America's Vetdogs the Veterans K-9 Corps

Training program - our instructors complete a three year apprenticeship program before they become certified instructors. During fy 2023, 181 dogs began formal training for placement with a consumer of either America's Vetdogs -the veteran'Veterans's K-9 Corps, Inc. or its related organization the guide dog foundation for the blind, Inc. America's Vetdogs is managed by the guide dog foundation and reimburses for the services it receives from the guide dog foundation. Formal training of an assistance dog takes approximately three to four months during which time the organization cares for all dogs. Dogs are housed on campus in state of the art kennels in the designated training center. Not every dog that enters formal training becomes a guide or service dog. the organization currently estimates a success rate of approximately 50%. After completion of formal training, the dog is ready to be teamed with a consumer. the training of the dog and the student are customized to the individual and their disabilities. Harnesses, back packs and other required accessories are also customized to the needs of the particular consumer. the consumer or student and their dog are trained to work together as a team either on our campus, in the consumer's home community or a combination of the two. the process and the organization's commitment continues after placement with aftercare, follow-up, support and outreach throughout the life of the dog. the cycle is perpetual, with each stage financed 100% by the organizations.

Student and graduate services during fy 2023, America's Vetdogs - graduated 5 guide dog teams, 43 ptsd/service dog teams, 51 service dog teams, 2 seizure/service dog teams, 3 hearing/service dog teams and also placed 8 facility dogs. One at new jersey va medical center, three with the seattle police department, two at fort belvoir community hospital, one with brooke army medical center, and one at the us pentagon. In addition, the guide dog foundation graduated 25 guide dog teams and placed one facility dog with the larc school. Each consumer's needs are evaluated, and if possible a dog is trained to meet those needs. Some of the disabilities served include: physically disabled, prosthetic limb recipients, traumatic brain injuries, profound hearing loss and those with a primary diagnosis of ptsd. In addition to the tasks, the dogs are trained to mitigate a person's disability. Service dogs also provide comfort and provide re-socialization assistance for our Veterans. Students typically stay on campus approximately two weeks in the student residence which can accommodate up to 17 students at a time. Each student has a private room with private bath. the residence is staffed 24 hours per day. All meals are provided. Students can also receive home training, where the foundation sends a certified instructor to the student's home community.

During fy 2023 the organization supported 105 dogs in the breeding colony. the breeding colony is carefully selected after extensive screening and testing. During fy 2023, 264 puppies were added to the programs of America's Vetdogs and the guide dog foundation. Puppies spend seven to eight weeks in our puppy nursery. From the nursery they spend approximately one year in the home of a volunteer puppy raiser or prison puppy program before coming back to the organization for formal training. During fy 2023 a total of 337 puppies were placed. 233 puppies were placed in puppy raiser homes and 104 puppies participated in our prison puppy program. the organization currently supports puppy raisers in nearly 20 states and has agreements with 14 prisons throughout Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, Maine, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. the professional puppy staff supports our puppy raising volunteers and our staff typically visits each prison weekly to follow up and train the inmate handlers who are carefully screened to insure they are suitable candidates to participate in this program.

Public education - public education and outreach are important parts of the mission of America's Vetdogs. This past fiscal year we distributed three issues of the sentinel which were sent to approximately 61,400 recipients. the sentinel is the official newsletter to educate the public about assistance dogs, assistance dog etiquette and disability issues. Organization graduates, puppy raisers and caretakers went on over 75 speaking engagements off campus and each one typically has an audience of 30 or more people. Vetdogs has embraced social media as a means to reach our supporters efficiently and effectively. We have nearly 81,200 facebook likes and nearly 13,000 twitter followers. Additionally we have approximately 69,800 followers through youtube, linkedin and instagram. During fy 2023 America's Vetdogs partnered with major league soccer team atlanta united fc to raise service dog king, nashville soccer club to raise service dog cash, national hockey league team Washington capitals to raise service dog biscuit, major league basesball team the new york mets to raise service dog shea, national football team houston texans' to raise service dog kirby. Coprorate puppy with a purpose sponsor penfed to raise serviced dog alfie, the founder's group at morgan stanley to raise service dog juno, voya financial to sponsor puppy cooper, deloitte to raise service dog kevin and contour mortgage to sponsor puppy champ. Vetdogs representatives have made presentations at several state conventions for the Veterans association, american legion, Veterans of foreign wars and the marine corp league.