The following was written from the point of view of Arctic "Storm" Wiedbusch, a certified Assistance Dog.

Accompanying poem by David Lester

This past month has been very magical for me and my dad, reminding both of us about what life is truly about, even during these tough economic times here in Ypsilanti.

Love Lives Here...
If you don't want to be greeted with paws and swinging tails...
Don't come Inside because dogs live here.

Just before the winter break from school, the more than 500 preschool, kindergarten and first graders who attend Perry Child Development Center in Ypsilanti, along with their families and teachers, held a recognition event to honor my dad for all he does to keep the children safe — both at school and in their community. They made him a handmade quilt to keep him warm after a hard day at work and they made me a custom K-9 vest and scarf (both items where decorated with drawings and pictures made by the children).

If you don't like the feel of a cold nose or a wet tongue...
Don't come Inside because dogs live here.

The children and staff at the school know that my dad and I help teach the new foster puppies-in-training from Paradise Dog Training on how to socialize and behave in public settings and how to respond to verbal and hand commands to help prepare them to hopefully become Assistance Dogs when they grow up. Many hear my dad speak so highly about his heroes, the “foster family puppy raisers”. These hometown heroes take a new puppy into their homes and hearts for 12-14 months to help these dogs mature and learn so once reaching adulthood, they have a positive foundation to help reach their goal as an Assistance Dog.

Once they’re trained, certified and insured, these service dogs then can help an individual with a disability go on to gain independence and have a productive life.

The students themselves asked their teachers, what else can they as kids do to help my dad and me make a real difference in one person’s life?

That's when the real magic began!

If you think a house ought to smell of perfume...
Don't come inside because dogs live here.

The children hear their families talk about money issues and, even at this point in their development, they know it takes money to raise a puppy and to keep it healthy. The children decided that each classmate should bring in one quarter and place it in a special "Help The Foster Puppy" jar. My dad was asked to invite a foster family and the puppy into school. These quarters would then be given to a foster puppy’s family to help make a difference in this puppy's life, to help keep them healthy so they can grow up to help others.

Last Friday, the foster family (Scott and Pam from Paradise Dog Training) brought 10-week-old puppy "Murphy" down from Fenton, Mich. to spend the morning with the children and staff. The children and staff's eyes were as big as the quarters that the children collected when they interacted with the puppy.

Even with our city’s tough economy, these students cared enough to reach into their pockets and hearts, and presented more than 1,000 quarters to the foster family to help cover the cost of his veterinary bills and training.

Murphy has been invited back this spring to visit, and the children said they would search under their parent's car seats and under the living room coach cushions to find more quarters to continue to make a difference in Murphy's life.

Now I know why my dad has taken care of the children here in Ypsilanti for over 35 years. He say's it's because when children come to school here, they not only learn how to read and write, they learn how to love, care and make a difference in others lives: even if it's only one quarter at a time.

If you don't mind all of this...
You will be instantly loved when you come inside,
Because dogs live here.

"Storm" Wiedbusch is a certified Assistance, Service, Rescue and Therapy Dog who, along with his handler, Ron Wiedbusch, are now regular contributors to AnnArbor.com's pets section and work in the community to raise awareness about Assistance and Therapy Dogs and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The pair can be found at various places in the community throughout the week, and each day patrolling the area around Ypsilanti Public Schools as part of the Safe Schools Program.