OUR MISSION
Our mission is to increase the availability of service dogs for veterans, children with special needs, and adults with disabilities.
We are the only non-profit in the U.S. dedicated to the husbandry and nurturing of world-class Labrador Retriever puppies which are then donated to carefully selected service dog training organizations nationwide.
OUR APPROACH
WHEN IT COMES TO TRAINING SERVICE DOGS, PEDIGREE AND NURTURING MAKE AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT.
ONLY 1 OF 12 RESCUE DOGS BECOME SUCCESSFUL SERVICE DOGS.
For puppies, the most important phase of development occurs during the first 12 weeks of life. In fact, two thirds of what a puppy will become as an adult dog is determined by the nurturing, training, and socialization it experiences during this time. The remaining one third is determined by its genetic lineage.
When it comes to service dog training, there is no breed better suited than the Labrador Retriever. Their confident-yet-forgiving temperament and physical build as adults make them ideal for the unique situations involved in service work. There is a reason Labradors are the preferred breed in the service dog industry.
WHAT DOES OUR PROCESS OF NURTURING AND SOCIALIZATION ENTAIL?
Our unique mission requires a unique process.
ENRICHING PUPPIES FROM BIRTH TO DONATION.
Project 2 Heal is the only nonprofit in the United States that works to reduce the cost and time necessary to place a service dog with a person in need by breeding, nurturing, socializing, and training Labrador Retriever puppies for donation to carefully selected service dog organizations.
HERE'S OUR PROCESS, FROM A PUPPY'S SECOND DAY OF LIFE TO DONATION:
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EARLY NEUROLOGICAL STIMULATION
To produce puppies best suited for service dog training, our nurturing exercises begin at just two days of age, when our puppies are introduced to a process called Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS). This process jumpstarts the development of a puppy's nervous system and encourages a tolerance for novel tactile and olfactory stimuli.
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PUPPY PRODIGY
The Puppy Prodigy stage of our nurturing process exposes puppies to the task-reward correlation via a series of new tasks, scents, cues, and rewards. This process of cultivating early associations is vital to the development of service dogs.
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SOCIALIZATION & BASIC TRAINING
Proper socialization as a puppy is imperative to the success of a service dog. That's why at nearly five weeks old, we expose our puppies to slight stressors like sudden noise and motion during activities we affectionately call, "Puppy Parties."
Our work would not be possible without our partners and donors.
Join us in supporting this life-changing work! By becoming a part of our community, you can help provide life-changing assistance to those in need of a service animal.
TAX RETURNS
Keeping Our Commitment to Financial Transparency.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
As both the President of Project 2 Heal and a member of our Board of Directors, I take my responsibility as a fiduciary of the funds entrusted to this organization very seriously. It is only through the generosity of our donors that we are able to serve the service dog organizations that help veterans, children with special needs, and adult with disabilities with our outstanding purpose-bred Labrador Retriever pups.
Your generosity has let us donate approximately 400 world-class puppies to service dog training organizations since 2014. Our pups far exceed the average pass rate for dogs placed in service dog training. The increased efficiency our pups provide to service dog organizations means we can continue to reduce the cost and time it takes to place a service dog with a veteran suffering from PTSD or with the many other people in need of a service dog.
To all our volunteers donors, corporate sponsors and potential donors we are extremely grateful for all you do for us. Our work would not be possible without your generous hearts. You have allowed us to provide a very specialized service to organizations that are much in need of it. If you would like to review our tax returns, please contact me and I'll be happy to provide these documents.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Golian - President/CEO