Dear Friend,
When we visit clients at their one-year follow-up, the strength of the partnership is often unmistakable—and that was certainly true for Leah and Certified Hearing Dog Frankie. Thanks to your generous support, Frankie received the training, preparation, and ongoing follow-up care that helped him grow into the steady, attentive partner Leah depends on today.
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| During their visit, our team saw just how bonded these two have become. Frankie kept a constant, watchful eye on Leah, checking in with her throughout the day, while Leah matched his devotion with praise, affection, and clear guidance.
Out in public, Leah holds Frankie to a high standard—something that’s reflected in his poised behavior and reliable soundwork. He’s confidently alerting to door knocks, oven timers, name calls, and key drops, giving Leah and her family the peace of mind they hoped for when her husband travels and her son is at school.
Because of your support, Leah and Frankie are thriving as a team—bringing safety, independence, and connection into every part of their daily life.
From all of us at Dogs for Better Lives, thank you for making this possible.
With gratitude,
Bryan Williams
CEO, Dogs for Better Lives |
| | Certified Hearing Dog Frankie with Leah at their one-year follow-up visit |
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| 🎉 Welcome to our newest Pack Members! 🎉
Ruth |
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| | | We’re excited to share this month’s update on Halligan, now 6 months old, who is growing quickly and settling beautifully into his future Service Dog journey.
Training & Adventures
This month, Halligan has been working on developing confidence in new and distracting environments. Jill has begun taking him out in public so he can get used to different people, sounds, and activity. He stays alert and curious, taking everything in, but continues to check in with Jill—especially when she’s wearing the treat pouch, which remains his favorite “training accessory.”
Halligan is practicing polite greetings with new people, and he’s doing wonderfully. He consistently sits by Jill’s side when someone approaches. One of his sweetest moments this month was meeting a little girl who giggled nonstop when Halligan gave her a gentle lick on the hand—he wagged proudly as if he knew he’d made her day.
Life at Home
Back at the RV Park in Oregon, Halligan is making the most of his big fenced yard and the active outdoor lifestyle. He loves his long afternoon walks and has been enjoying regular play session with Jill's other dog Vanessa in the Park’s dog run. The two pups race, wrestle, and chase each other until they’re happily tired out.
Stay tuned for the next chapter in Halligan's journey, next month! |
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| | Tomorrow (12.2) is Giving Tuesday!
This Giving Tuesday, DBL has a goal to raise $40,000 to help train more life-changing Service Dogs—and thanks to a generous $20,000 matching gift, every donation will be doubled! Help us spread the word by sharing our social media posts tomorrow so we can share the impact of Service Dogs with more people. If you'd like to make an additional gift to take advantage of the match, visit our Giving Tuesday page. |
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| | Replay: Volunteer Appreciation and Puppy Matriculation Ceremony
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first Puppy Matriculation Event at Dogs for Better Lives!
We are still smiling from all the puppy hugs, inspiring stories, and the heartfelt moments shared as our incredible Puppy Raisers lovingly sent their pups off to the next chapter...professional training. If you missed the livestream, you can still watch the full replay! Watch the event replay. |
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| | DBL Facility Courthouse Dog Jacob's Story
In just six months, Facility Dog Jacob has brought comfort, courage, and calm to children and victims facing some of life’s hardest moments. His gentle presence helps them feel safe, supported, and never alone. Thanks to your generosity, teams like Kristin and Jacob are transforming lives and strengthening communities—one wag, one heartbeat, one story at a time. Read their story here.
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| | Holiday Gift Ideas that Support DBL's Mission
Do you need gift ideas for the dog enthusiasts in your life? We have you covered! The Dogs for Better Lives 2025 Howl-iday Gift Guide is here, packed with paw-sitive, meaningful gift ideas that support Service Dogs. Check out our holiday gift guide. |
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| | Northeast Campus Dogs Enjoying Playgroup
Our Northeast dogs in training had a blast during playgroup this week! After working hard with their trainers, the pups got to unwind together in our beautiful turf play yard at our Falmouth Campus—running, romping, and enjoying some well-earned fun. It’s the perfect space for them to socialize, build confidence, and burn off extra energy between training sessions. |
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