Volunteer Puppy Raisers Needed

Madison, Virginia, August 25, 2016 (Newswire.com) - Every working service dog starts as a puppy that needs a loving home.  A Puppy Raiser can provide that home and change a life in the process.  Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers (“SDWR”), a 501c3 non-profit organization based in Virginia, is seeking volunteer puppy raisers to assist the Organization in the vital work it does to fulfill its mission.  In almost one decade, SDWR has placed over 500 service dogs to adults and children with invisible disabilities such as Diabetes, Autism, Seizure Disorders and PTSD.  The Organization is currently working with close to 1,000 families to provide highly skilled service dogs and on-going field training.  All of the dogs in our service work are either Labrador or Golden Retrievers.

Puppy raisers receive their puppy when it is approximately four months old after the puppy has been fully vetted and vaccinated.  The puppy raiser keeps the dog between nine and 18 months.  A puppy raiser is responsible for teaching their puppy good behavior both at home and in public and to give the puppy exposure to what to expect and accept in this busy world.  Puppy raisers will be asked to take our puppies everywhere—to work, out to eat, on vacations, and even shopping.  This real-world training imitates the experiences that our service dogs need to successfully help become the best service dog possible for SDWR clients.  With the specialized vests they wear and applicable state laws, these puppies in training can go where family pets aren’t allowed.

The Puppy Raiser Program experience requires a great deal of commitment, time, energy and focus.  Quarterly training sessions and bi-weekly on-line check in are required as well.  As a puppy raiser you will help the Organization determine if the puppy is suited to a career as a service dog.

You can help the Organization unite people in need with trained service dogs in this powerful program.  You can raise a dog and change a life!  Visit our website to review frequently asked questions at http://www.sdwr.org/puppy-raiser-program/puppy-raiser-faq/ to learn more or complete an application at http://www.sdwr.org/puppy-raiser-program/ or call us at 540-543-2307. 

Source: Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers