America's VetDogs (AVD)

Service Dog (Veterans), Facility Dog, Guide Dog

Lab/Golden Crosses, Goldens, Labs

The organization provides:

• Vet Costs

• Flea and Tick Preventatives

• Heartworm Preventatives

• Crate

• Leash

• Collar

• Head Collar 

• Brush 

• Bowl

• Ear Cleaner

• Treat Pouch

• Starter Bag of Food

Raisers pay for:

• Food

• Toys

• Poop Bags

Basic Skills: 

Basic obedience commands, Socialization, Loose leash walking, Potty training, Public access behavior, Self-control around distractions, Grooming

Advanced Cues:

Advanced obedience

Note: Raisers in the PTSD Trial Program teach more advanced cues. 

• Online Application

• 2 Online Videos with quizzes 

• A few classes 

• Home Vist and Interview

Raisers attend at least 1-2 meetings a month. 

Puppy raisers either transport their dogs to HQ or meet a transport van to send their dogs "In For Training". 

Raisers get monthly updates from the trainer while the dog is IFT.

Puppy Raisers are invited to a video call with their dog's handler a few days before they are set to graduate. 

Pre-pandemic AVD offered in-person graduation for teams, puppy raisers, and sponsors at HQ. However, there is currently no plan to resume this in person or virtually. 

Graduates choose whether they would like to stay in contact with raisers and are given their contact information 3 months after graduation.  

• Raisers only have the puppies on weekends and the puppies are raised in prisons by inmate handlers during the week. 

• There is a pilot program for full-time raising typically available for repeat raisers. These raisers teach more advanced cues.