Guide Dog Foundation & America's VetDogs Guide Dog Foundation & America's VetDogs

I had the opportunity to volunteer during the AVD’s run/walk event held in MD. My experience was beyond positive. I have volunteered at many events of all sizes (for various org.), and I was impressed with the way this event was managed given the size, the rain and the fact that it was at a new location. The coordinators were incredibly nice and welcoming. With any event this size, there are obstacles, and the coordinators remained fluid, professional and had a solution for everything. You could tell a lot of coordination/ prep. went into this event before we showed up. I can honestly say that I had a blast while working, and I met some great people and dogs. I learned more about the organization through incredibly awesome Veterans and volunteers. The product of this program provides Veterans with the will to want to live, experience and face life again. Caring for Vets and adding dogs- yeah, this was an instant match for me. I appreciate the opportunity to volunteer.

As a former volunteer Firefighter and EMT, but a lifetime lover of dogs, I jumped at the opportunity to volunteer when I found America’s VetDogs. America’s VetDogs was so welcoming and positive when I began volunteering that I couldn't wait to be involved in every opportunity that presented itself. Everyone within the organization has been so kind and helpful, appreciative and upbeat, you can't help but want to be around and give as much as you can as a volunteer. All of their events run seamlessly, and while things may get chaotic (as often happens when a lot of people, animals, and activity happen) it is always successful and rewarding. I have volunteered at: reception, Taxi Team, kennel, puppy pens, puppy testing, and events. As a volunteer at an event, there are so many different tasks where you can help make their organization run better, and I am so happy to be a part of it. America’s VetDogs employees are so grateful to any and ALL volunteers. I have met so many great people

I love volunteering, but have never been so shabbily treated by event organizers. This website generated a half-dozen new volunteers for the 5k walk/run in Baltimore. Thought the organizers were overwhelmed by the new people, later it was apparent that they only wanted to work with new volunteers on the first day for set-up, and with prior-year volunteers on the actual event day. They didn't provide name badges to the new crew or bother to remember their names, did not have any assigned tasks for them on the second day, and then said we could go home after the event without a thank-you or reminder to stay for the scheduled BBQ. One coordinator kept making snide comments about the other coordinator, and we were told to hand out sponsor bags only to the runners, not the walkers who paid $40 to participate (perhaps the sponsor was back-charging them for the bags?). There are many great organizations out there who want new volunteers, this is definitely not one of them.

I have been volunteering as a weekend puppy raiser with Americas Vetdogs since 2014. It is easily the most rewarding volunteer experience I have ever done. I selfishly love having a puppy in my home on the weekends, and I have been able to watch 1, and soon a second, puppy grown into a very well trained service dog for a wounded veteran. I was so incredibly proud to see my first dog graduate and be matched with his veteran handler. There is such flexibility as a weekend raiser that I am very confident that I will continue to volunteer in the future.

I have had two assistance dogs, which are distinguished from guide dogs by their skills in helping with mobility. The benefits of a service dog, a guide dog, an assistance dog, a hearing dog, a seizure alert dog or any dog that helps keep a person with a disability maintain safety is good sense, good healthcare and just plain smart! I just lost my assistance dog to cancer after I provided increasingly complex nursing care for him over the course of nearly a year. We, persons with disabilities because of sight, mobility, hearing, or post traumatic stress need service dogs - we need you to help us be more independent. We will in turn be ambassadors for all the persons with disability who come after us. They will have an easier road because of what you have contributed in volunteer time, money, or just information that is accurate, preserves our dignity by calling us persons first before any health label, and well intentioned. Service dogs, all service dogs save lives!