National Education for Assistance Dog Services

CONTACT:

P.O. Box 213
West Boylston, MA 01583
(978) 422-9064 Ext 11
www.neads.org

Sheila O’Brien, CEO

DESCRIPTION:

For 30 years, NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services) has been training dogs to help people who are deaf or disabled to live more independently. NEADS dogs come from animal shelters throughout New England or are donated by breeders nationwide. NEADS has now trained and placed over 1,000 dogs with human partners, and its staff and physical facilities have grown and expanded.

NEADS puppies are first foster-cared for 18 months by individuals and families. In 1998, NEADS launched its Prison PUP Partnership Program, which places eight-week-old puppies with minimum-security inmates who teach the dogs basic obedience and skills, in preparation for advanced training at NEADS. This highly successful Program now operates in eight correctional institutions in three states, raising over 50 pups annually. NEADS also trains trainers — from Germany, Japan, South Africa, South Korea and Australia.

These successes has prompted NEADS to adapt the program for at-risk teenagers. In California, a similar program increased the students' self-esteem by up to 80%, truancy declined by 73%, problem behavior decreased by 89%, and grade point averages rose 32% — all of which raises the question. Who is training whom? Please support this multiple-beneficiary program!

(2001: HUMAN SERVICES: Well-Being)