NEWS
- Alexandria, VA | March 19, 2024
SPA Sponsors Future Assistance Dogs from Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs
Systems Planning & Analysis (SPA), a leading global provider of advisory services in support of critical national security objectives, is pleased to announce a partnership with the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs of Smithtown, New York, two sister national nonprofit organizations that train and place highly skilled guide and service dogs with individuals with disabilities, free of charge.
SPA’s participation is unique among the nonprofit organizations’ sponsors in that SPA is throwing its full support behind employees who volunteer as puppy raisers, marking the initial stage in a comprehensive, multiyear endeavor to raise and train these dogs. At the core of Guide Dog Foundation’s and America’s VetDogs mission is the recruitment of dedicated volunteers, recognizing the substantial 16–18-month commitment required to nurture exemplary behavior and social aptitude in these young canines. The indispensable role of volunteers underscores an organization’s profound impact and the vital need for continued support.
To assist volunteers in blending work requirements with puppy nurturing, SPA encourages employee puppy raisers to bring their trainees to the workplace, a unique opportunity among Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs corporate partners. Currently, seven SPA employees in the Alexandria, VA, headquarters vicinity are raising puppies, and they are welcome to bring their charges to the office every day. Learning to be at ease in a work setting is excellent training for the pups and a welcome sight for staff.
Longtime SPA employee and Navy veteran Bill Hoeft worked with company leadership to establish SPA’s “puppy fleet.” SPA CEO Rich Sawchak commented, “We are thrilled to welcome these delightful new “employees” to the SPA family, and we thank Bill for his vision in helping to make this happen. At SPA we are especially gratified to know that many of the pups, once fully trained, go on to assist veterans afflicted with PTSD.”
“We fully support the mission of the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs and are immensely proud of our employee volunteers who selflessly contribute to the welfare of our nation’s vets and others with disabilities.”
John Miller, President & CEO of the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs added, “SPA’s dedication to our shared mission goes beyond mere sponsorship. Their profound commitment to fostering a culture of volunteerism within their workplace aligns with our core values. Together, we not only encourage volunteerism but also reaffirm the unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities through the transformative power of guide and service dogs.”
Future assistance dogs cannot be raised in kennels; they need socialization and exposure to the world they will be navigating when they are paired with their future handler. Volunteering to raise a future guide or service dog is a commitment that requires time, patience, and unwavering dedication. While no prior dog training experience is required, puppy raisers take on the essential role of introducing these puppies to the world and laying the foundation for their specialized training by the team of certified instructors from the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs. To learn more about becoming a volunteer puppy raiser, visit www.guidedog.org/puppy.
