When the Bethel Park High School senior, who is a Girl Scout Ambassador with Troop 51097 in Bethel Park, chose to foster a puppy through Michigan-based Paws With A Cause as part of her Gold Award service project, she had no way of knowing that the dog would end up being a permanent fixture in her home.

The organization's Foster Puppy Program was a perfect fit, allowing Sabrina to work with animals and perform community outreach, a criteria for her Gold Award.

Paws With A Cause trains assistance dogs nationally for people with disabilities, including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries, epilepsy, and varying degrees of vision and hearing loss.

The dogs are acquired as puppies through the organization's own breeding program and through the generosity of private breeders then placed in the Paws Foster Puppy Program to be matched up with a foster family who will provide basic training and socialization, a stimulating environment full of love and attention, and socialization.

As one of seven children, providing a foster home filled with love and attention wouldn't be a problem for Sabrina. And Lacey, their golden retriever, could help with socialization. Sabrina applied to the program and after being interviewed and visited by Ron Donovan, a Pittsburgh field representative for PAWS With A Cause, was recommended for the Foster Puppy Program.

On May 8, the eight-week-old puppy boarded a plane bound for Pittsburgh. Sabrina named him Laker, keeping with Paws request to choose a name beginning with an "L."

For five months, she and Laker traveled to Century III Mall one day per week to attended training classes.

"Laker had a different personality than the other dogs," she said. "He took a while to calm down but once he did, he did fine."

Sabrina's mother said the family had to be careful Laker didn't pick up and swallow things around the house.