Where Your Donation Goes
Quick Answer:
Every donation to Putnam Service Dogs helps rescue, train, and care for service dogs that bring independence and dignity to people with disabilities, other than blindness, and veterans with PTSD. Your support provides food, veterinary care, training, and essential supplies, ensuring each dog can reach their full potential and transform the life of their future handler.
Putnam Service Dogs has earned a 4* Charity Navigator rating – which means we’re exceptionally well run. Less than 10% of all nonprofits have fulfilled the 20 daunting standards for nonprofits that the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has. We’ve held our BBB accreditation since 2021. We’re also a Platinum Guidestar nonprofit, which we’ve held since 2019. We manage our resources very carefully to maximize our effectiveness.
Every donation to Putnam Service Dogs directly impacts two lives—a rescue dog and the person they will assist. From providing basic necessities like food and toys to funding almost two years of specialized training, your support ensures that each service dog reaches their full potential and helps someone live with greater independence and dignity. Your gift doesn’t just fund training—it creates lasting change. Our dogs open up the life of their person, transforming it remarkably. People who rarely left their home now venture out – even to taking NYC subways!
Understanding where your donation goes can help you see the tangible impact you make. Putnam Service Dogs invests over $70,000 in each dog, covering everything from rescue and acquisition to ongoing veterinary care, specialized training, and long-term training and support for both the dog and their person.Â
The True Cost of Training a Service Dog
From Rescue to Socialization
Training a service dog is a long-term commitment. Funds support each stage of the dog’s journey, beginning with acquiring and rescuing suitable puppies from shelters — puppies that indicate potential to become a good service dog. Early socialization introduces them to a variety of environments, preparing them for the specialized skills they will later learn to support their future person. Introducing a service dog pup in training to new places and experiences is key to their success as a service dog. It adds a lot of extra time and effort compared to raising a pet dog, but it is absolutely essential to their successful functioning as a service dog.Â
Veterinary Care, Equipment and Supplies
Veterinary care is another critical component. Routine checkups, vaccinations, flea/tick/heartguard preventatives, and unexpected medical care ensure each dog is healthy and ready to meet the unique needs of their partner. Your donations also provide the essential supplies, toys, and in-training vests that make daily care and training possible.
Placement, Follow up, and On-going Training
Once a dog completes training, funds continue to support placement and follow-up. We provide ongoing support to both the dog and their person, helping the team adjust and thrive together. If a working service dog needs major veterinarian care Putnam Service Dogs covers these bills, rather than asking their recipient to pay for them. We truly champion our dogs and their people.Â
How Monthly Donors Keep Us Going
Monthly donors play a crucial role in sustaining our mission through the 100 Friends of Callie program, honoring a remarkable service dog who changed countless lives. Your monthly support ensures that pups in training receive consistent care, proper nutrition, and all necessary equipment.
Monthly donations make it possible to plan long-term for training programs, ensuring every dog progresses at the pace they need without interruptions. Contributions can cover anything from toys and in-training vests to veterinary care and specialized training sessions. Every gift, big or small, helps lift up two lives—a rescue dog and the person they will assist.
 You can start, adjust, or pause monthly donations easily, making it convenient to support our mission year-round.
Other Ways to Support
Beyond monthly giving, there are many ways to make a difference. You can become a corporate sponsor, or contribute through creative giving options like donor-advised funds or planned giving.
The Impact of Your Gift
Your donations make real change possible. Sarah struggled to regain her independence after a stroke, finding even simple tasks like running errands or leaving the house daunting. Partnered with Eddie, a bright and energetic black lab, Sarah gained a loyal companion who helps her navigate daily life with confidence and ease. Eddie assists with balance, retrieves dropped items, and provides the reassurance Sarah needs to get out and about. Stories like Sarah and Eddie’s show how your support creates lasting independence, joy, and dignity for both service dogs and the people they help.
Learn more about how Putnam Service Dogs is making a big impact in the lives of people with disabilities. Understanding how to choose a service dog charity ensures your donations are used effectively. Our commitment to transparency and accountability is also highlighted in our Charity Navigator 4-Star rating, our BBB accreditation, and our Platinum Guidestar rating.
Every contribution supports the rescue, training, and placement of dogs that transform lives. Your gift helps cover essential supplies, veterinary care, and formal training programs, ensuring that each dog can achieve their potential and make a meaningful difference for their handler.
 Lift Up Two Lives with Your Support
Every dollar donated helps us lift up two lives: a rescue dog and the person they will assist. Your support allows us to plan for the future, care for dogs in training, and create life-changing partnerships. Become part of the journey today and help us continue transforming lives.
FAQs: Transitioning After Puppy Raising
Your donation directly supports every stage of a service dog’s journey. It provides food, veterinary care, training, and essential supplies, ensuring each dog is healthy, well-prepared, and ready to help a person live with greater independence and dignity.
Donations fund critical areas including rescue and acquisition of dogs, early socialization, specialized training, veterinary care, placement with a handler, and ongoing support. Funds also cover operational costs and community education to raise awareness about service dogs and disability rights.
Yes. You can indicate when you donate that you want to give to specific needs such as vet care, daily supplies, training programs, or long-term initiatives like our Capital Campaign. Monthly donations are especially valuable because they provide predictable support where it’s needed most.
We can’t do what we do without your support. There is no government funding for service dogs so we rely totally on donations, grants, and fund raising events. Monthly donations allow us to plan ahead, maintain consistent care for dogs in training, and fund life-changing programs year-round. Your steady support ensures every dog receives the attention, training, and resources they need to succeed.
Yes. Putnam Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so all donations are fully tax-deductible, giving you the benefit of supporting a life-changing cause while receiving potential tax savings.
Nancy Teague, the founder of Putnam Service Dogs, is a dedicated advocate who embodies the mission of the organization every single day. Alongside the passionate individuals who have joined the cause, she works tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of both people and dogs. With an unwavering commitment to championing service dogs, Nancy understands the transformative power that occurs when a service dog is matched with its recipient, forging a remarkable team.
