Plant High Graduate Recognized For Puppy-Raising Organization

TAMPA, FL — A Tampa woman was recognized by Syracuse University of New York for her work as the founder and president of the Syracuse University student group Service Dogs at Syracuse.

Gianna Cacciatore, 21, a graduate of Plant High School, will graduate from Syracuse University in 2020 with a degree in computer science.

Service Dogs at Syracuse partners with the national nonprofit organization Canine Companions for Independence that pairs puppies with volunteer puppy raisers, who take care of the puppies until they are old enough to go through professional training to become service dogs.

The students receive the pups when they are 8 weeks old, and then socialize and train them with basic commands until about they are about 18 months old. The dogs then begin more intensive training with professionals to be able to assist individuals with disabilities or to assist professionals working in a health care, visitation, criminal justice or educational setting.

Cacciatore has been raising a Labrador retriever named Princeton.

“It’s been such a rewarding experience to be able to raise Princeton and to have him impact so many people’s lives even before he’s gone on to help someone,” said Cacciatore.

Cacciatore got Princeton the summer before her junior year in 2018, and the dog was with her at home and at Syracuse up until last month. In November, Princeton went on to his next level of training at a CCI training facility in Medford, New York.

Cacciatore knew it would be sad when he left, but she knows his mission is important.

“He’s going to help someone who really needs his assistance,” she said.

Cacciatore started the student organization in 2016, combining two of her passions: dogs and helping others.

Read more about the organization: Students Raise Service Dogs in Training as Part of Their Life on Campus.