Unlike most service dog organizations, FSD will pull its dogs through close working relations with not only local Colorado shelters and rescues, but also organizations nationwide.  This includes alerts by participating organizations about dogs that may have a high propensity for training and service work.  FSD trainers then take the dogs to their Englewood, CO campus, where they’ll spend the next 6 – 12 months learning up to 50 different commands, including opening doors, retrieving items, pulling wheelchairs, going for help, turning on lights and enhancing social interaction.

Any dog who does not officially graduate as a service dog, is released from the program and adopted into a loving home by FSD.  The organization’s website features dogs available for adoption.

The campaign is the end result of a grant given to FSD by PURE Brand Communications.  The Denver based agency donated $75,000 in services and worked with FSD for a majority of 2012 to create the campaign.

“We have an amazing story to tell and PURE Brand Communications recognized right away that it could be done much better.  They were able to immediately capture the need these amazing and very capable dogs have to be freed from the shelter to fulfill their greater destiny of service dog,” states executive director Sharan Wilson.  “In almost every instance of placing a dog with a client, we receive feedback that their service dog is truly their hero.  They are in awe of how their life has been enhanced.  These dogs truly do go from possibly not making it out of a shelter to changing a person’s life in less than a year.”

The captivating photos featured in the campaign are credited to Ashleigh Miller Photography, who also donated hours of work for the campaign.   Explore Communications was able to secure donated billboard space throughout Colorado, enabling FSD to obtain exposure it otherwise would not be able to afford.