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Causes: Animal Training, Animals
Mission: To breed, train and place highly skilled dogs with children and adults living with a disability, enhancing their lives and bringing increased independence.
Programs: In 2017, retrieving independence trained 28 and placed 11 dogs that were housed, fed, and trained to assist persons with disabilities.
inmate and partner recipient training - retrieving independence partners with inmates at tn prisons to train and socialize dogs for placement. Inmates receive 30 hours intensive training before working with puppies. A team of two inmates receives a puppy that will live, work and train with them for the next 14 to 20 months under the direct supervision of ri trainers and staff. In 2017, 45 inmates were directly involved with this program.
training camps - ten day training camp centers around new owners, family members and the service dogs. New dog owners and their families learn skills so all participants are comfortable returning to their homes with their service dogs. Additionally, the client and dog are certified for public access prior to leaving the program.