Golden Opportunities For Independence

TO EMPOWER OUR CLIENTS TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, UNENCUMBERED BY THE CHALLANGES OF DAILY LIVING ASSOCIATED WITH MEDICAL DISABILITIES. WE MATCH EACH CLIENT WITH A SERVICE DOG THAT MEETS THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. IT IS OUR GOAL TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH THE TIME NEEDED FOR THE RECIPIENT TO TAKE THEIR SERVICE DOG INTO THEIR LIVES AND PROVIDE TRAINING SERVICES FOR THE LIFE OF THE DOG.

BREEDING PUPPIES OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS, OUR FOUNDER HAS DEVELOPED A PROVEN SYSTEM FOR BREEDING, RAISING, AND TRAINING SERVICE DOGS FOR THOSE WITH A DISABILITY. VOLUNTEER BREEDER CARETAKERS CARE FOR OUR BREEDER DOGS AND NURTURE NEWBORN PUPPIES FOR EIGHT WEEKS BEGINNING WHEN THE PUPPIES ARE BORN. VOLUNTEER PUPPY RAISERS CARE FOR, SOCIALIZE AND PROVIDE BASIC OBEDIENCE TRAINING FOR OUR GOFIDOG PUPPIES WHILE IN THEIR CARE. EACH PUPPY IS BROUGHT TO OUR FACILITY AND IS PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. EACH HOUR SPENT CARING FOR A GOFIDOG PUPPY IS VITAL TO ITS DEVELOPMENT AS A FUTURE ASSISTANCE DOG. PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINERS SPEND UP TO 22 MONTHS TEACHING THE DOG TO MASTER TASKS NECESSARY TO ASSIST A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY. WE TRAIN OUR SERVICE DOGS TO ASSIST ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES BY PERFORMING DAILY TASKS, SUCH AS PICKING UP DROPPED ITEMS, OPENING DOORS, AND TURNING LIGHTS OFF AND ON. WE HAVE BRED OVER 100 DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN ENTERED INTO OUR PROGRAM. SKILLED COMPANIONS ENHANCE INDEPENDENCE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES UNDER THE ASSISTANCE OF A FACILITATOR, TYPICALLY A PARENT OR CAREGIVER WORKING DOGS - WORK WITH A PROFESSIONAL WHO DIRECTLY SERVES CLIENTS, SCHOOL CHILDREN, OR SPECIAL NEEDS IN A VISITATION, EDUCATION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, OR HEALTHCARE SETTING. WE ENGAGE OUR RECIPIENTS FROM THE BEGINNING TO WORK ON DEVELOPING A BOND AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE ATTENDING THE TRAINING. THE MATCHING OF RECIPIENTS AND CANINES TAKES PLACE AS PUPPIES ARE JUST 8 WEEKS OLD. THIS PAIRING PROVIDES OUR RECIPIENTS WITH VITAL COMPANIONSHIP FROM THEIR ASSISTANCE DOG AS WELL AS A TEAM OF MENTORS, TRAINERS, AND A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT. TO MEET THE GOALS ESTABLISHED BY OUR TEAM IN OUR MOST RECENT STRATEGIC PLAN, WE ARE HOPING TO BREAK GROUND FOR A NEW, STATE OF THE ART TRAINING CENTER AND WELLNESS CENTER THAT WILL ALLOW EXPANSION OF OUR BREEDING PROGRAM AND RESEARCH INITIATIVES. THIS WILL BE KEY TO PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF DOGS AND BEST POSSIBLY TRAINED ANIMALS TO ASSIST HUMANS WITH A DISABILITY. OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCE DOG PROGRAM HAS BEEN AN ASTOUNDING SUCCESS WITHIN LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO ASSIST THOSE WITH EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY AS THE NUMBER OF CALLS THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING HAS INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY. OUR CRD'S HAVE BROUGHT A KINDER APPROACH TO DEALING WITH SITUATIONS WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE THROES OF A PANIC OR AGGRAVATED STATE. UTILIZING OUR DOGS HAS DECREASED THE TIME IT TAKES FOR SOMEONE TO COME TO TERMS WITH THEIR ISSUES AND ACCEPT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE OFFICERS, PREVENTED TRIPS TO THE ED AND BROUGHT COMMUNITIES TOGETHER. WE HAVE PLACED ALMOST 20 DOGS IN THIS ROLE AND EACH AND EVERY DEPARTMENT STATES UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT IT HAS BEEN THE BEST THING THEIR DEPARTMENTS HAVE DONE. IN ORDER FOR US TO PERFORM OUR MISSION WE MUST BREED DOGS OF TOP QUALITY. OUR PUPPIES ARE RAISED SOLELY BY VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE WITH THE PUPPIES CONSTANTLY FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS AND THE BETTER PART OF THE DAY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 6 WEEKS UNTIL THEY ARE READY TO GO TO THEIR NEXT CHAPTER IN LIFE.