Jack (L) sitting next to his Autism Assistance Dog Dinero, Dogs for Better Lives’ third autism dog placed in southern Oregon since 2016.
CENTRAL POINT, OR; Dogs for the Deaf, Inc. concluded their 2016-17 fiscal year at the end of June, having placed 82 dogs nationally, twenty-three of which were Assistance Dogs (Hearing – 20, Program – 2, and Autism – 1). This was no small feat, considering not every dog (rescue or otherwise) that goes through the organization’s cutting-edge and rigorous 4-6 month training program, qualifies in the end.
Over the past twelve months, Dogs for the Deaf has placed these 23 Assistance Dogs in 14 states across the country. In addition, Dogs for the Deaf has traveled to 14 states to conduct follow-ups with 29 dog and client teams, as well as traveled to 17 states and conducted 34 home interviews with prospective clients.
Not every dog brought in for training ultimately qualifies as an Assistance Dog. Of all the dogs brought in for training, 59 of them were placed as Career Change Dogs in forever homes. Each of these dogs is making a positive impact on lives of their caring clients. Dogs for the Deaf has a lifetime commitment to every one of these dogs and their respective clients.
“Our trained Assistance Dogs not only better the lives of those who hold their leash, a ripple happens when a dog is placed. The partner who worries about their loved one when they are gone, the parent who finds peace in hearing genuine laughter from their child, or the teacher who can deliver that day’s lesson to all their students feel this ripple and thus their lives are better,” noted Client Services Representative Anjanette Wright.
Dogs for the Deaf reached a major milestone in early 2017, placing their third Autism Assistance Dog, further entrenching their cutting-edge autism program in southern and central Oregon. In May Dogs for the Deaf’s first Program Assistance Dog placement in Portland was finalized, further establishing a credible program that places assistance dogs in classrooms and other settings where an adult client uses the dog in a public setting, helping to the better the lives of children and young adults.
In November Dogs for the Deaf broke ground on a new 18,900 sq. ft. Second Training Facility that will be located on their southern Oregon campus, in Central Point, OR. The two-story, 40-kennel facility will eventually support the capacity to triple the number of dogs secured, professionally trained, and ultimately placed with qualifying clients. The new facility is expected to be completed and operating in early 2018.
“We have outgrown our current facility and can change the lives of many more families with our new training building. The Training Staff can’t wait to move in and start training dogs. With new larger kennels and open training areas, more dogs can be trained for all three of our programs,” stated Training Director John Drach.
Dogs for the Deaf is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2017, and with the organization’s more recent expanded expansion into Program Assistance Dogs and Autism Assistance Dogs, rebranding is necessary to best exemplify the diversity and breadth of all the great work this national nonprofit does. Dogs for the Deaf will be unveiling a new name and logo in November 2017 that best represents who they are as an organization, though the mission to rescue will not change.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Dogs for the Deaf is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focusing on the training and placing of Hearing Assistance Dogs, Program Assistance Dogs, and Autism Assistance Dogs. Accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and recognized by Charity Navigator as a 4-star nonprofit, Dogs for the Deaf has been rescuing dogs, bettering lives, and providing assistance dogs since 1977.
[Click here for printable version]
