Bay Area Couple Creating Needed Programs for Service Dog Evolution

Hayward, CA – When it comes to the functions of service dogs there remains a tremendous lack of understanding. A recent poll showed that only 19% of the public knows what a service dog actually does. Many people still think service dogs just go everywhere with their users to provide them companionship. According to respected service dog guru’s Matt and Amie Chapman, this is because service dog organizations have their hands full with breeding, training and pairing service dog teams for people with life challenges and cannot stop to provide that knowledge. Service dog schools don’t have the resources nor the mission focus to educate the public on service dogs.

“It was in 2010 that Amie and I noticed the education was lacking,” explains Matt Chapman. “We saw a huge opportunity to create positive change for service dog culture. After eight years of developing our special form of programming, Growing Up Guide Pup (GUGP) has become the first 501(c)3 in the world that is focused on service dog education.”

The couple is in the process of creating a state of the art digital outreach program that can be implemented at live events. Their nonprofit will debut a brand new “Service Dog Kiosk” at sporting events in the SF Bay Area next year. So far the dog-loving duo will be working with the San Jose Sharks and MTV’s MMA Company Bellator. 

“Education about service dogs is vitally important to the future of nonprofits, which is why Amie and I are really excited to be working on a state of the art solution,” he says.  “There is fraudulent service dog epidemic in the United States right now. People are claiming animals without training as ‘service companions’ and this makes it difficult for nonprofits to justify their training expenses to potential donors.”

They believe that education is the key to overcoming many of the fundraising challenges so that people with legitimate disabilities have access to service dogs that will enable them to live more fulfilling lives.  People can also get informed by interacting with GUGP with their Kid Service Dog Quiz or their Adult Service Dog Quiz.

To help fulfill GUGP’s mission to raise awareness about service dog puppy raising, service dog etiquette and service dog law please donate through their website or send donations byl mail to:Growing Up Guide Pup, PO Box #1341, Palo Alto, Ca. 94302.

Media Contact
Company Name: Growing Up Pup Guide
Contact Person: Matthew Thomas Chapman
Email: Send Email
Phone: 650-218-1976
Country: United States
Website: http://www.growingupguidepup.org