RETRIEVING FREEDOM, INC

The mission of Retrieving Freedom is to change lives through the training and placement of service dogs for Veterans with disabilities and children with Autism. Each dog is trained to meet the needs of their specific recipient. Service dogs can aid Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and physical limitations. Oftentimes at RFI, we hear stories of Veterans not feeling comfortable in public. To assist with symptoms of PTSD, service dogs can perform positional commands, lining their body on certain sides of the veterans’ body, providing them with a buffer between themselves and strangers. If a Veteran struggles with nightmares, service dogs can turn on a light or wake the Veteran up in a calm manner. Service dogs are able to retrieve objects for Veterans with limited mobility, such as keys, wallet, phone, their leash, and more. They can push a handicap button to open a doorway for their recipient and tug doors closed behind them.

The mission of Retrieving Freedom is changing lives through the training and placement of service dogs for Veterans with disabilities and children with Autism. Each dog is trained to meet the needs of their specific recipient. These service animals provide non-judgmental companionship and unconditional love 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. To aid with Autism, service dogs are trained to lay across the child’s lap and provide pressure therapy during times of high anxiety or overstimulation. For children who have a tendency to bolt, they can be physically tethered to the service dog. When there is pressure and tugging on the tether, the dog knows to lay down and act as an anchor, preventing the children from fleeing. The service dog is a natural social bridge, can make a child feel more comfortable sleeping in their own bed, and is a constant in a child’s ever-changing environment. The special bond that develops is therapeutic for these children.

To train the best quality Service Dog, we partner with groups who have an impact on the Service Dog’s training, while the dog has an impact on their lives. Each dog can impact over 100 individuals throughout their training. Here are some specific Impact Programs we are proudly involved with: Teacher Foster Program: Local teachers take Service-Dogs-in-Training (SDiT) to their classroom and expose them to experiences they would not get outside of a school while using the dog as an educational device. College Programs: Partnering with local universities, students are matched with a SDiT and become the students’ constant companions, training throughout their daily lives. During this time, students are learning about disability awareness and the Service Dog industry. Prison Programs: We partner with two correctional facilities where 40 inmate handlers work with SDiT on specific tasks and general obedience. These programs have shown to lower recidivism rates with handlers who participate.