Saint Francis Service Dogs Fall 2023 Newsletter

Creating our Future

At Saint Francis, we are deeply committed to our mission of helping people with disabilities achieve their goals and have greater independence through partnership with our exceptional service and facility dogs. These life-changing partnerships all begin with one crucial element - the highest quality puppies bred with exemplary health and temperament standards. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down, Saint Francis, just like everyone across the globe, felt major effects. We suddenly lost access to those exceptionally bred puppies crucial to fulfilling our mission. We had to innovate. “We were fortunate that during that time, Gibson was bred just in time so that we would have a litter of puppies during the pandemic,” says Kathy Marr, Saint Francis Breeding Program Manager. To fill the overwhelming need, we drew on the collective expertise of our staff and the tireless support of our volunteers. We selected Saint Francis dog in training, Gibson, to produce three litters over the last three years, which put precious puppies back into our program. From those three litters, nineteen puppies began their journey. This made it possible for us to keep our training pipeline open as the world slowly returned to its new normal. Now, two of our sweet Gibson’s girls, ZuZu Petals and Beatrice, are charting new territory in the Saint Francis family, as we officially launch our very own Saint Francis Service Dogs Breeding Program. The Saint Francis Breeding Program

angel tree

Each year, you bring holiday cheer to our puppies and dogs in training by donating toys, treats, and gift cards to our Angel Tree. These items are used throughout the year by dogs at every level of our program. Thank you! Beginning in November Our dogs have been very good boys and girls, and soon, the wishlists they have been working hard on will be available around Roanoke. For a sneak peek of their lists and more information, or to contribute early, visit:

saintfrancisdogs.org/angel-tree

Your support will make their holiday wishes come true and help them on their journey to enable people with disabilities to live richer, fuller lives.

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