Graduate follow-up is a priority for Helping Paws: We track the well-being of our graduates and their service dogs throughout the lifetime of the dog. This means support from training staff that is specific to each individual’s needs and circumstances. It can also mean additional work with each service dog to add needed skills as an individual’s disabilities change or progress.

We deeply respect the skills and devotion of every Helping Paws service dog. Staff and volunteers spend countless hours preparing dogs for their life and service. That commitment includes transitioning a dog into retirement if needed and helping with health care issues that may arise, all the way up to end of life decisions. Graduates also have access to the Alpha/Gator Emergency Veterinary Fund, established to support those on fixed incomes who may face extraordinary or emergency veterinary expenses for a service dog.