You might've heard of WAGS, or Wisconsin Academy for Graduate Service Dogs. The local non-profit raises service dogs for people with disabilities. Now, a glimpse into what it takes to train a pup into a dog with a job -- and how you can take part.

"Jordan, Take. Yes! Good girl!"
Debbie Wildman has a job many people would envy.
"Jordan, tug! Yes, good girl!"
Wildman raises puppies -- as a volunteer with WAGS.
This is Jordan, an 11-week-old pup, who's retrieving, tugging and sitting her way toward graduation.
"We have about 10 clients now waiting for a dog. So we definitely need more volunteers, we definitely need more puppies," Aaron Backer says.
Backer is the non-profit's executive director. He says each service dog runs about 15-thousand dollars. He says clients generally fundraise and pay less than a third of the actual cost. Backer says volunteers, like Debbie, keep the cost of training at a minimum.
"The second piece is that it makes it a truly community organization and program because they get involved in helping someone, and the dogs make a huge difference in someone's life," he says.
He says a dog like Jordan, who's already able to pick up keys, a cell phone and open doors will offer someone with a disability more independence.
"The caregiver time that they have is going to decrease. Some of the figures say 65-percent," he says, "The other thing that is a really critical piece it gets them out into the community, their confidence grows."
"We go on field trips ... I try to go on at least 5 field trips a week, to get her used to going out in public," Wildman says.
After several months of training with Debbie, Jordan will head to another trainer to develop more skills.
Debbie, meanwhile, will welcome another pup -- eager to play and to prepare for a job with a purpose.
"It's so, so worth it," Wildman says.
WAGS is always looking for volunteers and financial support. Its Fall fundraiser is coming up on October 18th at Olbrich Gardens, but you need to act soon. The event includes dinner, a raffle and WAGS dogs!.

For more information, go to: www.wags.net