Harrisburg, PA (PRWEB) December 31, 2013
Susquehanna Service Dogs launched a new crowdfunding initiative to support their new dog, Eva and her future puppies. Eva, who arrived in Pennsylvania on November 6 from Guide Dogs Queensland in Australia, is a 14-month-old black lab who has been chosen to be a breeding dog in the new initiative called Assistance Dogs International North America Breeding Cooperative (ABC). ABC is designed to create the highest quality service dogs for people with disabilities.
Susquehanna Service Dogs is a member of ABC. This breeding cooperative is the vision of Bob Phillips and Marina Hall Phillips, experts in the assistance dog field and in breeding assistance dogs. ABC is based on the concept of group breeding, where members assign their best broods (females) and studs (males) to the co-op and puppies are distributed among the members. This method improves the dogs’ genetics, ultimately creating better service dogs to assist people with disabilities.
The fundraiser for SSD Eva and her puppies will run from now until January 6, 2014. SSD is looking to raise $3,300 to cover the cost of Eva’s travel from Australia to Harrisburg, PA and to support her future puppies to grow into successful service dogs that change people’s lives. Individuals are encouraged to donate and share the fundraiser with their friends and family. All donations can be made online. http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/susquehanna-service-dogs-a-service-dog-s-journey-begins
Since 1993, Susquehanna Service Dogs has placed over 220 service dogs with men, women, and children with disabilities in Pennsylvania and the surrounding states. SSD dogs assist children and adults with mobility, hearing, psychiatric disabilities, and autism, as well as military veterans. Each dog is professionally trained to meet the individual needs of their human partner. Dogs may complete tasks such as opening doors, picking up dropped objects, assisting with daily dressing, or pulling a manual wheelchair.
SSD is fully accredited by Assistance Dogs International and is a program of the United Way of the Capital Region. SSD relies on donations and a dedicated group of volunteers, many of whom raise dogs that go on to change lives