It's said that dogs are a man's best friend, but service dogs can be even closer companions.
Kara Russell and Rachel Denton are a team of two helping to train service dogs, and their training ground is a local college campus.
"Everyone wants to pet Sequoia," Russell said. "I mean, he's a really cool, beautiful dog."
Sequoia is also a service dog, so petting is a no-no. For Sequoia and Denton, it's a focus on promoting disability awareness at the campus of Rollins College.
"It makes people ask questions, and we've been able to see on campus some of the flaws and maybe handicap buttons aren't accessible -- things like that," Denton said. "So, we're able to promote positive change on campus."
Denton started training Sequoia a year ago -- about the time she and Russell co-founded SIT, or Service Independence Training, at Rollins.
"I think our main takeaway is that people assume there are only seeing-eye dogs and not service dogs," Russell said. "So, if we can make that change (at) Rollins and then when people graduate -- they educate their children and friends -- then we can really create a culture that's more embracing toward people with a disability."
From campus to class, Sequoia goes everywhere Denton goes.
"People have been really respectful of Sequoia," Denton said. "They don't pet him in class and they're really kind and there are other people who just don't know, and they ask me if I'm blind or if I'm a handicap."
But the dog becomes a conversation starter -- a chance to educate him and find more trainers for the local New Horizons Service Dogs.
"He's used to coming to class, which is awesome because it mimics an office environment," Russell said. "When he does go to his person, one day he'll be able to sit in an office for six, seven, eight hours and not get antsy."
Denton said Sequoia becomes like a person's hands. He'll pick things up, he can open doors, turn on lights. He can even help pay at the cash register.
Service dogs can also help those with mobility impairments, veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and children with autism.
The SIT program was recently recognized as one of just 50 programs asked to present at the Clinton Global Initiative University.
Sequoia will soon leave for more training and pairing with a service partner. It's bittersweet, but Denton has been through this before.
"To be able to see him paired up with his partner ... she was so excited when he was able to pick up her keys for her, so you know to see that and be able to see where my effort has brought the dog ... makes it all worth it in the end," Denton said.