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The Power Giving Tuesday: Help Fuel the Mission of National Service Dogs
At NSD, our mission is to empower people to achieve their full potential with Certified Service Dogs as catalysts for restorative change. Each day, we witness firsthand the profound impact that Service Dogs can have, from enhancing independence to providing wellness, support, and connection.
Our ability to continue our vital work hinges on the generosity of our supporters, like you. Certified Service Dogs are valued at $50,000 worth of support over their eight to ten-year working life; however, at NSD each dog is provided free of charge to our clients.
We operate without any government funding and rely solely on the generosity of individuals, corporate sponsors, fundraising events, and community support. This Giving Tuesday, our goal is to raise over $75,000 for our mission.
Here’s a glimpse into why your donations are so crucial to our mission at National Service Dogs and how they make all the difference.
How Your Donations Fuel Our Mission
Service Dog Training: Building the Foundations for Success
Breeding and proper training is the foundation of our Service Dogs’ journey. From puppyhood to graduation, each dog undergoes rigorous training to ensure they can perform their tasks precisely and reliably. Their training includes everything from basic obedience to specialized skills once placed in either the PTSD, Autism, CAI, or Skilled Companion Dog programs. Your donations help us cover the costs of our training facilities and essential resources. With each donation, we invest in creating highly skilled Service Dogs who are prepared to meet the diverse needs of their future handlers.
Matching Service Dogs: The Journey to Partnership
Matching a Service Dog with a handler is a crucial, delicate process. We strive to ensure that each dog is paired with someone whose needs align perfectly with the dog’s skills and personality. This process involves thorough assessments, behavioural evaluations, and ongoing support from the NSD community to ensure a successful partnership. Donations enable us to conduct comprehensive evaluations and provide support for both the handler and the dog. We hope to facilitate a seamless transition that fosters a life-changing partnership.
Education About Service: Empowering and Informing
Education is key to ensuring that our Service Dogs and their handlers are set up for success. We offer a range of educational programs, especially for our volunteers, including workshops, community outreach, and informational events. These initiatives help raise awareness about the importance of Service Dogs. Your contributions support individual volunteers and our NSD community to gain knowledge to foster an inclusive training environment.
Events: Building Community and Raising Awareness
Fundraising and events play a vital role in our mission, providing opportunities to connect with the community, share success stories, and raise money. Whether it’s Giving Tuesday, our annual Easter Egg Hunt, Paws In Motion, or more, these events help us build awareness and generate support from the community. Donations help cover event costs, ensuring that we can continue to inspire our community.
The Ripple Effect: Making a Difference at National Service Dogs
The impact of your donations extends far beyond our immediate needs. By supporting NSD, you contribute to a ripple effect of positive change. Each Service Dog we place changes the life of an individual, whether they have disabilities, need greater independence, need mental health support, or a companion in their home.
Your support fuels every aspect of our mission—from the initial training, to the final match, and beyond. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our donors, who make it possible for us to continue our work and change lives, one dog at a time.
Thank you for being an essential part of our journey. Together, we’re making a difference and changing lives with every donation.
If you’d like to donate to our cause, but need to garner support to do so, please read here about setting up a peer-to-peer fundraiser.
For more information on how you can support our mission this Giving Tuesday, contact Lynne at lynne@nsd.on.ca or call (519) 623-4188 ext. 110.
