Meet Kona! Kona is a black lab and a Guide Dogs of America (GDA) puppy in training on her way to becoming a “service dog.” At just over seven months old, on March 1, Kona reached a milestone in her training as she had been doing short stays for a few weeks at the kennels referred to as Camp GDA, where she had a roommate, met the staff and learned how to use the equipment in her kennel.
So, what does a puppy in training have to do with elevators? A lot, it turns out. Kona’s training is sponsored by SCS Elevator Products (SCS). In 2021, SCS was looking for a way to give back, according to the company blog. A service dog seemed like a perfect fit, as SCS was established in the mid-1970s as Stencil Cutting and Supply Co. by Robley G. Cook, a visually impaired individual who used the services of a guide dog and recognized the need for directional Braille signs, especially in and around elevators, to help visually impaired people navigate the world around them.
SCS partnered with GDA last summer and learned later in the year that Kona would receive the benefits of the partnership.
“Partnering with GDA seemed like the perfect opportunity to support a great organization and connect us back to our history as a company,” said SCS East Coast Regional Sales Manager Brian Hilfrank, who came up with the idea.
At the he National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) annual convention in October, SCS Elevator Products received the 2021 Spirit Award. NAEC credited the company’s involvement with GDA and sponsorship of Kona as a big part of winning the award.
Kona is currently being raised in the home of her “puppy raiser” and will return to the GDA campus for formal training between 15 and 18 months old. You can follow Kona’s training journey on both the SCS Elevator Products and Elevating Kona Facebook pages.
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