By Jeremy Gottschalk
Herald Correspondent
A Central Florida nonprofit will celebrate the completion of training for teams of service dogs and their owners in a recent graduation ceremony.
With an executive team of three, board of directors of nine, and 24 puppy raiser volunteers, small non-profit Do Unto Others is aimed at providing for the abundant need for service animals in the Central Florida community, explained Co-Director of Development Laura Barnett. The ‘boutique non-profit’ focuses on how best to provide Central Florida clients with local in-public trainings, support, and what they need to live comfortable lives beyond graduation, said Barnett.
Seven teams graduated on June 27 at 2 p.m. at the Lakeside United Methodist Church in Sanford. The graduation included replacing the assistance dogs’ in-training vests with their working service dog vests as well as offering puppy raiser volunteers and new owners to come together to celebrate the last step of their dogs’ two-year journey.
For some volunteers, this was the last time they might see a dog they have helped raise.
“Being involved in raising service dogs has really been life-changing,” said Barnett, “Growing up in the church I’d heard about sacrificial giving. But until you give up a dog that has been yours for six months, you’re raising a dog for someone else, that’s sacrificial giving. All the volunteers we have are willing to do that; to have their heart break a little bit every time, it’s worth it because of the difference you make in someone else’s life.”
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog is “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.” Dogs are trained to perform a task essential to their owner’s needs to include, but not limited to, deep-pressure responses, retrieval or bracing to support owners with mobility issues. Less than 1% of Center for Disease Control’s estimated 61 million Americans with disabilities have access, funds or eligible canine candidates for a service companion.
Do Unto Others client Melissa Valentin and service dog April were among the June graduates. “One of the most rewarding parts of my journey has been watching April grow from a young dog into a skilled and dependable service dog,” said Valentin.
“Seeing her learn new tasks, gain confidence, and develop such a strong bond with me has been an amazing blessing. She will help me in so many ways,” explained Valentin. “I feel blessed because none of this would have been possible without the incredible support from DUO, whose dedication and guidance have helped us become the team we are today.”
In 2027, Do Unto Others will likely meet the conditions to apply for Assistance Dogs International, a worldwide coalition of non-profit programs dedicated to training and placing assistance dogs. A two-year candidacy will include an evaluator and training process review to certify the program. Along with additional resources and recognition, an additional benefit to the group’s certification will include veterans getting veterinarian costs paid through the Veterans Administration for their service animals.
Do Unto Others trainers and raisers are already working with more teams, including owner-trainers and other training program dogs. With the next graduation set for January, program puppies and dogs are developing in maturity, impulse control and reliability all to continue fulfilling one purpose: helping others.
