New Horizons Service Dogs, Inc . is a Florida-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that breeds, raises, professionally trains, certifies, and places service dogs with individuals who have mobility and balance problems. They have specialized programs for wounded war veterans, veterans with PTSD, and children with autism. They also have facility dogs assisting in other working situations such as rehabilitative facilities, nursing homes, and private homes, depending on the dog’s temperament and abilities.
Since 1995, New Horizons Service Dogs have successfully trained and placed almost 700 service dogs with recipients throughout Florida. The dogs assist individuals by performing daily tasks such as pulling wheelchairs, opening, and closing doors, helping with laundry, turning light switches on and off, retrieving dropped items, bracing, getting a phone in an emergency, and preventing a child with autism from wandering off.
New Horizons Service Dogs provide a lifetime of unconditional love and service. They increase the recipient’s self-sufficiency, independence, mobility, self-esteem, and social interactions. The dogs enable their partners to attend school and gain employment. Service dog ownership is linked to improved health, fewer doctor’s visits, better self-care, and improved overall quality of life.
The service dogs, as well as potential recipients must go through rigorous training. For about a year-and-a-half, the dogs are rotated between foster homes and the prison program where inmates raise them.
The dogs then return to New Horizons, where the staff perfect and work on the 80 commands the dogs are taught. At this point, matches of the dogs and recipients are made. Personalities of both the dogs and recipients are considered. The recipient must then go through a two-week training program of in-classroom learning, including a written exam at New Horizons, and be tested with commands in public surroundings with the dog.
Currently, there are 139 people, equivalent to 1+ years, on the NHSDI’s waiting list to be matched up with a service dog. In general, the cost for breeding, training, and placing a service dog can range from $20,000-$38,000. The dogs are provided free of charge to recipients, however, New Horizons Service Dogs asks the recipients to assist with fundraising.
Keagan is on the waiting list to receive a service dog. The service dog would be tasked with helping Keagan's mobility, balance, and safety in public spaces.
We are so grateful that New Horizons Service Dog exists and for the work they do to help people like our Keagan. All donations are tax deductible and go directly to the organization. No amout is too small (or large ;oP), and we appreciate you for your generosity.
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