Representative Cory Atkins (D-Concord) is extremely pleased to announce the placement of her first trained Facilitated Service Dog through NEADS, a nonprofit organization committed to providing service dogs for the deaf and disabled.
“I am delighted to see the positive outcome of my time spent with Gumbo, the latest addition to the NEADS family of service dogs. To know Gumbo can assist his new partner, a 15 year-old South Grafton resident born with Cerebral Palsy, in retrieving objects, operating light switches and opening and holding doors is reassuring of the work this outstanding program has the capacity to do,” Representative Cory Atkins said.
Since 2005, Representative Atkins has worked with local inmates to train puppies through the NEADS “Puppies on Parole” program as a volunteer at the Northeast Correction Center in Concord. Through this program, Representative Atkins simultaneously trains puppies for the deaf and disabled while encouraging inmates and exemplifying the positive outcomes of volunteering and giving back to communities.
By working with the “Puppies on Parole” program, Representative Atkins trains puppies for NEADS, exposing the puppies to places they will eventually travel with their partner. During the week, the puppies are trained by inmates and during the weekends Representative Atkins takes the puppies to social settings where they must become familiar with before they can serve as a service dog with their future partner. Along with the inmates, Representative Atkins is responsible for the behavior of the puppy to develop into one that gets along with other animals and all ages of children and adults.
“This is a win-win-win situation: it helps the disabled individuals who will get the dogs; the prisoners, who learn a trade and make useful time of their sentences; and the volunteers, who get time with a dog that they would not otherwise have. Anyone who has experiences the magic of a dog’s unconditional love knows that its restorative power is priceless,” said Representative Atkins.
“While training the puppies to be obedient and specialize in service dog commands may be challenging, I encourage others to become involved in this great organization that truly makes a difference in our communities,” said Representative Atkins.
Please contact NEADS with questions about volunteering, receiving service dogs, or donating at (978)422-9064 or
www.neads.org.
For more information, contact Natalie Kaufman at (617) 722-2013 or e-mail
rep.coryatkins@hou.state.ma.us.
