Media Coverage
An archive of selected media coverage about NEADS World Class Service Dogs. If you would like to write or film a story about NEADS, please contact us.
NightSide with Dan Rea – An Interview with Cathy Zemaitis
Dan Rae speaks with Cathy Zemaitis, Chief Development and Programs Officer, about how NEADS is looking to change Service Dog culture, focusing on the Red Vest Accessible program.
Telegram & Gazette: NEADS partners with Boston Symphony Orchestra for training program
PRINCETON — NEADS World Class Service Dogs, based in Princeton, announced the expansion of a new training program and recent partnership with Boston Symphony Orchestra, including Tanglewood, in time for its summer season.
The Red Vest Accessible Program, which was started as a pilot program in 2020, recognizes venues for offering a welcoming, accessible facility for those with a disability; showing a commitment to public access rights for legitimate service dog teams; and demonstrating a thorough knowledge of ADA regulations.
WBZ News Radio: NEADS Partners with BSO for Red Vest Initiative
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Local dog service organization NEADS is looking to change the culture surrounding service dogs.
NEADS has partnered with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Public Library to launch an expansion of the Red Vest Accessible Training Program.
Wealth Beyond Riches: An Interview with Cathy Zemaitis
This week on Wealth Beyond Riches, Abaris Financial Group LLC CEO Abbey Henderson, CFP® spoke with Cathy Zemaitis, Chief Development and Programs Officer at NEADS, about its mission, how you can contribute, and much more.
Cape & Islands NPR: Service Dogs
Mindy Todd, The Point
WOODS HOLE, MA (WCAI) — Service Dogs are essential in the day to day life of many people- individuals who are blind or low vision, those who have difficulty hearing, or remembering to take medication. Service Dogs can even alert people before they have seizure or if their blood sugar is getting too low. Not only are the dogs trained to perform tasks for their handlers, they create opportunity for independence, and provide companionship. Today we talk about service dogs, how they’re different from therapy or emotional support animals, and what it takes to train and pair a dog with an individual.
Kara Milotte, Client Services Manager for NEADS, joins the conversation along with Lynn Stas, Region Coordinator for Guiding Eyes for the Blind Eastern Massachusetts, Doe Zottoli, a puppy raiser for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and Amy Bower, Senior Scientist and physical oceanographer at WHOI, who has used service dogs for 20 years to assist as she has lost most of her vision due to retinal degeneration.
NEADS Service Dogs Hop On A Boston Duck Tour For Training
Suzanne Sausville, WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Service dogs from NEADS World Class Service Dogs took a duck boat tour around Boston on Sunday as part of their public transportation training.
NEADS is a non-profit established in 1976 to train service dogs for people with a variety of physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.
“They’re highly trained service dogs who can perform up to 50 or 60 different tasks and commands,” said Cathy Zemaitis, who is the chief development and programs officer at NEADS. Continue reading... or listen below.
Service dogs take Duck Tour through Boston
Rob Pelaez, Boston Herald.
NEADS World Class Service Dogs celebrated Boston Duck Tours’ philanthropic initiative, ‘Quack-Quack, Give Back!” on Sunday with ambassadors and partners taking a private tour ride through the city.
The two organizations celebrated their 12-year partnership a week after Duck Tours’ 2024 season kicked off with the tour ride for service dogs and their handlers. For pooches too young for the tour, there was and a training course that included basic obedience, good manners and socialization, NEADS officials said.
NightSide with Dan Rea: NEADS Assistance Dog JD
WBZ Radio's Dan Rea talks with Beth Johnson, Tantasqua Regional Senior High School Assistant Principal and handler of NEADS Assistance Dog “J.D.”
Telegram & Gazette: Assistance Dog J.D. brightens every day at this Central Mass. high school
Jeff A. Chamer, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: One of Tantasqua Regional Senior High School's most popular staff members is known for his ability to provide a comforting presence in times of distress - and for taking treats when he's a good boy.
It's J.D., a 5-year-old black lab who regularly walks around the school building and visits classrooms with assistant principal Beth Johnson, his owner and handler.
"It has been a giant love affair between every staff member and student that J.D. has ever met," Johnson said. "He makes a world of difference for some kids - he really turns their day around and, for a lot of kids, he is the reason that they come to school or can get through the whole school day."
Whether it's the first thing in the morning as students arrive, a random walk through the building or lunchroom, or popping into counseling sessions to help students, Johnson has been sure to make J.D. as accessible to students as possible throughout the day.
One of J.D.'s most frequent visitors -and, Johnson said, the president of his fan club - is Alexis Buteau, a senior. Buteau said she typically makes it a point to see J.D. at least once per school day.
"He's very comforting and he knows all of these adorable tricks," Buteau said. Continue reading...
NBC Boston: Assistance dog helps students build social-emotional skills in Framingham High School
As students return to classrooms in Massachusetts, one Framingham school is showing success in a program that helps build academic and social-emotional skills for students. Framingham High School offers a program called Resiliency For Life. The program helps about 60 students in ninth through 12th grade through emotional challenges to achieve academic success. Watch the video here.
NBC Boston: Full-time puppy raisers needed
NEADS visits NBC Boston to talk about its needs for puppy raisers.
Fox61: Spring Update with Mystic
Fox61's Keith McGilvery has been following Service Dog in Training Mystic since last year, and today he shared an update as part of the station's Morning Bright Spot. There was a hint about an upcoming visit for Mystic to Mystic Pizza.
Boston Herald: Anything is paw-sible
Boston Herald Staff: A pawsitively fun event all for a good cause returned on Sunday, as NEADS World Class Service Dogs hosted its Pulling 4 Paws Truck Pull to support its array of Service Dog programs.
The Pulling 4 Paws Truck Pull at Worcester’s Polar Park was back after a three-year hiatus. See photos here.
Spectrum News: NEADS welcomes back Pulling 4 Paws fundraiser
by Cam Jandrow: Instead of baseball, a unique fundraiser filled up Polar Park Sunday afternoon.
Nonprofit NEADS World Class Service Dogs hosted a truck pull, "Pulling 4 Paws."
Teams of 15 played tug-of-war with an 18-wheeler to see who could get the truck over the finish line the fastest.
NEADS is a Princeton-based nonprofit providing service dogs for people with a physical disability, veterans, hearing, as well as children with autism or other developmental disabilities.
Even in the pouring rain, the nonprofit had a full slate of 16 teams for the fundraiser, which they say will go toward the organization and an array of different service dog programs. Watch the segment here.