Duo

Duo is a national nonprofit organization working with volunteers to provide assistance and therapy dogs free of charge. Through these dogs, Duo provides dignity, hope, and independence to individuals with mobility challenges, hearing loss and other needs. Volunteers help raise and train puppies to become Service Dogs, Hearing Dogs, Facility Dogs and Courtroom Facility Dogs. Duo also provides obedience training and other programs in the community.

Service Dogs are trained to open doors, close doors, retrieve items, help with undressing, rise to counters, plus a variety of other mobility-related tasks. Duo places service dogs with adults and with children over 6 years of age.

Hearing Dogs are trained to alert to sounds in the environment, such as a door knock, smoke alarm, alarm clock, or a name call. Duo places hearing dogs with Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals ages 18 years and older.

A Facility Dog is trained to work with a handler and the clients or residents of a facility for at-risk populations.

Court Room Facility Dogs are professionally trained dogs that are placed with legal professionals in prosecuting attorney’s offices, child advocacy centers and family courts. They primarily work with children and adults during stressful legal proceedings.

Duo also offers the Touch Therapy program, which certifies volunteers and their own dogs to visit healthcare facilities. Experience has shown that patients, residents, family and facility staff benefit from the visits.

The general public can bring their dogs to Duo for obedience classes. Duo offers three levels: Puppy Class for dogs 8 - 20 weeks of age, Beginning Obedience Class for dogs 21 weeks and older, and Advanced Obedience Class for dogs that have completed Beginning Adult Class.