Amanda is a 1997 Graduate of West Liberty University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice.
Her journey with paws4people® and paws4prisons® began in 2014 through her position
with the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where she serves as an
Associate Superintendent and the Division Program Mentor for the paws4prisons®
Programs in West Virginia. She immediately knew that she wanted to become more
involved with paws4people® outside of her normal work assignment. The opportunity to
be a part of their Ambassador Program brought CREIGHTON into her life in 2015.
POLLY became her Successor Dog in 2026.
As Ambassadors for paws4people® and paws4prisons® they will be attending events, as
well as visiting Assisted Living Facilities and schools. They will have reading programs
for the students to read to POLLY in a judgment-free environment. Amanda and POLLY
will also have small art sessions with adults and children for them to transform POLLY’s
pawprints into unique masterpieces loving called “POLLY-prints.” Amanda and POLLY
will also carry on CREIGHTON’s legacy at North Star Child Advocacy Center in
Parkersburg, WV. While there, POLLY will bring comfort to child victims during the
forensic interview process, as well as providing deep pressure therapy as they share
their stories. POLLY will also spend time with the CAC staff as they decompress after
forensic interviews,
In her role as the WVDCR paws4prisons® Mentor, Amanda has the unique opportunity
to see the daily progress of the Assistance Dogs in Training. She often supervises
evening and weekend outings for the Assistance Dogs in Training to go to various
locations for exposure to new environments, people, sounds, etc. Amanda is also an
Evaluator for annual Assistance Dog Certifications.
Amanda is forever grateful for the opportunity be a part of paws4people® and to
continue to pay it forward with POLLY by her side!
