Organization: Freedom Service Dogs Inc
Mission: Freedom Service Dogs unleashes the potential of dogs by transforming them into custom-trained, life-changing assistance dogs for people in need.
Activities: In 2019, FSD graduated 19 client-dog teams from the following programs: Operation Freedom (6 teams) : FSD matches veterans and active duty military withhighly specialized service dogs that help them find a new level of independence andconfidence. Operation Full Circle (3 teams): In this unique program, veterans with PTS andtraumatic brain injury work alongside FSD trainers for four months to train the dogsprovided to them by FSD. Traditional placement (6 teams): FSD matches individuals with disabilities,including spinal-cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cerebralpalsy, and others, with dogs that are custom trained to meet their unique needs. Discos Dogs (3 teams): This program provides service dogs and skilled-companion dogs for individuals age 5 and up with autism-related differences or developmentaldisabilities. Therapy dogs (1 team): This program matches professional therapists withprofessional therapy dogs that work alongside them in group or individual sessionswith their clients.FSD provided shelter, food, veterinary care, enrichment, foster care, andprofessional training to 141 dogs in 2019. Of those, 92 career-change dogs that didnot graduate found loving homes through FSDs adoption program.Additionally, FSD provided lifetime support, including follow-up training andrecertification, to 200 existing client-dog teams in 2019.During 2019, FSD volunteers logged 27,505 hours assisting with dog care, dogtraining, dog socialization, public education, administration, event support, andoutreach
Public education and outreach: FSD provides a variety of educational programs, including working with youths with developmental disabilities or neurodiversity in schools, community programs, and other settings, and educating corporate and community-based groups on the FSD mission and impact. In 2019, more than 200 youths in 19 schools and treatment programs were reached through Pawsitive Connection, a therapeutic program in which students and young adults with developmental disabilities or neurodiversity work with FSD dogs in training to explore topics such as empathy, social interactions and more. Additionally, more than 800 youth and adults were reached through FSD trained therapy dogs.
NTEE category: Animal-Related
Secondary category: Human Services