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 2024, 167 dogs began formal training for placement with a consumer of either America's Vetdogs - the veteran'Veterans's K-9 Corps, Inc. ("america's Vetdogs") or its related organization the guide dog foundation for the blind, Inc. ("the foundation"). 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 foundation 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 foundation 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.

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 57,200 recipients. the sentinel is the official newsletter to educate the public about assistance dogs, assistance dog etiquette, and disability issues. the foundation and America's Vetdogs graduates, puppy raisers, and caretakers went on over 95 speaking engagements off campus and each one typically has an audience of 30 or more people. America's Vetdogs has embraced social media as a means to reach our supporters efficiently and effectively. We have nearly 82,600 facebook likes and nearly 13,000 twitter followers. Additionally we have approximately 74,000 followers through youtube, linkedin, and instagram. During fy 2024 America's Vetdogs partnered with a major league soccer team, nashville soccer club, to raise service dog cash, a national hockey league team, Washington capitals, to raise service dog biscuit, the new york islanders to raise seviced dog jethro and guide dog monte, the las vegas golden knights to raise service dog maverick, the new york mets to raise service dogs shea, seaver, and buddy, a national football team, the houston texans, to raise service dog blitz, corporate puppy with a purpose sponsor, voya financial, to sponsor puppy cooper, deloitte to raise service dog kevin, contour mortgage to sponsor puppy champ, nbc universal to raise serviced dog atlas, window world to raise dogs ace and liberty and veolia to raise service dog toast, american integrity to raise service dog storm, and over the course of the year to educate the public about tasks assistance dogs are trained do for people with disabilities. America's Vetdogs representatives have made presentations at several state conventions for the Veterans association, american legion, Veterans of foreign wars, and the marine corp league.

Breeding program - during fy 2024 the foundation supported 101 dogs in the breeding colony. the breeding colony is carefully selected after extensive screening and testing. During fy 2024, 292 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 organizations for formal training. During fy 2024, a total of 325 puppies were placed. 219 puppies were placed in puppy raiser homes and 106 puppies participated in our prison puppy program. America's Vetdogs 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 ensure they are suitable candidates to participate in this program.

Student and graduate services - during fy 2024, America's Vetdogs graduated 3 guide dog teams, 41 ptsd/service dog teams, 35 service dog teams, and also placed 10 facility dogs; four at brook army medical center, one at naval history and hertage command, one at nyc langone, one at polytrauma transitional rehabilitation program, two at walter reed army medical center, and one ambassador facility dog. In addition, the guidedog foundation graduated 24 guide dog teams. 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 organization sends a certified instructor to the student's home community.