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Member of:
Certified AKC CGC Evaluator and S.T.A.R Puppy Evaluator
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Foundation for Violent crime Victims and other assistance dogs.
Our Mission is to provide dogs for victims of violent crimes such as abduction, rape, domestic violence, assault, abuse or other qualifying circumstance as well as other assistance type dogs such as medical alert, service animals for people with disabilities or other qualifying cases. We have found through our years of raising and training dogs, that most often the people who need dogs the most, do not have the financial resources to get the type of dog that they need. For example a fully trained protection dog may be needed immediately by someone who was assaulted by a violent spouse last week, and probably needs immediate protection, but can not afford a fully trained dog as they range from $30,000 on up. Some of them can not even afford a good puppy which will still be several thousand dollars, and they lack the skills and time to develop that dog to perform as needed. Family Dobes has always tried to help people in these terrible circumstance by offering free training and support, and until now could only help them get one of our good pups at little or no cost to help start the healing. We have found time and again, 3 major benefits of the dog program. First Dogs love unconditionally, which is something even the best of people have a hard time doing, and they are very patient. They are not bothered or angry if their “person” cries for no reason at all, or if they don’t want to be touched or get out of bed. These victims need a friend who loves them no matter what, and will be patient with their healing process. They also provide the needed companionship which most victims don’t have because they tend to isolate themselves. Secondly they give their person a sense of security just by being around. Law enforcement, insurance agencies, and criminals will all tell you that mere dog ownership deters most crime. Some estimates are as high as 60% just by ownership, that number is projected higher to 80% if certain breeds are owned such as Dobermans, Rottweilers, Shepherds etc. The thing is the people that are willing to hurt other people or steal from their homes are not afraid of getting hurt, they are only afraid of getting caught. A barking dog can draw attention and that is what the bad guys don’t want. Most property crimes move to a place without a dog, and many violent crimes are the result of a property crime that went bad because someone was in the home. So the ownership alone deters a great deal of crime. Thirdly a trained dog can protect if it must. Most importantly, a trained dog is the only effective weapon a victim could have that can not be used against themselves. We are not anti-gun, they have their place, but not for a person who may freeze with fear and be unable to use it, but rather have it turned on themselves and used against them. A dog that will give an aggressive alert on command will scare another good portion of crime away most estimates are as high as 95% percent as it takes a real fool to see if the dog will do anything else. Very rarely does a dog actually have to protect their person with force, but they have to be capable if the situation does arise. This requires an older trained dog, not just a puppy, and until now it has been out of reach for most people in need. It is not our intention to try to stop crime, that is what law enforcement do, we are trying to prevent future crime and give someone back their confidence and security. Often these victims can’t trust people anymore which seems natural as they can’t figure out why someone would “do this to them” some blame themselves and become a further victim. They can however trust a dog that loves them unconditionally. We find “Pet therapy” the noun very effective because of “pet therapy” the verb. Just petting a dog has been medically proven to increase health and improve attitude. Dog owners are also statistically longer lived and happier, and that is what we wish for all people who have gone through these terrible things. I also have come across many people who could benefit from having an assistance dog to aid with their disability or medical problems, and when I ask why they don’t have one, usually the answer is that they would love one, but can not afford one. Good assistance dogs cost many thousand dollars that typically these people don’t have. There is also an unnerving amount of crime against disabled people. I am getting more and more stories about wheelchair bound people being tipped out of their chairs and mugged. Many of these people are turning to Dobermans as the presence of the Doberman deters these would be criminals where a golden retriever or a Labrador doesn’t have the same effect. It is bad enough that people are willing to hurt other people and commit crimes against them, but these “criminals” are turning to easier targets as they have already thrown morals out the window. I am committed to helping as many people as I can. I want to empower them to break free of a victim mentality, to have confidence and security the same as other people feel. I want to help people on a better scale than I have, I want to be able to teach them how to handle a trained dog, come spend some time with us and get to know a dog, and proudly hand them the leash and be a small part of changing their lives even when they can’t afford it. Let me share a few stories without breaking anyone’s confidence. I was contacted by a mother of a child that had been molested at a summer camp he went to work at. The perpetrator had threatened this child many times with harm if he told anyone of the abuse. He lived in fear, but did tell his mother finally. Then the Perpetrator would call and threaten both mother and child that one day the boy would just vanish. Restraining orders are worthless with people such as this, they moved and tried to hide, but never could rest and were always looking over their shoulders. We were able to place a dog with them that became a second set of eyes and ears that was always on duty so they could get some of their much needed rest. This dog wasn’t trained protect, but was trained to track and search if the boy was not home, but what he gave this family was a little peace for a time which they had not been able to find before. I was contacted by a female who had been abused as a child, then violently raped later in her married life. She was attacked from behind and there was a child as a result of this, that she did keep and raise out of her religious and moral belief system, but the child really is a constant reminder of all she has been through. She had been unable to leave the house, she had to always sit with her back to a wall so nothing could be behind her, she was still as scared 6 years after the incident as the day it hapeened. I took one of my dogs to her home and let her walk him. When we first met, I could be no closer than 10 feet, and always directly in front of her. I watched as she walked my dog to the park to watch her children play for the first time in ages. There was a suspicious character in her neighborhood that she was particularly afraid of and he was coming up from behind but quite a ways away. The dog alerted aggressively, the character left obviously and I watched this person suddenly change with the realization that someone would watch her back for her and be a great judge of character. She breathed deeply and cried, and later sent me this poem: Dear Steve and Family This is to a friend that always knows what say without ever saying word. Who is your soul mate but is never told. Who makes you feel safe in a world full of hatred and pain. Who possesses Courage without Fear , Kindness without Judgement, Strength without Insolence, and to whom is Loving despite our Anger and brave despite fears. For this is a Tribute to no man but to a Doberman Dog named Zenny. This is to Zenny for whom has given me hope, in a world that I thought there was none. Steve thank you for your friendship and letting us meet Zenny. I will never forget you or Zenny! We were able to finally get her a dog this year as well. This last story is quite significant for me as it is the inspiration for this foundation. I was contacted by the only victim I have ever met that actually had means to purchase a protection trained dog. She had been abducted and held for ransom, and assaulted and abused during her captivity until she was able to escape. She lived in terror, she moved and found herself still unable to go out anywhere alone, this person was being held captive by her tormentors even after she had gotten away. One of them was even in prison, but unfortunately the others were not. Most of the victims that contact me, their “bad guys” have never been caught which adds both to their need of protection and understandably their fear. As we began discussing a particular dog with this victim, she began to change and grow and heal just from the thought and anticipation of this dog that would be coming to protect her and change her life forever. She helped us see the vision of just how much good can be done when the financial means are no longer an obstacle. It is her vision to help those who can not help themselves, and offer a way for them to help others once they have received help. This is how the foundation was begun, and it must roll forward. There are currently many people on my waiting list in immediate need of protection trained dogs because of their recent ordeals and the risk level present. These people need help now, more than just a puppy to train later on, and more than I can provide on my own. Please be a part of giving these people their lives back, they deserve it, they want it, and together we can help them get it. |
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