HERO DOGS INC

Hero Dogs, Inc., is dedicated to advancing the well-being of veterans who have served honorably in the U.S. Armed Services by raising, training, and placing service dogs with military veterans with disabilities. Together, these two heroes form a dynamic team which restores independence and improves quality of life for the veteran.

Service dogs can have a tremendous positive impact on individuals with disabilities. At Hero Dogs, service dogs are trained to mitigate multiple disabilities confronting many of today’s veterans. Many veterans have numerous physical injuries plus traumatic brain injury (TBI), hearing loss, military sexual trauma (MST), or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our innovative training model provides extended support and commitment to each Veteran/Hero Dog team. Each veteran pledges to a long-term relationship lasting for the life of the dog. Trainers provide lifelong follow-up guidance and assistance.

After over two years of extensive socialization and public access training, a Hero Dog is matched with a veteran to perform tasks addressing the veteran’s specific disabilities. Once matched, team training begins with an intensive three-week daily training regimen. This “boot camp” provides the veteran with the basic knowledge and handling skills necessary to gain confidence in working with the dog. Upon the successful completion of boot camp, the Veteran/Hero Dog team goes home together to begin cultivating a life-long bond. The team also then commences weekly meetings with a Hero Dogs trainer for evaluation and further instruction. Weekly training is held at the Hero Dogs facility as well as in the veteran’s home, workplace or school, and in public locations where the team learns to work together in real world situations. This weekly training lasts for a minimum of six months (comprising over 120 hours of education) and concludes when the team successfully completes a three-part certification examination. The team continues to have monthly check-ups with a trainer for the next six months before ownership of the dog is transferred from Hero Dogs to the veteran.

The partnership with a dedicated and well-trained service dog helps veterans adjust to post-military life by increasing their independence and helping them re-integrate into their civilian communities. A Hero Dog reduces a veteran’s reliance on other people by doing tasks that the person either cannot do for him/herself or needs to ask for assistance to do. A Hero Dog provides long-term support, mitigating PTSD and TBI symptoms, improving sleep issues, and reducing anxiety. A Hero Dog also provides the support and confidence a veteran may need to travel outside the home independently, (re)join the workforce, or even just accomplish the everyday tasks of living, such as turning light switches on or off, dressing, or retrieving shoes, keys, or a telephone.

It takes three years to complete the placement of each service dog at a cost of $39,500 per placement. Hero Dogs’ programs and activities include the following:

Phase 1: ($5,000 - Puppy Sponsor; $1,500 - Puppy Scholarship)
• Puppy Raising Program: Obtaining suitable puppies as potential service dogs; recruiting and supporting volunteer puppy raisers; providing veterinary care and supplies;
• Puppy Training Program: Providing group and individual instruction to volunteer puppy raisers, aiding them in raising and training their puppies in their homes and in the community for approximately 16-18 months;
Phase 2: ($17,000 - Advanced Training Sponsor)
• Service Dog Training Program: Providing professional training, housing, veterinary care, and supplies to service dog candidates once returned to Hero Dogs’ facility for advanced skill training over a period of approximately eight months;
Phase 3: ($16,000 - Veteran/Hero Dog Team Training Sponsor)
• Veteran Application Process: Creating and maintaining a veteran application and review process;
• Veteran/Hero Dog Team Training Program: Providing professional training to Veteran/Hero Dog teams through: 1) Preparation - education in training methods, dog care, equipment, accessibility, etc., prior to placement; 2) Placement - intensive training during first three weeks at the Hero Dogs facility; 3) Transition - additional training over 6-12 months following placement with the Hero Dog living with the veteran partner.
• Certification: Ensuring the quality and readiness of the teams through administration of a three-part certification examination by professional trainers; bi-annual re-certification of teams.
• Follow-Up: Providing lifelong follow-up training and assistance as needed/requested by the veteran.

Veteran-specific training may include: providing balance support or assisting in sitting/standing; alerting partner to important sounds; retrieving items; opening/closing doors/cabinets; operating light switches; waking partner from debilitating nightmare; recognizing changes in the veteran’s breathing, perspiration, or scent that can indicate an incipient panic attack; or seeking help in emergencies.

Hero Dogs meets the special needs of today’s veterans. Based on the research that service dogs provide significant assistance in mitigating physical and mental injuries, Hero Dogs hopes to give back to our nation’s veterans for their selfless sacrifice by giving them a gift of independence and confidence through the partnership with a service dog. This partnership makes a significant and lasting impact on the lives of the veteran, family members, and the community as a whole.

Veterans are individuals who, for the good of others and the betterment of society, often sacrifice some of their natural abilities. Most service members are accustomed to a physically active, engaged, and demanding lifestyle prior to being wounded and/or disabled. We believe that, as citizens of a grateful nation, we are obligated to try to restore the former independence and ability of our veterans. A well-trained and dedicated service dog is one path to this goal. Military veterans, because of their training, experience, and sense of esprit-de-corps, are well suited to partnering with a service dog. Because of their intelligence, sense of duty, and unconditional love, dogs are uniquely suited to help some of our disabled veterans heal by providing a renewed sense of freedom and purpose.

Hero Dogs’ program benefits four target populations: 1) U.S. military veterans who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces and are injured or disabled; 2) Family members of service men/women who receive a service dog; 3) Community members who attend events, educational workshops, and/or interact with Veterans who are disabled and are re-integrating with Hero Dogs by their sides; 4) Retired and/or prior war veterans, a population often overlooked and underserved by programs for Veterans.

BRIEF HISTORY
Founded in 2009, Hero Dogs serves the Greater Washington, DC region which is home to many major Veteran Administration (VA) hospitals, military bases, and Veteran organizations. Identifying an unmet need in this area and a lack of programming providing service dogs to veterans, the founders directed their passion for dogs and their belief in the deep benefits afforded by animal companionship toward helping military veterans with disabilities.

Hero Dogs was incorporated in August 2009, received IRS 501(c)(3) determination in March 2010, and started training its first puppy in April 2010. The first Veteran/Hero Dog team was matched in April 2012. Following seven months of team training, this first team passed their exams in November 2012 and graduated in January 2013. Since that auspicious graduation celebration, a total of seven dogs have completed the program.

At present, there are six Hero Dogs living in the Hero Dogs facility (kennel) and are in advance training. Twelve (12) puppies are currently living with their puppy raisers. The organization plans to accept 8-10 more puppies in the program in fiscal year 2017.