NEADS Nation

yellow service dog sitting with 5 people

Celebrating our Spring 2022 Graduates, Part 2

We are planning our next live graduation April 2023, at which time we will celebrate three classes, including our Spring 2022 graduates. In the meantime, we very much want to…

NEADS Then and Now, Part 1

For 45 years, NEADS has been committed to providing World Class Service Dogs to meet the growing and changing needs of our clients. In this video, NEADS Director of Canine…

45 Years of Changing Lives

Today, NEADS offers the widest array of programs in the industry while still holding true to our core mission of producing Service Dogs for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud of our reputation as a pioneer, leader, and innovator. As we celebrate our 45th year, we thought it only fitting to let our World Class Service Dogs tell our history

82nd Graduation Recognizes 17 New Service Dog and Assistance Dog Teams

NEADS held its 82nd Graduation Ceremony on Sunday, November 7 at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School (“Monty Tech”). Supported by family, friends, NEADS staff, volunteer puppy raisers, and other supporters,…

Get Dressed. Give Back for World Class Service Dogs

On October 15, NEADS celebrated its 6th Get Dressed. Give Back. fundraiser at The Exchange in Boston’s seaport district. It was an amazing night thanks to the many NEADS friends…

NEADS World Class Service Dogs Achieves ADI Reaccreditation

NEADS has once again achieved reaccreditation by Assistance Dogs International (ADI). ADI, the leading authority in the Service Dog industry, establishes and promotes standards of excellence in all areas of…

NEADS Day at Polar Park

What a day! On June 5, NEADS was well represented by Service Dogs and Assistance Dogs with their human partners, Service Dogs in Training and their Puppy Raisers, as well…

Spirit Award 2021 – Pam Murray

Each spring, NEADS presents its Spirit Award to a volunteer or group of volunteers who passionately exudes the energy, values, and commitment to our mission over an extended period of…

NEADS Earns 19th Consecutive 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator

NEADS’ strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. This is the 19th consecutive year that NEADS has earned this distinction, making the organization one of the longest-standing nonprofits to hold the rating and placing it at the top of Charity Navigator’s 10 Charities with the Most Consecutive 4-Star Ratings list.

Supporter Spotlight: The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts

In September 2020, NEADS was awarded a $50,000 Activation Fund grant for a Behavioral Check List (BCL) space to be built in the new Breeding Center. This space will be used to test puppies to determine their eligibility to enter NEADS’ training programs and join the next generation of NEADS World Class Service Dogs.

NEADS Appoints New Board of Directors Chair and Members

NEADS is pleased to announce the newest roles to its Board of Directors: former Marine Corps First Sergeant Paul Jornet has been named Board Chair; Susan Feit of State Street Corporation, Dr. A. Kim Saal, formerly of CareGroup Health Care and Mt. Auburn Hospital, and Geoffrey H. Worrell of Mortgage Network, Inc., have been appointed to the Board.

The Places They Go

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 that look like day to day? Dana, who has raised two puppies for NEADS and is currently raising her third puppy, shares a few highlights of her puppy raising experience with the two pups she’s raised. What a journey!