Support Dogs 

by Lacey Baethke

If you have ever seen a Support Dogs, Inc. service dog in action you may have noticed how strong the bond is between the dog and the human it serves. From opening doors and carrying bags to helping a person cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the type of support these dogs offer truly helps strengthen the human animal bond.  I was very fortunate to attend the Support Dogs, Inc. annual Tacky Ball where I met some of these amazing dogs and their people. As with most fundraisers of its kind, there was entertainment, food, drinks and networking, but it was seeing some of the dogs in action with the people that love them that moved me enough to want to somehow serve this organization.

That night I was introduced to Bill Dahlkamp, Executive Director of Support Dogs, Inc. I asked him a bit about some of the amazing programs Support Dogs, Inc. has and was surprised to learn that the volunteer puppy raisers pay for all medical care and supplies  for the puppies in the program. This means paying out-of-pocket for spaying or neutering, x-raying for hip dysplasia and covering the costs of vaccinations for the approximately 40 dogs a year that go through the program.

After speaking with Bill and gaining a clear understanding of what it takes to raise a support dog it became clear that the APA and Support Dogs, Inc. were of like mind. After all, our mission is placing people and pets together.  “Everything we do for the dog is, in the end, for the benefit of a person that really needs some help,” Dahlkamp says.

“The neat thing about this partnership is that it’s one non-profit reaching out to help another non-profit,” says Dahlkamp. “This is what collaboration is all about and to say that we and the puppy raisers  are grateful for the help would be an understatement.”