THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND INC

SERVICE DOG TRAINING AND PLACEMENT: SERVICE DOG TRAINING AND PLACEMENT: THIRTY-SIX DOGS PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAM WITH 5 DOGS BEING PART OF BREEDING PROGRAM. THIRTEEN PUPPIES WERE HOUSED AND RECEIVED BASIC OBEDIENCE TRAINING/SOCIALIZED BY COMMUNITY FOSTERS WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR STAFF. AN AVERAGE OF 14 ADULT DOGS WERE IN ADVANCED TRAINING AT FEDERAL CORRECTION INSTITUTE, MORGANTOWN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AT ANY ONE TIME 10-15 INMATES AND 2 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WERE INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM WHICH SERVED TO BOTH TRAIN DOGS AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL REHABILITATION FOR INMATES. WE CONTINUED TO OFFER ONLINE (2 PER YEAR) AND IN PERSON (6 PER YEAR) SERVICE DOG TRAINING CLASSES IN COLLABORATION WITH WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY (WVU) WITH APPROXIMATELY 150 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. TWO OF OUR BREEDING DOGS WHELPED THIS YEAR WITH 12 OF THEIR PUPPIES ENTERING THE PROGRAM. STUDENT WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS RAISED THE PUPS IN 2 VOLUNTEERS HOMES FOR 8-10 WEEKS UNTIL PLACEMENT WITH COMMUNITY FOSTERS. OVER 50 VETERANS PARTICIPATED IN THE SERVICE DOG PROGRAM THIS YEAR WITH 50 SUBMITTING ELIGIBILITY SURVEYS, 10 APPLICATIONS FOR DOGS WERE RECEIVED AND 7 WENT THROUGH ONLINE CLASSES AND IN PERSON TRAINING. FOUR WERE SUCCESSFULLY PAIRED WITH SERVICE DOGS. STAFF CONTINUED TO WORK WITH ONGOING SERVICE DOG TEAMS AS NEEDED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATION.

REHABILITATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION (DISABILITY AWARENESS): WE CONTINUED TO CONDUCT DISABILITY AWARENESS OUTREACH BOTH ON CAMPUS AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT 2024. THERAPY DOGS AND SERVICE DOGS IN TRAINING ACCOMPANIED STAFF TO SCHOOLS, VETERANS FACILITIES, LEGISLATIVE AND OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE ROLES AND VALUE OF ASSISTANCE DOGS IN MOBILITY AND MENTAL HEALTH REHABILITATION AND WELLNESS. THERAPY DOGS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT TO FACULTY, STUDENTS, PATIENTS AT WVU HOSPITALS AND STAFF. ONE DOG WORKS IN THE WVU CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, ONE IN THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND 7 OTHERS IN OTHER COLLEGES AND DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSITY. DOGS INTERACT DAILY ON CAMPUS PROVIDING STRESS REDUCTION AMONG STUDENTS AND FACULTY/STAFF. CONTACT HOURS EXCEED 9,000 HOURS.