Freedom Service Dogs Changing Lives Through Service and Therapy

Freedom Service Dogs are changing lives through their exceptional service and therapy work. Founded in 2008, they have been helping individuals with disabilities for over a decade.

Their mission is to provide highly skilled service dogs to those in need, improving their independence and quality of life. These dogs are trained to assist with daily tasks, providing physical support and emotional comfort.

Freedom Service Dogs serve individuals with a wide range of disabilities, including mobility issues, seizure disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Their expert trainers work tirelessly to match each dog with the perfect partner.

By doing so, they empower individuals to live more confidently and independently, free from the constraints of their disabilities.

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At Freedom Service Dogs, we're dedicated to training and placing highly skilled service dogs with individuals in need. Our dogs are trained to assist people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses, helping them regain independence and confidence.

We start by selecting dogs from shelters, giving them a second chance at a happy life. These dogs are then paired with a handler and trained to perform specific tasks, such as opening doors, picking up items, or providing physical support. Our training methods are tailored to meet the unique needs of each handler and dog team.

Our service dogs are trained to be highly responsive to their handlers' needs, and they're able to perform tasks in a variety of situations, from everyday activities to emergency situations.

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Freedom Service Dogs (FSD) has a clear vision for making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. They aim to become the leader in the service dog field by building strong collaborations with local and national organizations.

FSD has already achieved a significant milestone by becoming one of only two Assistance Dogs International (ADI) accredited organizations in Colorado. This accreditation demonstrates their commitment to upholding the highest standards in service dog training.

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The organization's collaborations with renowned institutions like the Craig Hospital for rehabilitation of spinal cord and other mobility injuries further solidify their position as a leader in the field. By working together with these organizations, FSD can leverage their expertise and resources to improve the quality of their service dogs.

FSD is also dedicated to continually improving the quality of their dogs, which is why they've launched an in-house breeding program. This program gives them better control over the health, temperament, and early socialization of their dogs, ultimately leading to more effective service dogs.

To support their mission, FSD prioritizes the professional development of their staff, board of directors, and volunteers. They offer training opportunities like pet CPR and first-aid training, as well as attending the annual Clicker Expo, to ensure their team is equipped with the latest knowledge and skills.

FSD's commitment to diversity is also evident in their efforts to increase the diversity of their staff, clients, and volunteers. They've convened an inclusiveness committee to develop a plan to achieve this goal, demonstrating their dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable environment.

We're proud to support Freedom Service Dogs, a nonprofit organization that's been helping veterans and active-duty military transition to civilian life since 1987. Founded by Michael and PJ Roche, it's now one of the leading service dog training organizations in the country.

Freedom Service Dogs helps veterans and active-duty military find a new level of confidence and independence with the help of specially trained service dogs. These dogs can assist with everyday tasks like picking up dropped items and mobility assistance.

The organization's Operation Freedom program was launched to address the challenges many military personnel and veterans face, such as PTSD, depression, immobility, and inactivity. This can lead to destructive consequences like homelessness, crime, and even suicide.

FranServe has been actively involved in supporting Freedom Service Dogs, donating over $70,000 to date. Their CEO, Alesia Visconti, was so moved by the mission that she initiated Heels & Paws, a $65,000 program to replace hard pebbles with soft turf at the organization's facility.

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Freedom Service Dogs have been changing lives for over 20 years, with a remarkable success rate of 95% in placing dogs with their forever families.

Their dogs are trained to assist individuals with disabilities, and they've had over 500 dogs in training at any given time, which is a staggering number.

These dogs are not just companions, but are trained to perform specific tasks to help their handlers navigate daily life.

Freedom Service Dogs (FSD) partners with the University of Denver to create a professional therapy dog program, pairing dogs with licensed therapists to assist those in need of therapeutic support.

FSD selects dogs based on temperament, looking for those that love attention and affection from people.

FSD's professional trainers train the dogs in basic and advanced obedience before matching them with therapists.

The dogs must pass the Canine Good Citizenship test to become certified as professional therapy dogs.

Once certified, the dog and therapist team can pursue their joint career, providing therapeutic support to their community.

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We have a dedicated team of 155 committed volunteers who are making a real difference in our organization.

These volunteers log a vast number of hours, with 120 of them serving as Puppy Raisers, who raise a puppy for 10-12 months in their homes.

Their hard work and dedication are crucial to our success.

Our volunteers also foster dogs-in-training, providing them with a safe and nurturing environment until they're ready for placement.

This unique approach to training has been incredibly effective, and we're grateful for the tireless efforts of our volunteers.

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We placed 30 service dogs in 2023, a significant milestone for our organization.

In fact, this is a 20% increase from the previous year, indicating a growing demand for service dogs.

12 of these service dogs were matched with veterans, providing them with much-needed companionship and support.

The remaining 18 service dogs were matched with individuals with mobility disabilities, clients with autism, and professional therapists.

5 of the service dogs were matched with individuals with mobility disabilities, helping them navigate everyday tasks with greater ease.

We also saw a notable increase in the number of service dogs matched with clients with autism, with 4 placements in 2023.

These statistics highlight the importance of our work in providing service dogs to those who need them most.

Freedom Service Dogs aims to pair people with custom-trained assistance dogs to improve their quality of life. Since 1987, they've paired over 500 client-dog teams at no cost to the client.

Their ultimate goal is to increase the quality of life, community integration, social, and family life for people with disabilities. This is achieved through the human-animal bond.

In the United States, an estimated 12.6% of people reported a disability in 2018. Freedom Service Dogs helps mitigate specific disabilities with trained assistance dogs.

Service dogs can perform tasks such as pulling wheelchairs, retrieving items, leading, and providing bracing and balance. They can also alert handlers for danger.

Freedom Service Dogs specifically targets veterans and active-duty military, children, and adults with disabilities like traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, and post-traumatic stress.

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89% of veterans surveyed 1 year after service dog acquisition will report a clinically meaningful decrease in PTSD symptoms. This is a remarkable result, especially considering the pandemic-related isolation that affected the outcome.

FSD has been a trusted partner, serving people with disabilities in Colorado for over 30 years, and has positively impacted the quality of life and levels of independence for more than 500 clients and their families.

The decrease in PTSD symptoms is not limited to veterans. Yve, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, struggles with the effects of PTSD, as well as limited mobility and challenges with balance resulting from service-related injuries. With the help of her service dog Cruz, she can now navigate busy spaces and feel empowered in crowds.

FSD's service dogs are not just a solution for PTSD, but also for other disabilities. Miles, a young boy living with Spastic Triplegic Cerebral Palsy, was matched with FSD Service Dog Ravioli, who helps him gain independence and confidence by interrupting anxious behaviors and providing deep pressure therapy.

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Freedom Service Dogs has a strong focus on partnerships and collaborations that help them achieve their mission. They work with various organizations to provide service dogs to those in need.

Their programs are designed to address specific needs, such as Operation Freedom, which provides dogs for veterans and active duty service personnel. This program trains around 40 dogs a year at a cost of $25,000 per dog.

The organization also partners with the University of Denver Institute for Human/Animal Connection and Graduate School of Social Work for their Professional Therapy Dogs program. This program uses animal-assisted therapy to benefit people with mental and physical disabilities.

Freedom Service Dogs works with at-risk young people through their Pawsitive Connection program. These young people assist in training the dogs, supervised by teachers and a dog trainer.

Additional reading: Service Animal