Tuesday, March 14, 2017

73: More Than Friends, More Than Family: Wilderwood Service Dogs

My roommate works with dementia and Alzheimer's patients and asked for a dementia service dog nonprofit, and behold, Wilderwood Service Dogs. Wilderwood trains service dogs for Spectrum, disorders, Psychology or Psychiatric needs, Neurological Disorders, and Episodic Disorders. This covers a lot of ground for assisting people with Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's, Huntington's, Brain Damage, Meniere's, Narcolepsy and more.
Even more fabulous, 70% of the Wilderwood dogs are rescues or owner surrendered. The dogs are trained for two years to the specific needs of the individual who will be bonded with the service dog. If you look at their pages about the types of dogs, you will see the amazing skills each dog has. For example, for an epileptic, the dog will turn the  person in his or her side during an episode and seek help. For a neuro disorder, the dogs know to watch for things like stoves or water being left running, balance issues, or confusion.
Clients are asked to fundraise for the organization and owner expenses are for a week during the dog's graduation, during which I am guessing the dog and owner are trained together and bonded. A lot of care and training goes into each dog, and occasionally older, retired service dogs are available for adoption as companions.
I know firsthand how much an animal can help anyone and used to volunteer with one of mine. wilder wood takes the process much further, and I feel so happy for the clients who needed a service dog to be paired with one from Wilderwood.
As bonus you get a fab picture of Nessie to go with today's Donations by the Dozen, mainly because I am always going to put a picture of her when it works ;)




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Thanks and cheers to charity

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