We are looking for special families to open their hearts and homes and join our family of weekend puppy raisers.

The Guide Dog Foundation, its sister organization America's VetDogs, and the Florida Department of Corrections have partnered for an exciting program that will help provide assistance dogs for veterans with disabilities and allow inmates to give back to society.

"Weekenders" - weekend-only puppy raising volunteers - host an assistance dog puppy-in-training from Friday evening through Sunday in their own home, providing vital socialization experiences for these puppies that they can't get in prison such as going to the mall or restaurants, attending sporting events, traveling by car or public transportation. The pups become members of the family and part of the family’s lifestyle each weekend. The dog you help raise may provide a new sense of freedom and enhanced mobility for a person with a disability - life with an assistance dog means they can do what they want, when they want.

Our special puppies are currently being placed at Blackwater River Correctional Facility at 5914 Jeff Ates Road in Milton FL, where they live with inmates during the week and receive intensive training targeted for these puppies to become service dogs for veterans with disabilities.

REQUIREMENTS