We have many sayings in the NEADS Puppy Raiser community. Two that we use often are, “It takes a village,” and “We give a piece of our heart to every single dog we raise.” These aren’t just phrases; they reflect how our community truly operates. Our volunteer Puppy...
by Sue Walsh, NEADS Maine Puppy Raiser since 2009 Everyone has their story of how or why they became a NEADS Puppy Raiser; mine started nearly 15 years ago. I began showing dogs in obedience competitions when I was16, and at that moment I knew I was meant for the...
“It’s really rewarding to help prepare a dog to be a superhero,” muses NEADS board member and volunteer Sue Feit. And she knows: as Weekend Puppy Raisers, Sue and her brother, Andy, have worked with five NEADS dogs, including Service Dog Knight. Knight, says Sue, was...
by Puppy Raiser Ed Nobrega All Puppy Raisers know that at some point, they will return the dog they’re raising to NEADS for finish training and matching with a client. For me, the hardest part early on in my Puppy Raising days (as a Weekend Puppy Raiser for...
One of the most important jobs a Puppy Raiser has is to help the NEADS dogs feel comfortable in many different situations, around many people. They do this by making sure they have plenty of real-world exposure to different sights, sounds, and people.But what does...
When NEADS brought several puppies to Trinity Church in Concord (MA) to introduce weekend puppy raising to the congregation, Stephen and Jen Newbold knew right away it was something they wanted to be part of. They also appreciated the connection between the work their...
