Dear Friend,
One year ago, Autism Assistance Dog Dipper joined Ismael’s family, bringing comfort, security, and unconditional love. Thanks to your support as a member of The Pack, Dipper continues to thrive in his role, flawlessly performing tasks like settle, lap, touch, squish, and fetch.
|
|
|---|
| During our recent follow-up, it was clear that his family has done an incredible job maintaining his training. Whether navigating public spaces with calm focus or playing at home, Dipper is making a profound impact on Ismael’s life every single day.
At home, the bond between Dipper and Ismael is easy to see. Their parents often find them curled up together at night, completely intertwined around each other under the blankets.
Dipper provides more than companionship; he gives Ismael a sense of security and consistency in a sometimes overwhelming world. His presence brings peace not only to Ismael but to the entire family, knowing he is always there to help.
Because of your ongoing monthly support, DBL is able to fulfill our lifetime commitment to every dog we place—including Dipper. |
| |
|---|
| Your generosity ensures follow-up visits, ongoing support, and the resources needed to keep Dipper and his family thriving together. Thank you for being part of this journey and for making stories like Dipper and Ismael’s possible!
Sincerely,
Bryan Williams
CEO, Dogs for Better Lives |
|
|---|
| 🎉 Welcome to our newest Pack Members! 🎉
Janice, Janet, Kelly, Linda, Lisa, Norma |
|
|---|
| | | It's time for a pup-date from Rocky!
February has been an exciting month for Rocky as he dives into his professional training at DBL’s West Campus, working with Certified Assistance Dog Trainer, Eli. Rocky wasted no time in showing Eli where his passion lies—sound work!
"From the start, Rocky demonstrated a strong understanding of his handler alert and quickly progressed to performing full sound alert sequences. His persistence and enthusiasm for the work are shining through, making it clear that he’s on the right path," said Eli.
Training Adventures
In public, Rocky’s obedience and temperament has been calm and confident. He’s adapting well to new environments, though he’s learning to manage distractions, especially when other dogs are around. Crate time can be a bit of a challenge, but after a few minutes, he settles in and relaxes just like the rest of the dogs.
With each training session, Rocky continues to make great strides, and we can’t wait to see how he progresses in the months ahead!
Check back next month for another update from Rocky!
|
|
|---|
| | Facility Dog Beacon Brings Comfort and Connection to East Hartford Police Department
Meet Beacon, the Facility Dog making a difference with his handler, Marc, at the East Hartford Police Department! Beacon found his perfect role bringing comfort, boosting morale, and engaging with the community.
An example of this was during a recent school visit. “One student was deathly afraid of dogs; however, by the end of our time together, Beacon was in the student’s lap, and the student was thrilled.” Read their story.
|
| |
|---|
| | A Passion for Puppy Raising
For Laura Allen, puppy raising isn’t just a hobby—it’s a lifelong passion. Since 2001, when she was a junior in high school, Laura has been raising future Service Dogs, dedicating her time and energy to helping dogs grow into life-changing partners for people in need. Now, more than two decades later, Rooster, a Golden Retriever and her 16th puppy, has brought her on a new journey—her first with Dogs for Better Lives. Read their story.
|
| |
|---|
| | Hearing Dog Training Example
Have you ever wondered what a Hearing Assistance Dog does? This video showcases how our dogs are trained to alert their handlers to important sounds like the oven timer, door knock, phone, and smoke alarm. You'll see them practicing different alert positions—standing, sitting, lying down, and even alerting from behind while their handler is engaged in daily tasks. The training process starts with associating sounds with positive reinforcement, then progresses to teaching the dog to alert their handler and guide them to the source of the sound. Over time, these skills are refined and customized to each client's needs, even incorporating alerts for mobile phones in public settings. Watch the video. |
| |
|---|
| | Board Member News
During Dogs for Better Lives’ quarterly meeting in January, the National Board of Directors unanimously approved two new members, Chad Stark of Oregon and Garren Hey of Washington. With their expertise in aviation and finance respectively, they will quickly help to augment DBL’s national board. Read about Chad and Garren here.
|
| |
|---|
| | |
|
