DOGS FOR THE DEAF INC DBA DOGS FOR BETTER LIVES

INCORPORATED IN 1977, DOGS FOR BETTER LIVES (DBL) IS THE OLDEST HEARING DOG TRAINING CENTER IN THE UNITED STATES, AND AMONG ONE OF THE FIRST ASSISTANCE DOG ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD TO BE FULLY ACCREDITED BY ASSISTANCE DOGS INTERNATIONAL (ADI). DBL TRAINERS MUST COMPLETE AN IN-DEPTH THREE-YEAR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO BECOME CERTIFIED AS ASSISTANCE DOG TRAINERS. DBL IS UNIQUE IN THAT CERTIFIED TRAINERS BRING THE TRAINED ASSISTANCE DOGS TO THE CLIENTS' HOMES FOR PLACEMENT, ALLOWING FOR CUSTOMIZED ONE-TO-ONE CLIENT TRAINING AND SUPPORT. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION HAS ONE OF THE MOST THOROUGH FOLLOW-UP PROGRAMS IN THE ASSISTANCE DOG SECTOR. IN NOVEMBER 2017, THE NATIONAL NONPROFIT CHANGED ITS NAME FROM DOGS FOR THE DEAF TO DOGS FOR BETTER LIVES TO BETTER ENCOMPASS THE RANGE OF ASSISTANCE DOGS IT TRAINS AND PLACES, WHICH INCLUDES HEARING DOGS, AUTISM ASSISTANCE DOGS, FACILITY DOGS, AND CAREER CHANGE DOGS. DBL TRAINS SHELTER DOGS EVALUATED FOR APPROPRIATE TEMPERAMENT, CONFIDENCE, AND WORK ETHIC AND WITH PURPOSE-BRED DOGS WITHIN ITS OWN BREEDING PROGRAM AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH AFFILIATED SERVICE DOG ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, PARTICULARLY GUIDE DOG PROGRAMS. DOGS BEGIN EXTENSIVE TRAINING, WHICH CAN TAKE FOUR TO 6 MONTHS OR LONGER FOR EACH DOG. ONCE TRAINED, DOGS ARE CAREFULLY MATCHED WITH APPLICANTS FROM A WAITING LIST. CERTIFIED TRAINERS TAKE THE DOGS TO THE CLIENTS' HOMES TO TEACH THEM HOW TO MAINTAIN THE DOGS' TRAINING. AFTER PLACEMENT, CLIENTS ARE SUPPORTED FOR THE LIFE OF THE DOGS BY CONDUCTING ONGOING GUIDANCE, AFTERCARE, AND IN PERSON FOLLOW-UP VISITS. DBL DOES NOT REQUIRE FEES OR DEPOSITS THUS DOGS ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO THEIR CLIENTS. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-23, DBL LAUNCHED TWO NEW PROGRAMS THE PRISON PUPPY RAISING PROGRAM IN COOPERATION WITH A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN OHIO TO HELP RAISE PUPPIES FOR OUR PROGRAM. IN THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM, INCARCERATED HANDLERS RAISE AND TRAIN PUPPIES WHO WILL ONE DAY WORK AS ASSISTANCE DOGS. DBL STAFF TEACHES THE HANDLERS TO WORK WITH THE DOGS USING POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINING TECHNIQUES AND GENERAL OBEDIENCE SKILLS THAT LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE ASSISTANCE DOG TRAINING AT ONE OF DBL'S TRAINING CAMPUSES. AND THE FROM SHELTER TO SERVICE DOG PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OPERATION KINDNESS IN DALLAS, TEXAS, DBL WORKS WITH SHELTER STAFF AND FOSTER VOLUNTEERS TO IDENTIFY AND TRAIN SHELTER DOGS WHO MAY BE GOOD CANDIDATES FOR OUR ASSISTANCE DOG PROGRAM WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING MORE PEOPLE AND DOGS IN NEED. DBL MAINTAINED REGULAR CONTACT WITH AND PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR 152 EXISTING CLIENTS AND 60 WAITLIST CLIENTS. DBL TRAINED 17 DOGS FROM SHELTERS; FOUND HOMES FOR TWO RETURNED SHELTER DOGS; BRED 40 PUPPIES; AND ACQUIRED 26 DOGS THROUGH NETWORKING WITH OTHER SERVICE DOG AGENCIES. THE ORGANIZATION PLACED 45 DOGS: 19 HEARING DOGS, EIGHT FACILITY DOGS, ONE AUTISM DOG, 16 CAREER CHANGE DOGS, AND ONE DOG WAS TRANSFERRED TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL WORKING DOG.