Tools for Other Volunteers If you’re an FSD volunteer and not currently raising a puppy, here are tools designed for you to use to help spread the word.

SOCIAL MEDIA POST

Use this post with one of the puppy photos provided on Facebook, Instagram, NextDoor, and your other social networks.

Hey, friends! I’m currently volunteering at Freedom Service Dogs and am passionate about their mission. FSD is a Denver-based nonprofit that provides custom-trained service dogs to veterans, children, and other people with disabilities. They’re always in need of more volunteer puppy raisers, nursery volunteers, puppy socialization volunteers, puppy sitters, and weekend fosters to help their adorable pups grow up into life-changing service dogs. FSD has so many fun volunteer gigs, and you’ll meet the cutest, smartest dogs AND the nicest people! Interested? I’d love to tell you more! If you’re in the Denver area, we’ve got plenty of ways for you to help. If you live elsewhere but know someone here, please help me by sharing this post with them. (Please note adorable puppy photo to entice you!) 😊 Thanks for your help!

EMAIL WITH INFO ON PUPPY RAISING

Copy, paste, and send this email to your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and others. Feel free to include one or more of the adorable puppy photos provided!

As you may know, I’m a volunteer at Freedom Service Dogs, a Denver-based nonprofit that transforms lives by partnering people with custom-trained assistance dogs. We provide these dogs, at no charge, to veterans with PTSD, children with autism, and people with mobility challenges caused by physical disabilities. 

FSD urgently needs more volunteer puppy raisers, and since I know how much you love dogs and care about helping people, I wanted to share some information about this fun and fulfilling opportunity:

  • Puppy raising is fun because, well, PUPPIES! In addition to enjoying a daily dose of cuteness and clouds of puppy breath, you’ll meet other friendly, helpful puppy raisers, and learn a lot about dog behavior and training—all with the goal of bringing greater independence, happiness, and hope to one of FSD’s clients in need. 
  • We welcome all kinds of puppy raisers who live in metro Denver and throughout Colorado: singles, couples, roommates, and families with kids; people with and without other pets; homeowners and apartment dwellers; people who work and retirees! You can even co-raise a puppy with an approved and trained friend, family member, or neighbor who wants to help out! Don’t know anyone interested in co-raising? We’ve got you covered! The FSD puppy team will work with you to find another interested co-raiser.
  • Puppy raisers bring an FSD puppy into their home for 10-12 months to provide lots of love, basic obedience training, and socialization through exposure to different people, places, and experiences. At approximately 14 months old, the puppy will return to FSD for evaluation, advanced training, and matching with one of our clients. 
  • FSD provides specialized training (both online and in person), ongoing support from staff and fellow puppy raisers, and all food, treats, veterinary care, training equipment, and supplies for the puppy.

We also need nursery volunteers, puppy socialization volunteers, puppy sitters, and weekend fosters to help our pups grow up into life-changing service dogs!

Want to know more about puppy raising and other volunteer opportunities? You can learn all about it here: freedomservicedogs.org/volunteer. If you have questions, I’m happy to help answer them, or you can contact FSD Volunteer Coordinator Hannah Perruccio at 303-922-6231 or [email protected]

Please forward this email to anyone you know who might be interested in helping change a life by raising a puppy! Thank you!