Service Dogs for Veterans
NEADS has been providing fully-trained Service Dogs for United States veterans since 2006. Programs include Service Dogs for Veterans from any conflict who have a permanent physical disability or hearing loss, or have MS or other progressive conditions and veterans with diagnosed service-related PTSD. Service Dogs are provided at no charge to veterans who are eligible for our program.
Learn more about our program, the history behind it, and the incredible veteran community we work with and serve.
All about Service Dogs for Veterans
Military Families Magazine: Rapid fire
Melissa M. Stewart | Military Families Magazine: Q&A with a veteran and his best friend. Despite hearing aids and a cochlear implant, Army veteran Stephen Hood’s hearing was rapidly deteriorating,…
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Worcester Business Journal: Four-legged battle buddies: NEADS service dogs help veterans
Sloan M. Perron, Worcester Business Journal, interviews NEADS client Cliff Comptois, NEADS Trainer Tyler Gribi, and NEADS Veterans Services Representative, Katie Hanna. Read the article here.
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NEADS Veteran Clients on the Move
Thanks to so many veteran clients who have shared their special moments with us over the last few months. We love seeing what everyone is up to. Jed tied the…
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Jared and Trauma Assistance Dog Jeter
NEADS asked U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jared Wimberly to explain how Trauma Assistance Dog (TAD) Jeter works with him to calm and ground him. TAD Dogs learn specialized task work…
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Sisters in Service: Interview with Katie Hanna
NEADS Client Services Specialist Katie Hanna US Army (Ret) discusses NEADS® World Class Service Dogs and the veteran community.
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Veterans on the Move: Interview with Katie Hanna
NEADS Client Services Specialist Katie Hanna US Army (Ret) discusses NEADS® World Class Service Dogs and the veteran community.
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Veterans’ Voice: Interview with Katie Hanna
NEADS Client Services Specialist Katie Hanna US Army (Ret) and Katy Harrison Ostroff, Manager of NEADS Client Services discuss NEADS® World Class Service Dogs and the veteran community.
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Veterans Day 2021
by Katie Hanna It was the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918 that signaled the end of World War I. Known in many countries…
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Stood their Ground
As we approach Veterans Day, we want to thank the country music duo Martin & Kelly – songwriters, incredible musicians, and long-time supporters of NEADS – for this very special version of their original “Stood their Ground,” featuring some of our veteran clients. Enjoy!
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Worcester County VSO Visit NEADS
In mid-October, NEADS hosted Veteran Services Officers (VSO) from various towns in Worcester County. They received a tour of the Kathy Foreman Client House, an overview of the three veteran…
Read MoreRead the stories of fellow veterans and their Service Dogs
Jared and Trauma Assistance Dog Jeter
NEADS asked U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jared Wimberly to explain how Trauma Assistance Dog (TAD) Jeter works with him to calm and ground him. TAD Dogs learn specialized task work…
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Steve & Service Dog for Hearing Charlotte
Army veteran and retired Chicago police officer Stephen Hood’s hearing was profoundly deteriorating; even his hearing aids and cochlear implant were not enough to alleviate the mounting challenges of his…
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Hospitalization and Recovery during a Pandemic
The pandemic has been difficult for all our TAD* veterans, but one client in particular, Rebecca, found herself in an extremely tough situation. A few months prior to the pandemic, she had to make the hard decision to have her second leg amputated. She had only had her Service Dog, Sully, for about 4 months at that time and was clearly worried about what to do with him while in the hospital…
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Kayne and Service Dog Nikki
Nikki has been with me for about a year now. She has changed my life dramatically, and I can’t imagine it without her. Nikki helps me with my daily tasks.…
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Mark and Service Dog Skipper
When I first found out that NEADS had a Service Dog for me, I will admit that I got excited, but when I was told his name was Skipper, I…
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Chris and Hearing Dog Masie
I first learned about the Hearing Ear Dog Program (now NEADS) in an article in the Disabled American Veterans magazine in 1982. I contacted the program and was interviewed and…
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Jason and Service Dog Ernie
Jason was diagnosed with PTSD in 2006, three years after returning from a difficult tour of duty with the Marine Corps in Iraq. He was in a very dark place,…
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Jocelyn and Service Dog Sammie
Jocelyn, an Air Force veteran and NEADS first female TAD client, was matched with Service Dog Sammie in 2017. Here’s her story:
I now know why there is a sign in the NEADS client house that says, “Every once in a while a dog enters your life and changes everything.” Little did I know just how quickly everything would change for the better when Sammie entered my life.
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In Their Words: I Once Sat in That Chair
I once sat in that chair and I watched,
People around me freely going to and fro,
Parents playing with their children,
As I once sat in that chair and watched.