Organization Name: Patriot Service Dogs
Leadership: Julie Sanderson, founder/president
Location: Based in Marion County, Patriot Service Dogs accepts applications from veterans across Florida.
Mission Statement: Patriot Service Dogs trains quality service dogs for military veterans struggling with mobility, PTSD/MST, and TBI, using the skills of women incarcerated in Florida’s largest women’s correctional facility, Lowell Correctional. This dual-purpose program allows us to serve veterans and uplift incarcerated women.
What we do: Established in 2009, Patriot Service Dogs trains service dogs for veterans struggling with a range of issues. During two years of training, our dogs learn over 80 commands to help make the life of a veteran in need easier. We never charge veterans for their service dog or their training. To do this, we depend on a community of donors, volunteers and our prison training program at Lowell Correctional Facility. Together, this unique team turns 8-week-old puppies into professional service dogs for America’s heroes. Patriot Service Dogs is an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI).
How you can give of your time and treasure: As a small nonprofit organization, donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. It takes a lot of dog treats (and dog poop bags) to train a service dog.
We are looking for volunteer puppy raisers to help raise and train service dogs. Long- and short-term opportunities are available. No previous dog training experience is needed, just a willingness to learn and love our dogs as much as we do.
More information on donating and volunteering on our website.
Website: www.patriotservicedogs.org
