Volunteer >> Volunteer Spotlight

Regina Radzicki

The bridge connecting autism and Our Companions Canine College training techniques does not span a river as wide or deep as one may suspect.  For Regina Radzicki, the similarity was striking. 
In 2007 Regina, a recent graduate of Penn State, moved to Connecticut for a job opportunity.  Her Masters was in Special Education and her specialty, autism, certainly not an interest for the timid. It was not long after that she pursued another connection, that being, working with animals.
All her life, Regina had dogs.  Her family sheltered, cared, and loved many a pet.  To this day her mother works with rescue groups in Charlotte, North Carolina, where both her parents live.  So Regina comes from a strong hearted, compassionate, and determined family, who hold a high set of standards as to how animals should be treated.

If one believes in fate than one could say that Regina was meant to walk into Petco the day Our Companions had a booth display.  It was the opportunity for which she was looking.  There she learned about the comprehensive approach to animal care that Our Companions practices and teaches.  She understood that this was the connection she wanted between her career and what has since become her hobby, as a volunteer at the Canine College.

Regina connected to Our Companions’ positive methodology principals for training dogs.  She saw the similarities between the teaching approach taken with special education children and the dog training sessions. As Regina explained “Our Companions, as we who are educating special children, do not use negative reinforcement, instead teach using positive rewards, in this case treats for dogs, and approach challenging behavior not from a reactionary position but by distracting them and reinforcing that positive change”.  This reflected Regina’s convictions and approach to education.

As she explained, we try to understand unacceptable behavior, get to the root of the problem and then and only then, can you successfully change, modify, or eliminate it.  It was through Mia, her own special pet, from which she learned first-hand how effective Our Companions’ approach really could be. 

Mia is a 6 year old English Setter who had been used as a hunting dog. She was given little attention or love and was certainly traumatized by the sounds of guns.  In a normal situation Mia would have been put down, but Regina rescued her from this fate. She explained that her pet was afraid of the sound of the refrigerator, air conditioner, and many of the other household noises we just overlook. Through patience, positive reinforcement, and love Mia is now a socialized, well adjusted pup, who recently earned her degree as a Therapy Dog.

So Regina is committed not only to her career and Mia, but also to Our Companions.  Weekly she works as a trainer at Our Companions Canine College.  In addition, she participates in the weekly walks taken by owners and their canine graduates as a means of honing the skills they have learned by introducing them to natural environments such as parks. This isn’t where her commitment ends. Regina supports many of Our Companions’ special events showing dogs available for adoption and helping when and wherever the need arises.

Regina Radzicki is a compassionate, can-do person.  Her energy and good heartedness is treasured by all at Our Companions, as are her skills and team working spirit. 

Previous Volunteer Spotlights

April 2010 - Veteran Volunteers
February 2010- Mandy Wieting
December 2009 - Pat McGuiness
October 2009 - Risa Davidson
August 2009 - Deb Soricelli
June 2009 - Henry Petrofsky
March 2009 - Jacquie Ro
Dec 2008 - Gretchen Labau
Sept 2008 Todd Johnston
July 2008 Lyn Garson
May 2008 Daryl Carbone
March 2008 Sue King
Jan 2008 Jon Phillips