BREWSTER – Nancy Teague has been a lover of dogs since childhood.
Her affinity for service dogs began when living in Brooklyn, the now Brewster resident fostered a breeding dog for Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
Teague explained when relocating to Putnam, she raised puppies for the agency before assisting another organization, Canine Companions.
With the experience gleaned from the Long Island based non-profit, Teague created Putnam Service Dogs, a charity that provides free, highly trained service dogs in addition to follow up services to people with physical disabilities other than blindness. “Our dogs change the lives of our recipients and their families by adding love, joy, independence and ease. Putnam Service Dogs honors and promotes the nurturing bond between humans and dogs.”
Unlike other agencies that use pedigreed dogs for clients, Teague rescues her dogs from high-kill shelters around the country. “Our hope is to not only rescue dogs but rescue families and handicapped individuals in a win-win. Our motto is from ‘shelter to service.’”
Teague said her dogs is the ultimate decision maker on who they’ll be matched with. If the dog isn’t keen on the person, it’s no match. We match an applicant’s needs, lifestyle, and home situation for both our service or release dogs. Then a meet and greet is held for the dog to show us if there’s chemistry between the team. Does the dog greet the applicant, and initially stay with them, or does the dog ignore them? On their first walk together, is the dog happy to be walking next to them – loose leash, tail wagging, frequently checking in or does the dog look away, is unresponsive, and even appears untrained? We film their initial walk to study the body language carefully. Our dogs are the final decision maker.”
Teague and her staff seek a solid “win/win for our dogs and their people. All matches are done on a probation basis. Our service dog matches are a month-long probation and our release dog adoption matches week long probation. We provide the initial supplies to ensure their success – seat belt harness attachment for their car, crate, dog bed, toys, leash, harness, and food. Our trainers assist and support the person. Despite our care in creating the match, and our support of the match, if the person has misgivings about the match, we want to know. We want the person to feel they can return the dog with no hesitation or embarrassment,” said Teague.
The non-for-profit houses its dogs in training either with volunteer puppy raisers who Teague said have been “carefully vetted, or at our center in Brewster where four dogs reside in a home-like situation with a large-fenced backyard. They’re not mass kenneled. At the center, we have around the clock caretakers to attend to the dogs’ needs. Our happy dogs learn well, and thrive as they progress on their life’s path. They’re trained using only humane, gentle methods. The dogs love and trust people because of this model.”
Putnam Service Dogs was incorporated as a nonprofit in 2017 as an IRS recognized 501 c3.
The agency can be reached by calling 917-449- 5359 or by email at nteague@putnamservicedogs.org.
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