The Paw Print: Hero Dogs' Quarterly Newsletter
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We are back with another edition of The Paw Print! Read on for all the updates from the last few months about Hero Dogs programs, placements, events, and an article in the Washingtonian featuring a Hero Dogs service dog. As always, thank you for your support!

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Hero Dogs Buddy is a facility dog working at St. John's College Student Health & Wellness Center in Annapolis, MD.

Facility dogs assist people in ways distinct from other types of working and service dogs. In partnership with a trained handler employed by the facility, they work full-time with staff to achieve specific treatment or program goals through animal-assisted therapy.

St. John's College is a small liberal arts college, and their Student Health & Wellness Center has counselors who provide therapy, nurse practitioners who provide primary care services, and a psychiatrist who provides medication management.

Hero Dogs Buddy works alongside Richard, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the center's Senior Staff Clinician, to serve the students, faculty, and staff in a variety of ways, including:

    • reducing barriers to engagement with therapeutic services;
    • providing interventions such as grounding techniques during  individual and group therapy sessions with students;
    • attending outreach events and holding office hours on campus;
    • promoting the importance of mental health and wellness, as well as fostering safety and connection, within the St. John’s community.
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Buddy has been in his position for over a year and seamlessly joined the St. John's family. Richard recounted several students calling out to Buddy from a distance and declaring themselves part of his "fan club". He quoted another student's words after attending Buddy's "office hours": "that was the best part of my day."

Placements for Two Hero Dogs

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Service Dog Hero Dogs Huck on the left and Facility Dog Hero Dogs Birdie on the right

This last quarter saw two dogs off to their careers. In mid-November, we announced the partnership of service dog Hero Dogs Huck and Jacinta, a veteran of the U.S. Army. 

Later that month, we shared that Hero Dogs Birdie had been placed as a facility dog at IAFF Local 3756 and Loudoun County Fire and Rescue.

Our sincerest thanks to all those involved in Huck and Birdie's journeys!

Congratulations!

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Fourteen assistance dog teams crossed the stage at our 2024 Hero Dogs Graduation, held on November 17th. Thank you to everyone who helped these heroes reach this achievement and thanks also to those who helped us celebrate! View pictures of each team here and here.

Save the Date!

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Mark your calendars! Our 5th Annual Hero Dogs 5K9 5K and 1K Fun Run/Walk is on Saturday, May 17th! Details coming soon. Interested in sponsoring the event? Reach out to Board Member D'Ann at dann@hero-dogs.org for more information.

Out & About

Hero Dogs love to get out in the community and explore new places! Thank you to our volunteers for attending events, for giving the dogs these training opportunities, and for representing Hero Dogs!

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In early October, Hero Dogs was a beneficiary of the Maryland Jeep and 4x4 Rally at Braglio Farms in Randallstown, MD! Service dogs Hero Dogs Cliff and Anita, accompanied by Hero Dogs Bertha, had a blast representing our organization and checking out the Jeeps!⁣⁣ Thank you to the event organizer and participants!

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Hero Dogs attended many events in October, including a presentation at Equinix and a visit to the State Department. Pictured above is service dog Hero Dogs Anita and Hero Dogs Bertha attending the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) conference on October 10th and 11th.

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⁣On October 28th and 29th, Hero Dogs Ashley, Belle, Kelly, and Gonzo attended the Society of Actuaries'  ImpACT 2024 Conference to pass around comfort and snuggles.

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On December 14th, Hero Dogs Howie, Alyce, Neptune, and Ester, along with their raisers, participated in a time-honored holiday tradition: Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery.

Welcome Ester and Chase!

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Hero Dogs Chase (left) and Ester (right)

We recently welcomed two new recruits, Hero Dogs Ester and Hero Dogs Chase

Hero Dogs 1st Lt. Aleda Ester Lutz, USA is sponsored by Friends of Booz Allen Hamilton and is named in memory of the first American servicewoman to be killed in combat during World War II, who was also the first military woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross. She is the second-highest decorated woman in the history of the U.S. military.⁣⁣
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Hero Dogs EM2 John Oliver Chase, USN is sponsored by Thene Martin and George Mernick. He is named in memory of a sailor on the USS Princeton, which was sunk in the Pacific by the Japanese in 1944.⁣⁣
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Chase and Ester are two of seven puppies from Hero Dogs Elsie's second litter, born on September 6th. We are grateful to Clear Path for Veterans for caring for Elsie and her puppies until they were ready for the next part of their journeys. ⁣⁣
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Keep up with our youngest puppies on Instagram at @herodogsester and @herodogschase!

Raise a Puppy, Save a Life.

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Interested in raising a future service dog? Visit our Raise a Hero Dog page to learn more about what it takes to raise a puppy with Hero Dogs. We have two Puppy Program Orientations coming up: Saturday, 1/25/25 and Saturday, 2/8/25. Both are at 10am at our facility in Brookeville, MD. If you have any questions about the process, please email hero@hero-dogs.org.

Off to College

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Two more Hero Dogs joined their peers in Advanced Training this quarter: Hero Dogs Scout and Hero Dogs Bea. We are excited to see where this next stage of their training takes them!

Working Dogs of DC

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Our very own Hero Dogs Norm and his veteran Carol were featured in the December issue of Washingtonian magazine! Click here to read the article, titled "Meet the Working Dogs of DC."

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