Smithtown COC Features Local Service Dog Charities

The Smithtown Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s Vet Dogs on April 10th to offer the public a unique chance to visit and tour the charities’ facilities and training grounds in Smithtown. America’s Vet Dogs, a sister charity to the revered Guide Dog Foundation, is a service dog program created to provide increased mobility and a renewed sense of independence to American veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with disabilities. These are amazing animals that can retrieve items, get help in an emergency, and navigate busy streets. The event was successful and informative, with New York State Senator Mario R. Mattera in attendance.

The Guide Dog Foundation, which maintains a focus on guide dogs for the blind, now serves average citizens who are visually impaired along with veterans. The foundation has been around since 1946, but America’s Vet Dogs just celebrated its 20-year anniversary in 2023.

In a presentation by Jennifer Gisler, Chief Growth Officer, she explained that America’s Vet Dogs began as a pilot program for the foundation in 2003 to provide dogs that have undergone specialized training to disabled veterans. The country’s wounded soldiers can return home with a myriad of disabilities, making independent living difficult. America’s Vet Dogs strives to correct that.

The charity began by providing vital services focusing on mobility and traumatic brain injury assistance through specially trained dogs. Recognizing the diverse needs of veterans, they have steadily increased their areas of expertise, and now also provide (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) PTSD dogs, hearing dogs, seizure response dogs, and rehab dogs.

“We didn’t start out serving all of these disabilities with dogs, just as we only started out as the Guide Dog Foundation,” Gisler said. She credits the foundation leadership’s insight, and foresight into the ways they can help more groups of people, which now include first responders.

These prized dogs are provided completely free of charge to recipients with a disability that demonstrates a need for a service dog. Recipients then complete a two-week resident training program on the Smithtown campus, where they bond with and learn how to work with their new service dog. The charities cover all expenses, including airfare, room, and board. The program concludes with a celebratory graduation.

The week’s event included a demonstration by U.S. Air Force Veteran Nathan Gardner and his service dog, Kenzo. Gardner, a graduate of the program shared his personal story of a back injury sustained during his service.

The tour highlighted training areas, both indoor and outdoor, where dogs learn how to assist their handlers in real-life situations. Everyday tasks like navigating stop signs, curbs, obstacles, and indoor environments are all meticulously trained for, ensuring the dog seamlessly integrates into the handler’s life.

The Guide Dog Foundation and America’s Vet Dogs are trusted charities, consistently receiving high marks from watchdog groups such as Charity Navigator and GuideStar. This transparency along with their dedicated volunteer force of over 1,500 (including puppy raisers), are keys to their success. Donors can be confident that more than 80 percent of every dollar donated directly funds the vital canine training program.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society just recently honored America’s Vet Dogs by awarding the charity with the distinguished 2024 Community Service Citizens Award, an amazing honor. This award is reserved for one nonprofit and 5 individuals each year.

Raising and training a single service dog costs a staggering $50 thousand. These charities rely on the generosity of both individual donors and volunteers, along with corporate sponsorships. While they raise about $20 million annually, this falls short of their goal: providing a service dog to every veteran in need.

The goal for these charities is to place as many trained service dogs as possible with those who need and deserve them, but a few of their dogs have gained notoriety through their service. Most notably is Sulley, who served President H.W. Bush.

The “Puppies with a Purpose” program have also launched some service pups in training into the national spotlight. It began in 2016 when America’s Vet Dogs partnered with NBC’s TODAY Show for the first-ever corporate puppy sponsorship. This success story led to other businesses joining the program, including the New York Islanders, the New York Mets, and most recently, the Vegas Knights who are raising a puppy named Maverick. Businesses like these donate $50 thousand and then raise a puppy for 12 to 14 months during which time the pup serves as a mascot for both America’s Vet Dogs and the fostering company.

Both charities rely on the generosity of donors and volunteers, including puppy raisers who foster dogs in their homes for 12 -14 months before the dogs enter the formal training program on campus. Most dogs are currently being raised in prison programs by inmates from around the country.

The Guide Dog Foundation and America’s Vet Dogs ask the public to remember to be respectful when encountering a service dog in public. Never approach or pet the dog, as they are working to keep their handler safe, and distractions can hinder their work. If curious about the dog, talk to the handler respectfully.

To support America’s Vet Dogs, visit Service Dogs for Veterans Charity in NY - America's VetDogs or the Guide Dog Foundation, visit Guide Dog Foundation | Home. America’s Vet Dogs has a 5k Run and Dog Walk coming in the week of September 21st, any support is appreciated. Details can be found here, America's VetDogs 5k Run & Dog Walk (runsignup.com).