Service Dogs Of New Mexico

THE PROGRAM PURPOSE INITIALLY WAS TO OFFER AN AFFORDABLE, FLEXIBLE AND MORE TIMELY WAY TO HELP VETERANS WITH THEIR SERVICE DOG NEEDS. IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS TO 2 YEARS TO FULLY TRAIN A SERVICE DOG. THIS TIME IS BASED ON SEVERAL FACTORS: FINDING THE RIGHT DOG, THE DOGS ABILITIES, THE TASKS TO BE TRAINED AND THE CLIENT'S ABILITY TO MAKE CLASSES. VETERANS' HEALTH ISSUES MAY EXTEND THE USUAL TIMEFRAME. OUR PROGRAM IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT OFFERS THE POSSIBILITY FOR TRAINING A CLIENT'S OWN DOG IF IT HAS THE APTITUDES REQUIRED, INSTEAD OF FORCING THEM TO RELINQUISH A PET AND ACCEPT A SUBSTITUTE COMMPANION. DUE TO REQUESTS FROM NON-VETERAN ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED TO HELP THESE OTHER COMMUNITIES. BECAUSE OF THE NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS WE HAD TO MAKE THE TRAINING AREA COMPLIANT WITH ADA LAWS. UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2018 CLIENTS IN TRAINING INCLUDED: 5 VETERANS 6 NON-VETERAN ADULTS 5 CHILDREN AND WE PLACED 7 DOGS. IN 9 CASES, THE CLIENTS HAD THEIR OWN DOGS. TRAINING CAPACITY WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2018 WITH OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DUKE CITY DOG ACADEMY, THROUGH WHOM WE HAVE ACCESS TO UP TO 4 TRAINERS WHO ARE CERTIFIED IN TASK-TRAINING DOGS FOR SERVING THOSE WITH VARIOUS DISABILITIES. SINCE THEN WE WERE ABLE TO BRING MORE CLIENTS INTO THE PROGRAM AND HAVE DEVELOPED TRAINING MANUALS FOR THEM. WE OFFER ON-SITE CLASSES AND CAN ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING IN THE HOME FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ISSUES THAT MAKE AT-HOME TRAINING EASIER. WE HAVE A VERY STRUCTURED PROGRAM WITH AN ORIENTATION, HOME VISITS AND A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. IN SEPTEMBER 2018 WE WERE AWARDED A GRANT FROM WOUNDED WARRIORS, WHICH HAS ALLOWED US TO PAY FOR SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR OUR TRAINERS AND HELP PAY TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR VETERANS WHO COME FROM OUTLYING AREAS. SINCE EXPANDING THE PROGRAM WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED CLIENTS, AND THEIR DOGS, IN-TRAINING TO: 15 VETERANS 13 ADULTS 12 CHILDREN