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Linus

“Zinger became a Freedom Service
Dog in 2008”

Mission

Our mission is to acquire and train dogs that have the potential to successfully undergo and complete the rigorous seven to ten month training that allows them to assist people with disabilities, thus increasing their independence and peace of mind.

We focus our efforts on donating these wonderful animals to disabled military veterans to help restore some normalcy to their difficult lives.

Virtually all Freedom Service Dogs are rescued themselves from shelters. Those that do not fulfill all the comprehensive training requirements are found adoptive homes.


Our History

FSD was founded in 1987 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization by Michael and PJ Roche. Both Mike and PJ were active with Assistance Dogs International (ADI) when the assistance dog industry was just developing. The Roche’s worked diligently to transform FSD from a small, two person organization to one of the leading service dog training organizations in the country.

In early 2009, in recognition of the increasing number of “Wounded Warriors” that were returning from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, FSD made the decision to concentrate its efforts on identifying deserving disabled veterans and matching them with a trained service dog companion. Most of these service men and women are young, and now have to endure a long lifetime with physical and mental disabilities that make their lives very difficult.

Over the years, FSD has rescued hundreds of dogs and has placed over 140 client-service dog teams. We are especially proud of our 100% success rate in placing dogs that do not become service dogs in adoptive homes.


The FSD Difference

  • Rescues Dogs. FSD rescues and trains only unwanted and abandoned dogs, helping solve the pet overpopulation problem. There is no puppy-raising program or breeding.

  • Custom Training. FSD matches dogs to their new partner and custom trains the dog to do the specific tasks required by each individual.

  • Provides Lifetime Support. FSD maintains contact with clients to provide recertification for the service dog and give hands-on support in new skill development.

  • Maximizes Donations. FSD works to ensure that 85¢-87¢ of every dollar spent goes directly toward program expenses.

  • Positive Training Methods. FSD uses positive reinforcement – clicker/treat – to shape play behaviors (retrieve, tug, paw, touch) into helpful tasks. FSD service dogs wag while they work!