Dear Friend,
Thanks to your loyal support as a Pack Member, Autism Assistance Dog Mavis has found her perfect match!
Recently, our team had the joy of placing Mavis with Mackenzie's family. This was the family’s very first experience with a pet, and they embraced everything with open hearts. While Mackenzie was initially unsure about meeting Mavis, something beautiful began to unfold over the course of the placement.
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| Though considered non-verbal, Mackenzie soon began telling us, “Mavis stay,” each time we packed up for the day—her way of making sure her new friend wasn’t going anywhere.
One evening, her parents even overheard her softly whisper, “I love you” to Mavis—words Mackenzie rarely says unprompted. From cuddles on the couch to learning new routines together, a deep connection is already forming.
Mavis is trained to perform tasks like visit, lap, squish, touch, settle, and more—all designed to support Mackenzie’s sensory and emotional needs. And every step of this journey, from Mavis’s training to her placement, was made possible by you.
Your monthly commitment as a member of The Pack helps make heartwarming stories like this one a reality. Thank you for being a part of something truly life-changing.
With deep gratitude,
Bryan Williams
CEO, Dogs for Better Lives |
| | Autism Assistance Dog Mavis with Mackenzie and her mom at placement |
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| 🎉 Welcome to our newest Pack Members! 🎉
Nancy |
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| | | It's time for a pup-date from Rocky!
May has been a fun and focused month for Rocky as he continues his professional training at DBL’s West Campus with Certified Assistance Dog Trainer, Eli. This month, Rocky started learning a very important new sound—door knocks! This alert will be crucial for his future partner, and he’s already showing signs of mastering it.
“Rocky’s alerting skills are becoming more polished every week,” said Eli. “He’s beginning to differentiate between sounds and give more consistent, confident responses. I’m so proud of how far he’s come!”
Training Adventure
Rocky had an exciting opportunity this month to attend Bone AppeTREAT and a community outreach event alongside our team, where he met lots of new people and practiced staying calm in a high-energy environment. He greeted everyone politely and soaked up the attention like a true professional.
Back at West Campus, he’s been working on calmly settling in public spaces—whether it’s at a busy park bench or during a staff meeting. He’s showing great improvement in relaxing without the crate and building independence when it’s time to rest.
Rocky continues to shine in every area of his training. His eagerness to learn and his affectionate personality make him a joy to work with!
Check back next month for another update from Rocky!
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| | Bone AppeTREAT 2025 Recap
Dogs for Better Lives’ 3rd Annual Bone AppeTREAT event was a night to remember! This year’s friendly culinary competition brought together community, compassion, and creativity — all in support of training and placing more life-changing Service Dogs with people with disabilities. From the excitement in the kitchen to the energy on stage and screen, every moment was filled with heart and purpose.
We extend our deepest thanks to everyone who made Bone AppeTREAT such a success: our generous sponsors, talented chef contestants, discerning judges, dedicated production team, and everyone who donated or joined us in to support Dogs for Better Lives. Whether you cheered from the audience at one of our watch parties (or online!), gave your time behind the scenes, or contributed to the cause, you were part of something truly meaningful. We can’t wait to see you again next year!
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| | The crowd cheers as winners are announced during Bone AppeTREAT 2025 |
| Certified Hearing Dog Pringles participated as a judge in Bone AppeTREAT 2025 |
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| 2025 Bone AppeTREAT Winners
The Most Chomp-Worthy Treat, or the best tasting, awarded to Kelly Hall in Texas
The Re-Bark-Ably Beautiful Treat: the most visually appealing, went to Catharina Armstrong & Laura Pickett in Massachusetts
The Most Paw-Some Video was won by Tom Pierson in Washington
The Ulti-Mutt Chef, most unique ingredients, awarded to Brad Hicks in Oregon
2025 Top Dog Winner: Randy and Nancy Gordon of California |
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| | First Shelter Dogs join From Shelter to Service Dog Program in Atlanta
Exciting news from our From Shelter to Service Dog Program in Atlanta! Meet River, Alexa, and Iman—three amazing shelter pups just selected for the program. Each one now has a loving foster home and a bright future ahead as a potential service dog. Stay tuned as their training journeys begin!
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| | DBL National Board welcomes Environmental Attorney
We’re proud to welcome Chris Schlag, a nationally recognized environmental and sustainability attorney, to our National Board of Directors! Chris brings a wealth of expertise in ESG and a passion for animal welfare that aligns beautifully with DBL’s mission. Read more about Chris.
At our recent board meeting, we also took a moment to honor Stacy Tollie and Garrett West for their six years of dedicated service. Their contributions have left a lasting impact, and we’re so grateful for their leadership.
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| | Certified Hearing Dog Genesis Update
We recently visited Certified Hearing Dog Genesis and her handler Wayne, along with his wife Fran. For 7 years, Genesis has alerted Wayne to sounds like his DexCom, doorbell, and even approaching cars. They shared incredible stories of her calm, intuitive nature—like performing a perfect “under” on a packed flight and quietly comforting a child who fell asleep beside her. We're so happy to see this team continuing to thrive!
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