April 2023
In part 2 of our Volunteer Recognition series we focus on our Full-Time and Weekend Puppy Raisers, who play a vital role in the development of a NEADS dog. With 33 active Full-Time Raisers, 41 active Weekend Raisers, and approximately 30 Raisers who are currently in between dogs, this incredible group makes up the largest segment of our volunteer network.
But the contributions of our Puppy Raisers extend far beyond their primary responsibility of nurturing our puppies. Many of these volunteers support NEADS in various other ways. Some offer financial assistance, while others donate from our wish list and help to spread the word about our need for more Puppy Raisers.
We are incredibly grateful for the remarkable efforts of our Puppy Raisers, who give so much to help us achieve our mission. Without their commitment, the work we do would not be possible. We cannot thank them enough for all they do.
Full-Time Puppy RaisersOur Full-Time Puppy Raisers take in a NEADS puppy at eight weeks old and commit to raising them 24/7. This dedicated group of volunteers spends a minimum of 14 hours per week solely focused on their Service Dog in Training, while balancing their careers, busy children’s schedules, and social obligations.
The primary focus of our Full-Time Puppy Raisers is socialization and exposure for young, impressionable puppies, with a secondary emphasis on obedience commands. These raisers are responsible for providing a solid foundation for learning and confidence through systematic teaching and exposure, supported by our raiser instructors.
Here are just several of the many Puppy Raisers who are part of this incredible team of volunteers:
The Veith family started their journey as Puppy Raisers with Pepper, a Service Dog for Hearing, in 2020, and are currently raising Cali. While this is a family effort, Sarah takes the lead in raising the pups, with support from her parents, Lisa and Charles.
Doreen Rao has been a Puppy Raiser since the full-time program was in its pilot stage in 2017. She has raised Assistance Dog Boomer, Hearing Dog Lucky, sweet girl Bessie, NEADS Ambassador Verna, sweet boy Doc, and currently has Service Dog in Training Mystic. Mystic has gained celebrity status in Connecticut, as she was named by the Tegna Foundation and Fox 61 and named after Mystic, CT by the station’s audience. Doreen took time out of her busy schedule to travel to Hartford for a live TV interview with Fox 61, promoting our program and the importance of puppy raising.
Full-Time Puppy Raiser Doreen Rao (center) on the set of Fox61 in Hartford, CT
Our Weekend Puppy Raisers play a crucial role in providing socialization and exposure to our Service Dogs in Training who are part of the Prison PUP Program and those working with NEADS Trainers on campus. These volunteers help reinforce up to 26 obedience commands that the dogs learn from their Inmate Handlers and Trainers. Although most of the dogs in this program are over 12 months old, these Raisers are able to take on puppies of any age that enter the Prison PUP Program.
Weekend Raisers attend monthly classes and take the dogs on field trips that can last from one hour to up to a full day. They often attend these field trips in groups, providing the dogs with a more significant challenge while supporting each other as they guide their dogs towards the next milestone. As they are frequently in public with NEADS dogs, they help us raise awareness about true Service Dogs and reinforce our mission within the community.
Here are just three of the many Weekend Puppy Raisers who are part of this incredible team:
Cindy Orejola has been involved with both the Full-Time and Weekend programs since 2018. She has raised five dogs for NEADS, all who have successfully graduated, and is now raising her 6th dog for NEADS. She brings her friendly confidence to each pup she raises, and it certainly works!
Diana Thomas has volunteered for NEADS since 2013 and is currently raising an 11-month-old pup who is thriving under her experienced guidance. Her involvement as a Weekend Puppy Raiser and her efforts in mentoring new raisers have made a significant impact on the lives of countless NEADS dogs. As a mentor, she generously shares her wealth of knowledge she has acquired throughout her years of experience, helping to guide and support our newest volunteers.
Rick and Cindi Ressijac have been Weekend Puppy Raisers for almost a year now. It’s been a joy to witness their interactions with Service Dog in Training Bobby, as they approach his progress with unwavering positivity and celebration. They take pride in each and every milestone Bobby achieves, recognizing that each step brings him closer to reaching his full potential as a World Class Service Dog.
Puppy Raiser Diana Thomas with Moose at the 2023 Boston Marathon.
The Weekend Puppy Raiser Council is a group of experienced Weekend Puppy Raisers who mentor new Raisers, organize classes and field trips, assist with new or challenging pick-ups, offer advice, and facilitate communication between NEADS and these valued volunteers. They have also been an invaluable source of knowledge for our new Raiser Ops staff.
Council members have a combined 54 years of experience and 63 dogs raised!
Dan DeMille is the chair of the Council. He started as a Weekend Puppy Raiser in 2011 and has raised 19 dogs. He offers support to Raisers assigned to Devens when operational and is currently offering additional support to the Gardner group as they take on a number of new Raisers. As Council Chair, Dan guides the Council to ensure that the group remains on task/topic until solutions and agreements are reached. This is not always an easy task!
Cinda Capone has been a Weekend Puppy Raiser since 2012 and has raised 11 (soon to be 12) dogs out of the Prison PUP Program in Gardner. Cinda is often described as both sincere and direct in the most helpful and insightful way. She is highly respected by not only the Gardner Raisers, but by the Weekend Puppy Raisers as a whole.
Annette McBride became a Weekend Puppy Raiser in 2013 and has raised 7 dogs. She offers support to the Weekend Raisers centered around the Norfolk prison. Annette has been ever-supportive of the Norfolk group, one of the largest among the Weekend Puppy Raisers.
Kim Arico is the newest member of the Council, but she is not new to puppy raising. She started in 2016 and has raised 6 dogs along with her husband, Rob. Kim offers support to our JJ Moran Puppy Raisers and is also a driving force behind creating support materials that will help Puppy Raisers discuss and celebrate NEADS within the community.
A Special Thank You – Anne-Marie Chernosky
Long-time Council member Anne-Marie Chernosky recently announced her retirement from volunteering for NEADS. She began as a Weekend Puppy Raiser in 2009, and over the last 14 years has raised 20 dogs!
During Anne-Marie’s time on the Weekend Puppy Raiser Council, she balanced puppy raising, leading classes and field trips, and bringing issues and solutions to light. She was instrumental during the COVID lockdown in helping to organize and house the many puppies that needed to be pulled from prison. Her legacy will include a structured peer-support system for the Concord team, as well as the upcoming Mentor Program.
Temporary Raiser Sitters
Many of our Temporary Raiser Sitters are former Puppy Raisers who offer a safe and temporary place for Service Dogs in Training to go when a Puppy Raiser is not available. This could be anywhere between two days and two weeks. They can step in for many reasons, including:
- Puppy Raiser vacations
- Major travel holidays
- Unexpected health issues, both puppy and Puppy Raiser
- When a pup is between different placements
- When a pup is recovering from surgery
Temporary Raiser Sitters do not attend regular classes or complete exposure field trips. Instead, they offer a calm, safe environment that reinforces our most basic of obedience commands- the fundamentals. Without this group, our primary Puppy Raisers would feel much more stress and pressure.
