PORTLAND, Maine—The Planet Dog Foundation (PDF) announced the recipients of its Spring Grant Cycle. Grants ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 have been awarded to Texas Hearing and Service Dogs, Thirteen/WNET TV New York, Paws & Think Inc., Therapy Dogs Inc. and HOPE - Animal Assisted Crisis Response.
The Planet Dog Foundation is the corporate philanthropic arm of Planet Dog, the globally recognized designer and developer of dog products. Planet Dog donates 2 percent of all purchases of Planet Dog products to PDF.
PDF provides cash grants to programs throughout the country that train, place and support dogs helping people in need. Since 2006, PDF has contributed more than a half a million dollars in cash and in-kind product donations to exemplary canine service programs.
"There is a great need for funding to support service dogs and the amazing ways they are helping children and adults across the country," says Kristen Smith, the executive director of the Planet Dog Foundation. "We received high caliber proposals from 85 organizations and although we cannot fund all of them, we are proud to be able to donate $25,000 in support of five exceptional program.”
- Texas Hearing and Service Dogs trains shelter dogs to become Hearing and Service Dogs for Texans living with hearing impairments or mobility challenges. This organization pioneered the practice of working with shelter dogs and is actively working to encourage rescuing needy dogs for training rather than breeding. The $7,500 PDF grant will fund the Honor Dogs Program, a prison inmate program that places dogs with minimum female offenders. In Fall 2008, PDF awarded a $10,000 grant to this industry leader.
- Thirteen/WNET TV New York Martha Speaks at the Library Children's Literacy Program is a collaboration between the New York Public Library System and channel 13 WNET, the PBS affiliate in New York City. The program, which features a popular national PBS show, targets 250 struggling readers in 11 branches of the public library. The $7,500 PDF grant will fund its expansion to six new cities across the United States. In Fall 2008, PDF awarded a $10,000 grant to help establish the program.
- Paws & Think Inc. serves at-risk youth, at-risk canines and children and adults with disabilities and special needs in central Indiana. This all-volunteer, community-based organization works in partnership with schools, detention centers, youth agencies, humane societies, shelters and others to pair the youth with stray, surrendered or neglected dogs to train them to become service dogs for people living with a disability or as pets, thereby avoiding euthanasia. The $4,000 PDF grant will fund the At-Risk Youth-Canine Program.
- Therapy Dogs Inc. provides registration, support and insurance for members who are involved in volunteer animal-assisted activities to form a network of caring individuals who are willing to share their special animals in order to bring happiness and cheer to people young and old alike. The $3,500 PDF grant will help fund Tester/Observer Training Seminars in eight cities, equipping 200 trainers who would potentially train, evaluate and certify some 6,000 new therapy dog teams nationwide.
- HOPE Animal - Assisted Crisis Response is a national all-volunteer, nonprofit, crisis response organization with specially trained and certified handler/canine teams. Agencies call upon HOPE AACR teams to provide comfort and support to people affected by disasters including earthquakes and floods, or senseless violence in a school or workplace. The $2,500 PDF grant will support the effective and professional efforts of the HOPE AACR teams assisting people in stressful and unpredictable environments.
In addition to awarding grants, PDF also extends its support to nonprofit organizations nationwide through product donations. "Unfortunately, we cannot meet the financial needs of every grant applicant so we are thankful to be able to support them in other ways," added Smith.