It All Starts With Puppy Raisers
How Volunteer Puppy Raisers Help FSD Service Dogs Change Lives
In the heart of every Freedom Service Dog is an incredible volunteer puppy raiser who believed in them from the very beginning.
These compassionate volunteers welcome an adorable puppy into their lives and commit to guiding them through the earliest–and one of the most important–stages of their journey to becoming a life-changing service dog.
With love, dedication, consistency, and extraordinary generosity, these volunteers open their hearts and homes to FSD’s youngest service dog trainees and help them build the confidence and skills they carry for the rest of their lives as dedicated partners for people in need.
With the help of puppy raisers, veterans and first responders rediscover freedom, individuals with physical disabilities find newfound independence, those living with autism pursue new possibilities, and mental health and safety professionals enrich entire communities. The work and love raisers pour into each of our dogs can create a lasting impact felt for many years to come.
This kind of transformation all starts with someone willing to take a chance and raise a puppy. It starts with YOU!
Raise a Puppy, Change a Life
FSD is in urgent need of more volunteer puppy raisers to help us guide our tiniest service dogs in training.
As service dog organizations face a growing shortage of volunteer puppy raisers—and as the demand for service dogs continues to grow—our need for more volunteers has never been greater. If you are willing and able to welcome a puppy in training who is about 4-months-old into your home for 2 to 14 months, we want you!
Puppy raisers provide love, a safe living environment, basic training, and socialization opportunities. In return, FSD provides ongoing support and guidance, veterinary care, supplies, food, and puppy sitting services for your FSD puppy.
As a puppy raiser, you will also soak up the many benefits that coming with raising a puppy, such as:
- Endless puppy love
- Chances to make friends and join a welcoming community
- Opportunities to learn important dog handling skills
- All the good feels you’ll get from making a difference
Our volunteers come from all walks of life, including: students, families, working professionals, retirees, and single individuals. They live in apartments, houses, homes with or without other pets, homes with or without a yard, and more.
Puppy raising is a flexible and unique opportunity that we welcome all to consider, including people without dog training experience and those living outside of Colorado. We also offer co-raising opportunities for volunteers who would like to share the responsibility with another approved raiser, such as a family, friend, a fellow volunteer, or a neighbor.
Interested in raising but not sure you’re in the right situation to help? We’ve put together the most common reasons people think they can’t raise an FSD puppy and why we say, “YES YOU CAN!”
Read “10 Puppy Raising Myths Debunked” HERE!
Start Puppy Raising Today
Ready to begin your journey as a volunteer puppy raiser? Here’s the next steps:
Learn more about our puppy raising program
Call: 303-922-6231
Email: [email protected]
FSD Puppy Raiser Testimonials
We believe puppy raising can be one of the most rewarding experiences in someone’s life. But you don’t have to take our word for it—the people who understand how truly meaningful puppy raising is are our puppy raisers themselves. Here’s what some of our incredible volunteers have to say:
Stephanie Delaney
Raised: Quali and Sugar
“Raising service pups in training for FSD is incredibly meaningful to me because it allows me to help others in a tangible, life-changing way. The service dog community has become like family, and I’ve formed friendships that will last a lifetime. This journey has completely transformed my life for the better.”
Shane Kelley
Raised: Mystique, Hera, and Pearl
“We have enjoyed learning the distinct personalities of each puppy and all the new experiences we bring each other every day. The real reward is hearing the success stories of how each dog changes lives. While giving them up at the end of their time with us is difficult, we think of it as sending a child off to college and into the world to make a difference, and we’re so proud of everything they do!”
Jennifer Hood
Raised: Rumble, Boji, Seuss, and Jetter
“Satellite puppy raising has been a joyful experience for our family. It is an incredible way to give back to the community. You enjoy these amazing dogs for a time then launch them into the world to help someone live a better life. Puppy raising is an unselfish act of generosity that blesses everyone involved.”
John Scheier
Raised: Ponzu, Brookes, and Cash
“I was going through a difficult phase of my life and needed something to ground me. I was introduced to FSD and their mission statement and reached out to see if I could help. I started as a weekend foster, but within two months, I signed up to be a puppy raiser.
My first pup, Ponzu, was an affectionate black Lab. He spent 13 months with me and then went in for training. He was placed in December 2025 with a young woman battling Angleman’s syndrome. Meeting that young lady and her family and watching Ponzu interact with them was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve encountered.”
Kendle Frank
Raised: Winter, Hazy, and Maxy
“Puppy raising, and all three of the incredible dogs I have raised, has truly changed my life in so many profound ways.
Two of my puppies were selected to join FSD’s purpose-breeding program, and it has been amazing to also play a role in their puppies’ journeys to becoming service dogs. I have found my true sense of purpose through this opportunity, and I am deeply grateful for all puppy raising and being a guardian has gifted me.”
Jennifer Maxwell
Raised: Flo
“I am a first time puppy raiser, and FSD has provided a ton of support, including training once a month, group outings, plus all the vet care, food, kennels, and everything else I need. FSD also has an amazing sitter network, so when you travel, you always have FSD-approved sitters to help you out when you’re away. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in both a puppy and client’s life. Plus, the pups come so well trained at 4-months-old that they are already crate and house trained (hugely helpful). It’s a great opportunity to get involved and enjoy the dogs.”
Jennifer Bird
Raised: Judo, Oberyn, and Tiger
“We moved to Colorado dogless after raising three amazing goldens before our move. We weren’t sure what we wanted to do about getting a dog and saw the puppy raising opportunity at FSD. Judo was our first FSD dog. He was placed as a pet and is now a wonderful companion for a boy with autism. Oberyn is our number two pup, and a special boy indeed. He is currently in training at FSD for his forever person. Tiger is pup number three and has been with us now for about three and a half months. It is really cool watching him walk around my walker moving slow and carefully.
We get asked all the time how we do this. They say, ‘It must be so hard.’ Nothing worth doing is easy, first of all. And this isn’t hard, it is a true gift and blessing to be a part of this community and a part of the story of these dogs.”
Molly Olson
Raised: Alva and Brookie
“Being a puppy raiser for FSD brings a lot of joy to my life and has helped me meet wonderful people. The dogs remind me to slow down and enjoy the little things each day. While it can be challenging at times, it is one of the most rewarding experiences and something I would wholeheartedly recommend.”
Nicole Graziano
Raised: Shaggy, Poe, and Chaise
“Puppy raising has been a great opportunity for me to volunteer and give back to the community. It has been an honor to help raise some of these phenomenal puppies. I also have learned so much about dog training and how critical these dogs are for helping others.”
Kelley Gibson + Family
Raised: Burgundy and Reba
“When raising a puppy, so many people ask about them and what their ultimate purpose will be. That has allowed us to educate people on service dogs and the amazing things they can do. The first puppy we raised, Burgundy, seamlessly transitioned from a puppy in training to a mama dog. Now, we are also raising her puppy, Reba. It’s incredible to watch two generations and the paths they’ve taken. It’s been a joy to raise both girls.”
Dogs make a difference, and so can you! In addition to volunteer puppy raisers, FSD is looking for volunteers of all kinds to help at our facility and with remote opportunities. To get involved, call us at 303-922-6231 or email [email protected].
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Our Puppies Are Missing One Thing… You!
Published 03/06/2026
Contact Erin Conley at [email protected] for all media inquiries.