Rebecka's Presentation

The use of service animals in today’s society is increasing each year. These hard-working animals are trained in many different ways and for a plethora of reasons. These animals subdue the pain of their owner, making it easier for their owner go through this life, but what about the animals themselves? Rebecka, a senior biology major, has asked that question and answered it herself through her research. Raising service dogs for nine years has given Rebecka the knowledge and ambition to collaborate with professors here at Boise State to create a new type of service dog vest that will help the animals in more ways than one. Using a material that decreases the risk of overheating, Rebecka and Dr. Uwereischl have created a vest that does just that. Recent tests have shown that this vest decreases infrared penetration by 40 percent! With perks like this, decreasing heat exhaustion and increasing the lifespan of these animals is a dream waiting to become true.

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About Rebecka

Rebecka “Brecka” Seward, also known as “puzzle brain,” “kid magnet,” and “animal whisperer,” is an eighth-generation Idahoan and an avid outdoorswoman with a passion for learning about life through working with animals and children.  Upon graduation from Boise State University she will be known as “One Who Studies Life” or simply a biologist!
Throughout her first quarter of a century of living life Rebecka has immersed herself in a variety of jobs, hobbies, volunteer opportunities, athletic endeavors, and educational endeavors. She hopes to synthesize these experiences by establishing an “Oasis of Opportunities” for marginalized youth and animals.

As a lifelong, insightful investigator she hopes to help find innovative solutions to some of life’s issues—even if they are considered by mainstream society to be insignificant or insurmountable. Rebecka is particularly passionate about uprooting the subtle and yet pervasive fear of mental illnesses and disabilities that is prevalent in today’s society.  She believes that this fear is the underlying factor for many of the social and health trends that are present in America and other cultures.

Through the activities of the Oasis of Opportunities she hopes to overcome the social and cultural glass boxes that are the labels, misconceptions, and stereotypes that confine and constrain many youth and animals to the margins of mainstream society.
In addition to working with marginalized animals and youth, Rebecka hopes the Oasis will be a place of community engagement and education.   Several of her interest areas are:  educating about the cycles of life in a wholesome, hands-on approach; researching innovative ways to grow produce and crops; and enabling all individuals to find their life passion by giving them the opportunity to reach out and give back in meaningful ways.
One of the ways she is currently synthesizing her experiences is thru the creation of Kamiah’s Kool Vest: an innovative solution to heat stress in service dogs. ​