I've always thought the idea of owning a service animal would be amazing. Who doesn't want a dog that is extremely well trained that they can take EVERYWHERE with them? But due to me not being in need of a service animal I will most likely not be able to enjoy this pleasure. But this does not mean that I have not looked into the many programs that are available and how I can get involved. Many programs throughout the country offer service puppy's to pet owners to be socialized from 16 weeks to 12 months. So you get a lab/golden/shepherd puppy and raise it for one year and expose it to as many elements as possible. The problem with this is what happens at 12 months? You have to give service puppy back to finish training for its future owner. It would just be heartbreaking.
A friend of mine recently brought this program in Oregon to my attention. Unlike many other programs that use specific breeds for assistance dogs, this program takes rescue/shelter dogs and trains them to be of assistance to those who are hard of hearing. The program's called Dogs for the Deaf and it's out of Central Point, Oregon. According to their website, in over 30 years they have managed to provide 3,000 dogs for people. Their program is broken down into 4 different categories. They have Hearing Dogs (rescue mixed breed dogs up to 36 months old who help the deaf population), Miracle Mutts (pups that provide emotional support for those who are struggling with depression or loneliness), Harmony's Hounds (humans aren't the only one's with special needs. Harmony hounds are dogs that may have medical problems or need a bit more tlc.), and Career Change Dogs (dogs that are wonderful companions). They also have a program for Autistic persons that provides a dog to specifically help Autistic children.
Overall the program costs about $25,000 to train each dog but the placement of a dog is free-of-charge for the person receiving the canine.
I think this program's awesome because not only are Dogs for the Deaf training animals to assist individuals but they're also giving homes to dogs that may be otherwise euthanized.
I've decided that for each post I'm going to have a Pup Du Jour. I'll show a dog that in need of a home in various parts of the country. And of course they'll be super cute!
And so, without further ado....
Meet Meatball
I found Meatball through the ASPCA group on my Facebook. I receive updates from them regularly but this one caught my attention more than most. He's a pit bull and he's estimated to be about 3 years old. Those crazy ears and that speckled nose just did it for me. You can find Meatball through the ASPCA in New York City. I hope you all enjoy him as much as I do!!
Awww that's an amazing program. You said you wanted to work with dogs. Maybe there is an internship you can do that is kind of like this program. Have you checked?
ReplyDeleteI emailed Dr. Slater today. We'll see! I'm supposed to call her about it. I just want to make sure it's all figured out by beginning of the semester.
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