Blue Star Service Dogs

Blue Star Service Dogs served 52 veterans in the service dog training program with 14 teams earning the endorsement of Graduates. Of the 52 veterans, 26 were enrolled in the STAR training program and to be paired with rescued shelter dogs and trained in the prison housed dog training at either Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer, MI or Saginaw Correctional Facility in Freeland, MI. In these programs the service dog cadets completed obedience and pre-task training. BSSD trainers conduct regular training sessions to monitor the progress of each dog and give instruction to the 41 inmate handlers in their respective programs. Of the 52 veterans served, 26 were enrolled in the Bring Your Own Dog (BYOD) program where the enrolled veteran's dog is evaluated by the BSSD trainers. If approved, their dog will start service dog training that may include participation in one of the prison-housed programs.

Our education program targets organizations, schools, corporations, and public events to bring awareness to service dog laws and service dog etiquette. We also meet with companies to review their rights regarding 'fake' service dogs in order to protect their property and programs without discriminating against individuals with a disability. We completed 48 presentations in 2022. Bringing education to our communities makes it easier for our veterans to navigate back to civilian life and their roles with family, employers, and their home community.

Blue Star service dogs are proud to have rescued 35 sheltered dogs from Michigan shelters to be placed in one of the STAR dog prison-housed training programs. With only seven dogs returned to the shelter, the success rate for our selected shelter dogs is 80%. The dogs returned to the shelter with a report on the training received and a summary of why they were career changed. Each of these dogs were adopted within 72 hours of returning to the shelter.