- A group opportunity. Invite your friends.
-
14 people are interested
Open your heart to a puppy...change someone's life!
ORGANIZATION: Fidos For Freedom, Inc.
Please visit the new page to apply.
- A group opportunity. Invite your friends.
-
14 people are interested
Give the gift of independence -- Open your heart and home and raise a Fidos For Freedom addistance dog! Puppy raisers play a vital role in the development of future assistance dogs.
No experience is required! We will train you to train our puppies.
You will receive a puppy who is 8 -12 weeks of age. The puppy you raise will go on to change the life of a veteran with PTSD, an adult with a mobility disability, or an adult with a hearing loss.
The puppy raising experience lasts for approximately one year. There are 6 main areas of focus - caring for the pup (food, water, medical needs), exercise (walking them daily or letting them run in a fenced area for 5-10 minutes/day), loving them (to build a very strong bond), training (in snippets - no more than 10 minutes at a time, 2 or 3 times a day), and socializing (a vital componant for developing a confident assistance dog). You will be given direction on all of these aspects by our trainers. All are essential.
At the end of their year with you, the puppy will begin it's formal training at FCI Cumberland. While there, specially selected individuals train the puppies all the skills needed to perform tasks an assistance dog may be asked to do. The dog is in Cumberland for 6 - 8 months.
When they return, they are assigned to a Fidos volunteer trainer. They refine the skills the dog was taught and teach them to perform the tasks in a variety of locations with different distractions.
When the dog is 2 1/2 to 3 years old and their skills have developed, they are matched with a client. They work with that client and trainer for several weeks so the dog learns to perform the specific tasks the client needs, in the way the clients needs them. They are also introduced to the clients family and any pets.
As the puppy raiser, you will also be invited to graduation which is held each June.
ALL expenses including food, vet care, supplies, and training are covered by Fidos.
This is a volunteer opportunity where you’ll truly make a difference!!
More opportunities with Fidos For Freedom, Inc.
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About Fidos For Freedom, Inc.
Location:
1200 Sandy Spring Road, Laurel, MD 20707, US
Mission Statement
Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for people in the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan community by providing specially trained combat-related PTSD dogs, hearing dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs. Fidos also educates the public about individuals with disabilities and about the benefits of assistance dogs and therapy dogs and the work that these specially trained dogs do for individuals with disabilities, children with reading difficulties, and patients in health care facilities.
Description
Fidos For Freedom, Inc. is a volunteer-run, non-profit that has been providing specially trained Service and Therapy Dogs since 1987. We are one of only three service dog organizations in Maryland that is accredited by Assistance Dogs International.
Fidos offers the following:
- Specially trained PTSD dogs for veterans, mobility service dogs for those with physical disabilities, and hearing dogs for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Service dog clients receive ongoing support services and training which continues beyond graduation. These services are available to the team through all the years the dog is working.
- Well-trained therapy dogs that perform quality visits to local health care facilities, schools and universities, and businesses (upon request) to offer unconditional love and emotional and physical benefits.
- Demonstrations at schools, churches, organizations, businesses, and special events to educate, enlighten and enrich the lives of community members regarding people with disabilities and the many benefits of assistance dogs
- A Junior Volunteer Program where high school students earn community service hours. They learn about dogs, dog training, build and share disability awareness, enjoy hands-on experiences with the training and care of dogs, hold a fundraiser, and much more!
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
1200 Sandy Spring RoadLaurel, MD 20707
DATE POSTED
October 28, 2021
SKILLS
- Animal Care / Handling
- Critical Thinking
- Multi-Tasking
- Organization
- People Skills
- Problem Solving
GOOD FOR
- Teens
- People 55+
- Group
REQUIREMENTS
- Must be at least 18
- Orientation or Training
- Apprximately 12 months. Training at Fidos facility in Laurel on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 - 8:30.
- Puppy raisers must be 18, however, this is a great experience for families!