Since our founding in 1982, Southeastern Guide Dogs has been a proud supporter of American veterans. Over the past 26 years, our expertise in training guide dogs to work with people who have multiple disabilities has led many disabled veterans to seek our services.
In 2003 one of our Board members read about a young Marine who was blinded by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Upon further investigation, we discovered that the Veterans Administration does not provide guide dogs to soldiers. This spearheaded an effort by the Board and our school to bring awareness to top military leaders that we could serve these blinded soldiers.
General Tommy Franks was so impressed with Southeastern Guide Dogs' Paws for Patriots program that he agreed to be a spokesperson and completed our Public Service Announcement at no charge to our school.
In addition to providing guide dogs to blinded soldiers, we have placed therapy dogs at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD to spread encouragement to soldiers during their grueling physical therapy as they learn to recover from their injuries.
We have also placed companion and therapy dogs with soldiers who can benefit from the unconditional love and scientifically proven therapeutic effects of one of our dogs.
Our certified instructors provide Paws for Patriots students and their new guide dogs with 26 days of individualized instruction at our Palmetto, Florida campus or in-home placements - and lifetime follow up and support.
Students spend approximately four weeks bonding and training with their new guide dog under the watchful eye of our certified instructors at a student to trainer ratio of 3 to 1. A bond of love, trust and devotion forms between the blind master and the dog as they become a team.
We provide the guide dog, equipment, single-room lodging, all meals, outings, instruction and post-graduation support completely free of charge, thanks to the generosity of our important contributors.
The process of developing and serving a successful guide dog team takes an average of ten years (two years of training and eight years of post-graduation services) and approximately $60,000. Paws For Patriots, like all programs at Southeastern Guide Dogs, receives no governmental funding. We rely solely on the generosity of people like you.
Please support Southeastern Guide Dogs with a tax-deductible donation, as allowed by law, or the gift of your time as a volunteer.
The Grateful American Coin
Provide your friends and associates a tangible way to show their gratitude to those who serve our country while simultaneously providing funds to Southeastern Guide Dogs' Paws for Patriots program. Coins are $7 each, or $6 each if buying 10 or more. You can purchase through the Grateful American Coin website. 100% of the net proceeds benefit wounded veterans. Coins are available in gold or silver tone with blue or gold tone with red. Please be sure to select Paws for Patriots as the recipient of the donation.
