Vision

Our mission statement...

Dogs for the Deaf, Inc.'s mission is to rescue and professionally train dogs to help people and enhance lives, maintaining a lifelong commitment to all dogs we rescue and all people we serve.

Our vision...

Dogs for the Deaf strives to be known throughout North America for rescuing and training dogs to assist people with hearing loss, autism, panic/anxiety, and other challenges. The number of dogs placed each year matches the resources available to Dogs for the Deaf.

The standard of excellence in training and placing these dogs exceeds Assistance Dogs International standards.

Every dog has value, and all people should have the opportunity to feel safe and independent regardless of their physical or sensory challenges. To that end, each dog that comes to Dogs for the Deaf meets basic characteristics needed for helping people with a variety of needs. Dogs for the Deaf is responsive to the changing needs and challenges of both the clients and their dogs and commits on-going support for the life of every dog/person partnership they form. The needs and abilities of applicants and dogs are carefully matched and tracked to assure they receive maximum benefit from each other.

People connected to Dogs for the Deaf feel they are doing something that matters to them personally and to the larger world. People feel free to try experiments, take risks, and openly assess the results. People treat each other as colleagues. There is mutual respect and trust both in the way they talk to each other and work together, no matter what their positions may be.

Employees and Board Members are invited to learn what is going on at every level of the organization so they can understand how their actions influence others. Visions of the direction of Dogs for the Deaf emerge from all levels. The responsibility of upper management is to manage the process whereby new emerging visions become shared. The responsibility of the Board of Directors is to support and cultivate the atmosphere to build and evolve shared visions.

Saving dogs, training them, placing them with people, and supporting the partnerships over their lifetimes could not be manifested without the many donors that Dogs for the Deaf honors each year. Donor relationships are supported throughout the year by various vehicles: newsletters and letters to the clients, opportunities to meet trainers when they are in town and open site visits to the Dogs for the Deaf campus. Dogs for the Deaf cultivates relationships and alliances with agencies and individuals that support and contribute to the safety and welfare of dogs and the independent living challenges of people.

Dogs for the Deaf enjoys a financial profile that demonstrates prudent investment of donor dollars. Donor support directly covers the cost of rescuing dogs, training dogs to assist people, placing each dog with the right person, and ensuring on-going support for the lifetime of the partnership. Administrative and fund development costs are supported with the income earned from endowment investments grown since 1999.

Dogs for the Deaf facilities reflect the requirements of the training program and support staffing needs, while maintaining a cost-effective approach to fulfilling the mission. Programs and services are managed to ensure the best possible training, placement, and follow-up procedures.