Bluepath Service Dogs Inc

THE MISSION OF BLUEPATH SERVICE DOGS, INC. IS TO PROVIDE AUTISM SERVICE DOGS, OFFERING SAFETY, COMPANIONSHIP AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDEPENDENCE. BLUEPATH'S EXPERTLY TRAINED AUTISM SERVICE DOGS WORK ALONGSIDE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO PREVENT WANDERING. THE DOGS SIGNIFICANTLY LESSEN PARENTS' SAFETY CONCERNS AND HELP CHILDREN TO LEAD FULLER LIVES. REDUCED STRESS, IMPROVED SLEEPING ROUTINES AND MORE MEANINGFUL SOCIAL INTERACTIONS CAN ALLOW FAMILIES TO FEEL A RENEWED SENSE OF HOPE AND EMPOWERMENT.

BLUEPATH SERVICE DOGS, INC. RAISES, TRAINS AND PLACES SERVICE DOGS IN FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH AUTISM. ANNUALLY, BLUEPATH PARTICIPATES IN A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY EVENTS, PROVIDING EXTENSIVE EDUCATION AROUND AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS AND SERVICE DOGS, AND GARNERING CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR ITS MISSION. BLUEPATH'S AUTISM SERVICE DOG PROGRAM INCLUDES PUPPY RAISING, FORMAL TRAINING AND PLACEMENT COMPONENTS. VOLUNTEER PUPPY RAISERS DEVOTE THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE TO PREPARING LABRADOR AND GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPPIES TO BECOME WELL-ADJUSTED SERVICE DOGS. BEGINNING AT EIGHT WEEKS OF AGE, PUPPIES ARE TAUGHT BASIC OBEDIENCE SKILLS AND APPROPRIATE HOME BEHAVIOR. RAISERS EXPOSE THE EAGER PUPS TO ALL THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER, ENABLING THEM TO DEVELOP A REFERENCE LIBRARY OF SIGHTS, SOUNDS, AND EXPERIENCES NEEDED TO BECOME WELL-TRAINED SERVICE DOGS. AT APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS OF AGE, BLUEPATH DOGS BEGIN FORMAL TRAINING DURING WHICH TIME A PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTOR BUILDS ON THE FOUNDATION THE PUPPY RAISER HAS INSTILLED, TEACHING THE DOG INCREASINGLY ADVANCED BEHAVIORS. DOGS ACQUIRE SKILLS LIKE "ANCHORING" (LEARNING HOW TO STOP A CHILD FROM WANDERING OR BOLTING) AND "VISIT" (PROVIDING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT BY THE DOG RESTING ITS HEAD ON THE CHILD). INTEGRAL TO THE FORMAL TRAINING OF BLUEPATH SERVICE DOGS IS THE "KIDS AND CANINES LEARNING TOGETHER PROGRAM" WHICH ENABLES FUTURE SERVICE DOGS TO LEARN IN REAL-LIFE CLASSROOM SETTINGS, AND TO GAIN THE SPECIFIC SKILLS NEEDED TO KEEP CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SAFE. DOGS WORK WITH A PROFESSIONAL TRAINER IN CLASSROOMS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM, SPECIAL NEEDS AND BLENDED CLASSES OVER AN EIGHT-MONTH PERIOD. NEARLY 1,000 CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM ANNUALLY. AT APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS OF AGE, BLUEPATH SERVICE DOGS ARE READY TO BE PLACED IN THE HOMES OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH AUTISM. BLUEPATH CURRENTLY SERVES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH AUTISM BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5 AND 11 YEARS OLD WHO LIVE WITHIN A TWO-HOUR RADIUS OF HOPEWELL JUNCTION, NY. LIFETIME FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT IS PROVIDED. BOTH THE DOGS AND LIFETIME SUPPORT ARE FREE OF CHARGE.