Volunteer
Patriot Service Dogs maintains three types of volunteers.
Most PSD volunteers are “Puppy Raisers.” These volunteers bring our dogs in training into their homes to help train and prepare them for their jobs as professional service dogs. Puppy Raisers are essential to PSD training and important members of our team.
Service Dog Summer School Raisers:
Summer School is PSD’s flagship volunteer program. From early June to early August, all PSD dogs are matched with Puppy Raisers. The program begins with a kick-off picnic, allowing volunteers to meet each other and form a community. Throughout the summer, PSD holds training classes and phone check-ins to assist Raisers. Many Summer School volunteers either continue to work with “their dog” throughout the year or return for another summer. It is a great opportunity for new Raisers.
Currently, PSD operates Summer School groups in Ocala, FL, Orlando, FL, and the Florida Space Coast.
Long Term Puppy Raisers:
Outside of Summer School, experienced Raisers are working year-round with our dogs in training. They make a minimum one-month commitment.
PSD does accept new Raiser applications throughout the year, but the onboarding and training process depends on the larger PSD schedule. We never want to bring on a new volunteer if we don’t have the resources available to provide assistance.
Volunteers need to live in Central Florida and attend classes in Ocala, FL, Orlando FL, or the Florida Space Coast.
Fundraising Volunteers:
PSD also welcomes volunteers who can independently create and manage fundraisers or informational meetings. These volunteers must have their events and information approved by PSD to ensure the event fits PSD values and the information is accurate.
For most events, PSD asks members of our current puppy raiser community to represent the organization.
WHAT COMMITMENTS DO VOLUNTEERS MAKE?
Volunteers provide a safe and loving home committed to training a service dog for a veteran. Volunteers do not need dog training experience.
Volunteers must live near Ocala, Orlando, or Cocoa Beach, Florida. Couples, families, and single people are all welcome! Households with pets are welcome, but no more than one dog.
Volunteers must complete all PSD training education and follow our training methods and rules.
Attend training sessions. This commitment will vary based on the type of raising you're interested in.
“Volunteering as a service dog trainer is a rewarding experience that allows you to give back to the community. It has been great to watch Quill grow and find his purpose.””
WHAT COMMITMENTS DOES PATRIOT SERVICE DOGS MAKE?
PSD covers all dog related costs. We provide food, a kennel, and necessary gear (bowl, leash, service dog vest) and cover all vet care.
PSD will do our best to match volunteers with a dog that suits their lifestyle. This is based on the information volunteers share during the application process. Volunteers cannot choose a specific dog or type of dog.
Expert Training and fun training outings in Central Florida (Ocala, Orlando, or the Space Coast).
A strong community with an established local organization.
Personal attention and support.
“It has been an honor to work with Shannon. Thank you for allowing us to be a small part of such a fabulous organization.”
WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT PSD RAISING?
Because we are a small organization, we are personal. No volunteer and no dog at PSD is a number or just a name. We do not operate on a rigid schedule because we recognize that all dogs and volunteers are individuals.
Our WOOF Prison Program allows us to rotate dogs between our inmate-trainers and puppy raisers. This means that we can troubleshoot and support training with our inmate-trainers. Even dogs living with long-term raisers will go into the prison for periods of time for technical training.
“We never expected it to be such a blessing for our family to help raise Bear for her veteran.”
How to Become a Volunteer:
Step 1: Consider your lifestyle, time, and family—are you ready to bring a young dog into your home for training? A service dog in training is not a fully trained service dog; they make mistakes, require patience, and will shed. Puppy raising is a very rewarding experience, but it is a demanding volunteer position.
Step 2: If you have given it thought and want to join the PSD Team, complete the online volunteer application!
Step 3: Phone interview. This will be a chance for us to get to know you a little! PSD is a community, we want to make sure, our community is a good fit for you and you are a good fit for us.
Step 4: Online video class. We will send you a link to our "Raiser 101" class. It will introduce you to PSD and get you started with the basics of raising a service dog. We will also provide you with our raiser manual and other training material.
Step 5: Home visit (in some cases, this can be done virtually). We are not trying to judge your home; we just want to see that it will be a safe environment for our dogs. We will need to see where the dog's kennel will be and the area where they will relieve themselves. This is also an opportunity to talk about any questions you have thought of after watching the video class.
Step 6: We match you with a dog or puppy! We do our best to match personalities and living situations to create the best team. Some programs, like Service Dog Summer School, will have an orientation meeting.
