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 501(c)3

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We Lift Up Two Lives

We train rescue pups as service dogs for veterans and people with disabilities other than blindness so the teams can live happier, more fulfilling lives.

Help us champion the nurturing bond between service dogs and people.

Make a Donation

With the help of our generous donors, we're transforming the lives of dogs and their people. Read our heartwarming stories, review our financials and consider donating monthly or a one-time gift

Raise a Pup

Thanks to our volunteers who raise service dog pups, offer care while raisers take vacation, are weekend fosters, or assist in the office or at fundraising events.
There are lots of ways to lend support!

Apply for a Service Dog

If you need a service dog trained for mobility assistance, hearing alert, or you're a veteran with PTSD  we can train a pup for your specific needs - using only humane methods.

It's a Dogs Life Trailer — Putnam Service Dogs

This is a story about patience, partnership, and the volunteers, trainers, and recipients who make it all possible. Every dog Putnam Service Dogs places is raised and trained from the ground up, then matched with a person living with a disability — restoring independence one command, one cue, and one quiet act of trust at a time.

Janet with Eddie

How our Program Works:

At every stage of the process, we honor our dogs by championing their personality and needs through positive relationships, positive environments and humane treatment

1

Find Rescue Pups

From local rescue organizations, we find and adopt rescue pups who exhibit rare skills and temperament that make  outstanding service dogs.

2

Place Pups in Homes

Our pups are raised in loving homes with volunteer puppy raisers until they're ready to start formal training. Under the guidance of our trainers, our volunteers provide our pups humane care, a healthy social environment, and basic training.

3

Train Dogs for Service

 Our expert, experienced service dog trainers, in the formal training period of their training, our service dogs learn specific tasks to meet the unique needs of our recipients. During their formal training, our dogs  live in our intimate Residential Training Center, a home-like setting, not an efficient, large-scale training center that kennels a large colony.

4

Our Dogs Change Lives!

We make the initial match, but our dog is the ultimate decision maker on who their person is. They show us clearly, and immediately - they're delighted to be with the person, they're responsive, and well trained. If they don't like the person, they can appear literally untrained! The natural chemistry of the team creates MAGIC. Our dogs love to help their person, and frequently add on more supportive behaviors as the team grows together.                              And they lived happily ever after... (1st sentence in our Mission Statement).

And they lived happily ever after...

Frankie as a puppy

Frankie- Prized Pup in Service Dog Training

Learn how Putnam Service dogs adopted a rescue pup once abandoned in Mississippi and tranported north to Westchester SPCA. He’s now a strong candidate in our service dog training program.

Sara in her wheelchair with Eddie at her feet

Sarah & Eddie- A Bond of Friendship & Confidence

As a friendly, loving, high energy service dog, Eddie was meant to be a service dog. Matched with Sarah at just 20 months old, she immediately gave Sarah a sense of confidence she needed - and continues to grow - at home and in public.

The Putnam Service Dogs Difference

We select rescue pups with potential from trusted shelters.

We champion our dogs through humane methods to house, train and place our dogs with recipients for FREE.

Our dogs show us who they naturally love and want to naturally assist.

A Day in the life of a puppy in service dog training

We couldn’t do it without the help of our volunteer puppy raisers and the donors
that support our important work – Lifting Up Two Lives.

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