life easier in a lot of ways,” Womack says. “(If I were) living without her, I would have to readjust what that would look like.” Because Oakley underwent two years of extensive training for service dogs, she can adjust to any open setting. She is perfect in public, Womack says, because she does not react like a pet would, and this helps Womack publicly. “I don’t look like I have any

like, ‘OK, we’re not there yet’ and paw me,” she says. “Since she’s trained in guide work, she finds stairs, exits, elevators and certain people as a response to my health episodes.” Though a college student’s life can be stressful, Wom ack finds a sense of normalcy through her day with Oakley in her everyday routine. “We get up around 7 to 8 (a.m.), depending on classes, and feed her supplements,” Womack says. “I get ready and then usually put on her gear. If it’s really hot she will wear boots to protect her paws.” Being attached to Womack 24/7, Oakley goes to

thing wrong with me, and a lot of people expect to see a service dog with a person in a wheelchair or notice able disability,” she says. “So a lot of people assume I’m training her, but she is my service dog — medical equipment on duty and a furry friend off duty.” As Womack lives with health conditions, Oakley remains by her side to help her live independently through simple tasks around her dorm, campus and in public.

WORDS Anyssa Gonzalez

PHOTOS Kia Harlan Courtesy of Carina Womack

DESIGN Kia Harlan

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Carina and Oakley