NEADS Puppy Raising
Which raiser are you?
Three answers. One question underneath all of them: how does a puppy fit into your actual week? Answer honestly — there's a good option for every schedule.
When you picture a NEADS puppy in your week, what does that actually look like?
In a normal week, how many days do you realistically have the time and space for a dog?
This path starts with a club.
College students can raise NEADS dogs — but it works differently than an individual placement.
NEADS' College Puppy Raiser Program is built around student-run clubs, not solo raisers. Each dog is supported by a small team — one Primary Raiser, one Co-Raiser, and two Sitters — so the responsibility is genuinely shared and no one person is carrying a puppy through finals week alone.
Before anything else, there are two things to check. First, your college needs to be in the right geography — NEADS works with schools in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, southern New Hampshire, and southern Maine. Second, you need to be a sophomore, junior, or senior — first-year students aren't eligible for raiser roles.
If both of those are true, the next step is forming a club — or joining one if your campus already has one. You'll also need a faculty or staff advisor who can serve as NEADS' campus liaison. NEADS recommends reaching out to them early, before you build anything, to talk through timeline, capacity, and what they'll need from your school.
Already have a group of students interested and a campus that fits? That's the best possible starting point. Reach out to NEADS and they'll walk you through what comes next.