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As a Next Step Service Dog Puppy Raiser, you will be teaching your puppy about love, trust, bravery, basic obedience, and socialization. As a raiser you and your pup will have public access to the movies, church, theme parks, bowling alleys, restaurants, stores and malls. You will use public transportation like buses, trains, and airports. They can go with you on vacations. You will expose them to all of the things they could encounter as a working service dog, so they become confident and comfortable in any situation.
Puppies are constantly learning during their first year of life! You will enjoy learning our specialized training to teach your puppy basic obedience commands like sit, down, stay, heel, and come.
Becoming a volunteer Puppy Raiser of a future service dog is a 12 to 15 month-long commitment of time, energy, and love. Every day through care and training, Puppy Raisers provide the critical foundation that puppies need to begin formal service dog training. There are few things in this world more heart-warming than seeing your puppy work seamlessly with its teammate knowing that you’ve given someone a level of independence that she or he did not have before.
What is NSSD responsible for?
What is a Puppy Raiser Responsible for?
All Puppy Raisers agree to 4 training sessions prior to first placement.
*After placement, Puppy Raisers agree to attend a training session each week for the first 5 months and then two training sessions per month thereafter.
Can you commit to 2 training sessions in a one-month period prior to placement?
Are you available for trial dog sitting (using a crate and following NSSD guidelines)?
This is a 4 page application. At any point in time you can click on the Save my progress and resume later checkbox at the top of the page. You will then enter an email address and password. You will receive an email with a link to come back and complete the form.
Please read the following:
In order to maintain our liability insurance, we have the responsibility to support certain standards of conduct for our volunteers. A signed copy of the below volunteer guidelines must be on file in the NSSD office.
VOLUNTEERS MUST AGREE TO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
Agree to provide proof of valid driver’s license and automobile insurance. Alternatively volunteers may indicate that they agree not to drive on behalf of NSSD including for transportation to all meetings. Auto liability coverage must be at least 100/300.
I HEREBY WAIVE AND RELEASE, indemnify, hold harmless and forever discharge, Next Step Service Dogs, Board of Directors, Trainers, Staff and their children, volunteers, agents, employees, officers, directors, affiliates, trusts, successors and assigns (hereinafter referred to as the “Released Parties”), of and from any and all claims, demands, debts, contracts, expenses, causes of action, lawsuits, damages and liabilities, of every kind and nature, whether known or unknown, in law or equity, that I ever had, or may have, arising from, or in any way related to my participation in any of the events or activities conducted on the premises of the Released Parties.
I understand that the activities that I may participate in are inherently dangerous and may cause serious or grievous injuries, including bodily injury, damage to personal property and/or death. On my behalf, and on behalf of my heirs, assigns and next of kin, I waive any and all claims for damages, injuries and death sustained to me, or my property, that I may have against the aforementioned Released Parties to such activities.
By this WAIVER & RELEASE, I assume any and all risk attendant to the premises, and take full responsibility for, and waive any and all claims of personal injury, death or damage to personal property associated with any and all activities conducted on the premises.
This WAIVER & RELEASE contains the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes any prior written or oral agreements between the parties concerning the subject matter of this WAIVER & RELEASE. The provisions of this WAIVER & RELEASE may not be waived, altered, amended, or repealed, in whole or in part, except upon the prior, written consent of all parties.
The provisions of this WAIVER & RELEASE will continue in full force and effect even after the termination of the activities conducted on the subject premises, whether by agreement, by operation of law, or otherwise.
I have read, understand, and fully agree to the terms of this WAIVER & RELEASE. I understand and confirm that by putting my initials next to this paragraph and that by initialing this WAIVER & RELEASE that I have given up considerable future legal rights. I have read and agree to this Agreement freely, voluntarily, under no duress or threat of duress, without inducement, promise or guarantee being communicated to me whatsoever. My initials are proof of my intention to execute a complete and unconditional WAIVER & RELEASE of all liability to the fullest extent of the law.
Respecting the privacy of our applicants, clients, donors, members, staff, volunteers and of the organization itself is a basic value of Next Step Service Dogs. Personal and financial information is confidential and should not be disclosed or discussed with anyone without permission or authorization from the Executive Director.
Care shall also be taken to ensure that unauthorized individuals do not overhear any discussion of confidential information and that documents containing confidential information are not left in the open or inadvertently shared. Applicants, clients, donors, members, staff, volunteers, and board members of Next Step Service Dogs may be exposed to information which is confidential and/or privileged and proprietary in nature. It is the policy of Next Step Service Dogs that such information must be kept confidential both during and after employment or volunteer service.
Applicants, clients, donors, members, staff, volunteers, including board members, are expected to return materials containing privileged or confidential information at the time of separation from employment or expiration of service. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential or privileged information is a serious violation of this policy and will subject the person(s) who made the unauthorized disclosure to appropriate discipline, including removal/dismissal. Please note, all applicants, staff and volunteer records will be kept confidential in a locked file.
Please check the boxes below:
I agree to abide by the requirements of this policy and inform the Executive Director immediately if I believe any violation (unintentional or otherwise) of the policy has occurred. I understand that violation of this policy will lead to disciplinary action.
I further commit to following NSSD Policies & Procedures and safeguard the mission and processes of Next Step Service Dogs.
Please read and check the following carefully before signing this application:
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