Putnam Service Dogs (PSD) has been advancing its mission despite the at-home quarantine since March. They just added a 9th member to their Board of Directors, Peggy Garay-Smith of Putnam Lake. All 9 Board Members are dog lovers, bring enthusiasm for Putnam Service Dogs’ cause, and various skills and backgrounds to the Board. They reside in either Westchester or Putnam Counties.
Putnam Service Dogs incorporated in September 2016 as a NY State nonprofit corporation and achieved its 501(c)3 status in November 2016. It is a Platinum Level Guidestar organization. They raise and train free service dogs for people with physical disabilities other than blindness. Their mostly mixed breed dogs are carefully chosen for their temperaments and size from local rescue organizations. Their standard poodle (a hypoallergenic dog) was donated by her breeder for applicants with severe asthma.
Just as PSD’s 3+ years of focused work is coming to fruition, COVID-19 and the financial shut down hit. They’d planned on placing their first graduating service dog, Benji, with his matched recipient in April 2020, and conducting the 2-3 week training to ensure they’re an effective team. The stay-at-home quarantine delayed that plan, and PSD will place Benji in May 2020. They have 3 other dogs in training who are showing great potential to graduate in 2020. It is a time of intensive training for these dogs, both before and after they’re placed, which means greatly increased expenses. Since COVID-19 hit NY hard in March 2020, donations have dwindled. Still, Putnam Service Dogs persists with their work, strengthening their Board and training their dogs.
During this stay-at-home quarantine, Putnam Service Dog volunteer puppy raisers are still daily training and socializing their pups. Individual sessions between raisers, and PSD’s Head Trainer are conducted on Skype to enhance the pups’ progress. Three applications for service dogs have been received by PSD just since April 1st (now 29 screened applicants waiting for PSD’s 9 dogs in training). These service dogs are precious, life changing, and extremely rare. To have the temperament and ability required to be a service dog requires a truly awesome dog.
For more information, www.putnamservicedogs.org, or visit us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. 917-449-5359
Putnam Service Dogs’ Mission Statement: Our service dogs change lives . We champion the nurturing bond between dogs and humans.
Putnam Service Dogs is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation.
About Putnam Service Dogs
Putnam Service Dogs is a registered 501(c)3 corporation providing free trained service dogs and follow-up support services to those with physical disabilities, other than blindness.
Find out more about Putnam Service Dogs, visit our website at www.putnamservicedogs.org or call 917-449-5359.
