My Nonprofit Reviews

I have been following Service Dog Project since the Annenberg Foundation's Explore.org cameras went live on the property more than five years ago. I have never been so impressed with an organization. Founder Carlene White trains and totally donates her Great Danes as service dogs to those with mobility issues such as MS and Parkinson's disease, to veterans with PTSD and other debilitating problems, and to children whose diseases make their mobility otherwise impossible. All training is done by skilled trainers at SDP, and begins practically at birth with name recognition, recall, "wait" training, and exposure to any type of situation that future recipients will encounter. All dogs are potential service dogs, and every conceivable effort is made for them to be successful. However, occasionally a dog will have a gait or some other reason they will not be able to help with balance issues, and these are given to loyal volunteers or staff members to become Perfect Pets.
Potential recipients are encouraged to volunteer at SDP. Recipients are required to be the total caregivers of their dogs, so remaining as active as possible is one of the criteria for placement. Being at SDP allows potential recipients to bond with their canine partners, important because it is the dog that ultimately picks their person.
To realize just how life-changing these partnerships are, one only has to read the blog entries, SDP chat, etc. Things we take for granted, such as being able to get out because now a recipient can step up on a curb, allows mobility previously impossible. Some recipients are now in medical and law schools. Others go out doing public speaking and have become active advocates. Testimonials are heartfelt and heartwarming.
SDP is supported by an army of camera people, volunteers, and staff. Purina has so generously been donating most of the dog's food, and there have been some very generous grants awarded. Carlene White takes no salary, and all of her dogs are totally donated to recipients. I am so proud to be a supporter of this amazing organization.
Patricia Benward