A Little Help Goes a Long Way

We’ve been very fortunate at Assistance Dogs of America, Inc. Our volunteers are dedicated, committed, and truly beyond generous with their time. There are so many ways to help us continue our services and programs. Whether you have one hour to give or one hundred eager school children looking for a way to help, we have a volunteer job or project for you.

As a business, we can use your professional skills. As a service organization, we can use your community connections. As an advocate for persons with disabilities, we can use your sense of compassion and kindness.

Here are just some of the volunteer activities you, your business, or your school or community organization can be involved with. If you have additional ideas on ways to volunteer, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at 419-825-3622.

Foster Family or Furlough Family - Foster a dog in your home, raise a puppy for its first year or help raise a puppy during furlough breaks from the Puppy Prison Program.  See Foster Families or Puppy Furlough.

Dog Care and Training - Help ADAI with handling, grooming and training our dogs.  More advanced training volunteers will learn how to reinforce basic commands and manners and take dogs on public outings.

Facility and Kennel Maintenance - Help keep ADAI’s outside and inside facilities in tip-top shape. Lend a hand with lawn mowing, trimming, weeding, leaf raking and flowerbed maintenance.  Help the kennel staff clean the kennels and feed the dogs.

Clerical - Lend a hand with our paperwork, including mailings, letters, data entry and filing.

Speakers Bureau Member - Help spread the word about ADAI by conducting public presentations to organizations like youth groups, businesses or community clubs.

  Professional Development - As a business, ADAI wants to operate in the most efficient, professional, and innovative way. Volunteer your business and professional experience on our board of directors and assist ADAI with strategic planning, operations, and fund development.

Special Events - ADAI is involved in many special events throughout the year. Lend your organizational skills by helping to coordinate and host these events.

 

Happy Endings: Wally and Pablo

Wally is a “young” seventy-something gentleman who happens to have Parkinson’s disease. Pablo, a mixed lab/beagle, is as eager as they come when it comes to wanting to help. Not one to retire, Pablo is grateful for Wally’s companionship and assistance with tasks like picking things up. Together, these two are dedicated to work and having fun together.

Emma and Mercedes

“ ADAI has given our daughter a best friend,” say Denise and Tom Zorn of Taylor, MI, whose daughter Emma eceived Mercedes, a black Labrador Retriever. Mercedes is helping Emma, a second grader who has autism, to socialize more and stay more physically active. In addition, Mercedes will simply be the unquestioning friend with whom Emma can sit and laugh. Mercedes was donated by Larry Lowry of Wauseon, Ohio and fostered by The Lowry’s and Frank and Brenda Cody of Maumee.