The Dogtopia Foundation is marking National Service Dog Month by highlighting nearly a decade of fundraising that has generated more than $5.6 million to help provide service dogs to veterans across the United States.
According to the Foundation, the fundraising has supported more than 820 veteran and service dog teams since the nonprofit was established in 2017. Throughout September, Dogtopia franchise owners, team members, and pet parents are also participating in local fundraising campaigns designed to generate additional support for the organization’s programs.
The Foundation operates alongside Dogtopia, a dog daycare franchise founded in 2002. Its mission centers on three areas where dogs and their communities can have an impact: funding service dogs for veterans, recruiting therapy dog teams to support students, and expanding employment opportunities for adults with autism.
Dogtopia Franchise Network Supports Service Dog Fundraising
National Service Dog Month, observed each September, brings attention to the training, financial investment, and assistance that service dogs can provide to people with disabilities. That includes veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as people with mobility or sensory impairments and individuals on the autism spectrum.
For Dogtopia, the month has become an opportunity for franchise locations across the country to increase fundraising and community engagement around the Foundation’s service dog mission.
“At Dogtopia, we believe dogs change lives, and this National Service Dog Month is proof of what’s possible when our entire network rallies behind that belief,” said Neil Gill, CEO and President of Dogtopia. “I’m proud of the franchisees, team members and parents across our network who consistently rally behind the Dogtopia Foundation and demonstrate their commitment to service dogs and our veterans year-round.”
The Foundation credits much of its fundraising growth to participation from Dogtopia daycare owners, employees, and customers. Rather than limiting fundraising to September, locations support the nonprofit throughout the year through community activities and donation initiatives.
“Every fundraiser and every donation this September helps bring more veterans the life-changing support of a service dog,” said Liz Meyers, Executive Director of the Dogtopia Foundation. “We’re grateful for the incredible energy our Dogtopia daycares and parents bring to this mission, especially during National Service Dog Month.”
Foundation Expands Support Through Research and Partnerships
The Dogtopia Foundation’s work extends beyond directly supporting veteran-service dog teams. The organization reports investing more than $270,000 in research at the University of Arizona led by Dr. Maggie O’Haire examining how service dogs can help veterans living with PTSD.
The Foundation has also supported the Dog Aging Project’s efforts to recruit participating dog owners and has funded canine cognition research led by Dr. Evan MacLean at the Arizona Canine Cognition Center. Those investments reflect an effort to combine fundraising with research into the relationships between people and dogs.
Additional partnerships support the Foundation’s other areas of focus. The organization has worked with the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center and Pawfectly Delicious Dog Treats on employment opportunities for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.
The Foundation also collaborates with Pet Partners to increase awareness of therapy animal programs and encourage qualified dog owners to consider volunteering as therapy animal teams.
Dogtopia Connects Canine Wellness With Community Giving
Dogtopia provides dog daycare along with services centered on canine wellness, care, and safety. Its daycare environments include playrooms organized by dog size and play style, rubber flooring intended to reduce impact on paws and joints, and webcams that allow pet parents to check on their dogs.
The franchise network has also become an important fundraising channel for the Dogtopia Foundation. Through participating daycare locations, the nonprofit can connect national initiatives with local communities, giving franchise owners and customers opportunities to participate in its service dog, therapy dog and employment programs.
National Service Dog Month offers another connection point between local fundraising efforts and the Foundation’s broader mission. With more than 820 veteran-service dog teams supported and additional research and community programs underway, the organization is using September to recognize the contributions that have fueled its work since 2017.
