PUPPY RAISING PROGRAM
Puppy Raising Program
At Project 2 Heal, our mission is to reduce the time it takes for a highly trained service dog to reach someone who truly needs one. In addition to donating young puppies to trusted service dog organizations across the country, we also retain select dogs for full training—allowing us to place life-changing service dogs with individuals in our local community.
Our Puppy Raising Program is a volunteer-based opportunity for individuals or families to play a vital role in a service dog’s journey. Puppy raisers provide a loving, temporary home for a service dog in training while helping shape the foundation that will support the dog’s future success.
What Puppy Raisers Do
Puppy raisers are responsible for daily care, basic training, and intentional socialization. Puppies must be exposed to new environments at least three times per week, as confidence in a variety of settings is critical to a service dog’s success. This early period of development is one of the most important stages in a service dog’s life.
Throughout the process, puppy raisers are fully supported by Project 2 Heal staff. Volunteers attend monthly in-person meetings, complete a monthly behavioral report, and communicate regularly with our team regarding the dog’s health, behavior, and training progress.
What Project 2 Heal Provides
Project 2 Heal supplies all necessary equipment for each puppy and covers food and veterinary expenses. While volunteers are welcome to contribute toward food or medical care if they choose, it is never required.
Program Requirements
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Live within one hour of Charlotte, NC
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Attend monthly in-person meetings
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Commit 6–12 months to the program
Puppies typically enter raiser homes between 10–16 weeks of age, after receiving initial training from Project 2 Heal staff. Each dog is closely monitored and consistently evaluated during their time with their raiser. At approximately 9–10 months of age, puppies return to Project 2 Heal to begin their first formal phase of service dog training. Dogs who successfully pass temperament and public access testing then move on to their final training organization for advanced preparation.
Why It Matters
Puppy raisers are an essential part of the Project 2 Heal mission. By opening your home, you help shape a confident, capable service dog—and play a direct role in changing someone’s life forever.
AVAILABLE CAREER CHANGE DOGS
CONTACT US ABOUT AVAILABLE DOGS
While service work is the goal for each of our puppies, occasionally a dog is released from our program or one of our partner programs. Many of our career change dogs go on to have different jobs that assist people and communities in a wide variety of roles, such as Therapy Dogs or Facility Dogs.
For the small percentage of career change dogs that are not placed in other lines of work or are not adopted or placed by the volunteer(s) who raised them, we are committed to finding loving forever homes for them through our dog adoption program.
When a career change dog is purchased from Project 2 Heal, 100% of the proceeds go directly to the work we do to serve our veterans, children with special needs, and adults with disabilities. If you are interested in learning more about adopting a career change dog, please contact us.
