AMERICA'S VETDOGS THE VETERANS K-9 CORPS INC

Programs

1. Training program - our instructors complete a three year apprenticeship program before they become certified instructors. During fy 2025, 189 dogs began formal training for placement with a consumer of either america's vetdogs - the veteran's k-9 corps, inc. Or its related organization the guide dog foundation for the blind, inc. America's vetdogs is managed by the guide dog foundation and reimburses for the services it receives from the guide dog foundation. Formal training of an assistance dog takes approximately three to four months during which time the foundation cares for all dogs. Dogs are housed on campus in state of the art kennels in the designated training center. Not every dog that enters formal training becomes a guide or service dog. The foundation currently estimates a success rate of approximately 50%. After completion of formal training, the dog is ready to be teamed with a consumer. The training of the dog and the student are customized to the individual and their disabilities. Harnesses, back packs and other required accessories are also customized to the needs of the particular consumer. The consumer or student and their dog are trained to work together as a…

   $3,656,789 spent
   45% of program spending

2. Breeding program - during fy 2025 the foundation supported 108 dogs in the breeding colony. The breeding colony is carefully selected after extensive screening and testing. During fy 2025, 362 puppies were added to the programs of america's vetdogs and the guide dog foundation. Puppies spend seven to eight weeks in our puppy nursery. From the nursery they spend approximately one year in the home of a volunteer puppy raiser or prison puppy program before coming back to the organization for formal training. During fy 2025 a total of 373 puppies were placed. 266 puppies were placed in puppy raiser homes and 107 puppies participated in our prison puppy program. The organization currently supports puppy raisers in nearly 20 states and has agreements with 14 prisons throughout massachusetts, maryland, florida, maine, pennsylvania and connecticut. The professional puppy staff supports our puppy raising volunteers and our staff typically visits each prison weekly to follow up and train the inmate handlers who are carefully screened to ensure they are suitable candidates to participate in this program.

   $1,630,145 spent
   20% of program spending

3. Public education - public education and outreach are important parts of the mission of america's vetdogs. This past fiscal year we distributed three issues of the sentinel which were sent to approximately 56,500 recipients. The sentinel is the official newsletter to educate the public about assistance dogs, assistance dog etiquette and disability issues. Organization graduates, puppy raisers and caretakers went on over 98 speaking engagements off campus and each one typically has an audience of 30 or more people. Vetdogs has embraced social media as a means to reach our supporters efficiently and effectively. We have nearly 83,900 facebook likes and nearly 12,500 twitter followers. Additionally we have approximately 93,000 followers through youtube, linkedin, tik tok, threads and instagram. During fy 2025 america's vetdogs partnered with major league soccer team nashville soccer club to raise service dog cash, national hockey league teams new york islanders to raise seviced dog jethro and guide dog butchie, las vegas golden knights to raise service dog maverick and utah mammoth to raise service dog archie, philadelphia flyers alumni assoc to raise service dog stanley, major league…

   $1,703,478 spent
   21% of program spending

4. Student and graduate services during fy 2025, america's vetdogs - graduated 6 guide dog teams, 36 ptsd/service dog teams, 32 service dog teams, 1 seizure dog team, 4 hearing dog teams and also placed 6 facility dogs. Facility dogs were placed at keller army community hospital, the pentagon, mac dill air force base, andrews air force base, ucla clinical translational research center, and carl r darnall army medical center. In addition, the guidedog foundation graduated 29 guide dog teams. Each consumer's needs are evaluated, and if possible a dog is trained to meet those needs. Some of the disabilities served include: physically disabled, prosthetic limb recipients, traumatic brain injuries, profound hearing loss and those with a primary diagnosis of ptsd. In addition to the tasks, the dogs are trained to mitigate a person's disability. Service dogs also provide comfort and provide re-socialization assistance for our veterans. Students typically stay on campus approximately two weeks in the student residence which can accommodate up to 17 students at a time. Each student has a private room with private bath. The residence is staffed 24 hours per day. All meals are provided.…

   $1,152,920 spent
   14% of program spending

The 4 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $8,143,332.