From Puppy Raising to Proposals
Freedom Service Dog in training River helped his raisers say, “I do!”
Within the walls of our Freedom Service Dogs (FSD) facility in Englewood, Colorado, we’ve celebrated a lot of special moments: the births of puppies destined to become life-changing assistance dogs, volunteers picking up their puppies in training for the very first time, client-dog graduations, and so much more.
But recently, FSD was honored to be part of another memory we’ll never forget: hosting the engagement of one of our incredible volunteer puppy raisers!
Serena, the Creative Director for Women’s Basketball at the Colorado University of Boulder, is also the devoted volunteer who helped raise FSD Service Dog in training River—an outgoing, friendly black Labrador retriever.
During River’s time in the puppy raising program with Serena and her partner, John, he became a deeply loved part of their family. Not only did River bring even more joy to their relationship, but he also gave them the opportunity to play a role in changing someone’s life.
“River meant so much to both John and I while we raised him,” Serena said. “He brought so much happiness, love, and laughter into our lives. And he changed my life in so many ways.”
Always by Serena’s side at work, River was also a cherished member of CU Boulder’s Women’s Basketball team as he helped support the athletes and staff while practicing his service dog skills. With the help of Serena, John, and the team, River always had a village of support.
In early March 2026, River completed the puppy raising program and returned to FSD for advanced training. Though no longer living with Serena, his impact on her and John’s life was lasting. When John started thinking about taking the next step toward asking Serena to marry him, he knew he had to figure out a way to enlist River’s help for making the proposal extra special.
So, John reached out to FSD with a creative plan in mind. He understood how much River meant to Serena, and he knew that with River by his side, his proposal would be everything she had ever dreamed of.
On March 9, 2026, Serena and John arrived at FSD for what she believed was a simple visit with River. What she didn’t know was that this reunion would become the surprise of a lifetime.
When River turned the corner and saw Serena and John for the first time in weeks, he lit up like a star. It was as if he knew this moment was going to be extra special.
As Serena petted River, overjoyed to be reunited with her best bud, John pointed out the shiny gold tag on River’s collar. Engraved on it were four words: Will you marry me?
With River happily beside him, offering his own enthusiastic “approval,” John got down on one knee, took out a box with his grandmother’s wedding ring, and asked Serena to marry him. Without hesitation, she said “yes!”
“Being able to share that memory with River felt like one last big moment together as we both move into the next part of our lives,” Serena beamed. “It was the perfect proposal, and I’m so happy he will forever be a part of that memory and our story.”
For Serena and John, volunteering as puppy raisers for FSD has made their lives and love story more meaningful than they ever could’ve imagined. The care and dedication they gave to River has helped set him up for success as he continues his journey to becoming a life-changing assistance dog. And in return, the love, joy, and companionship River has brought into their lives will stay with them forever.
Volunteer puppy raising doesn’t just change the lives of our future clients—it can create fairytale endings for everyone involved in guiding these pups toward service dog success. For Serena, John, and River, this story certainly ends in, “And they all lived happily ever after.”
Say “I do!” to raising a puppy for FSD! We are in urgent need of more volunteer puppy raisers to help us guide our tiniest service dog prospects. If you can commit to providing love, a safe living environment, socialization opportunities, and basic training support to a puppy in training for 2-14 months, we want YOU! Endless puppy love, opportunities to connect with other dog lovers, and all the good feels that come with having a hand in changing lives is a given, but we will also provide you with all the ongoing support, supplies, veterinary care, and puppy sitting services you need to set you and your FSD pup up for success.
To start your volunteer puppy raising journey, you can APPLY HERE! You can also learn more about our program HERE or reach out to us directly at [email protected] or 303-922-6231.
If this story made your tail wag, you may also enjoy:
It All Starts with Puppy Raisers
Tom & Alanis: Duty, Honor, and Commitment
Published 4/03/2026
Contact Erin Conley at econley@