For nearly 25 years a Lincoln non-profit called Domesti-PUPS has been providing training service dogs for people with disabilities and pet therapy programs. Jo Stutheit is vice president of the Domesti-PUPS Board of Directors and says their mission is to improve the quality of life of people with special needs through the assistance of animals.
They are in the final stages of moving into a new location near 48th and ‘Y’ Street and Stutheit says the extra room is much needed. “Last year we graduated four service dogs. This year we graduated eight and to me that means eight more people get perhaps life-saving attention from a dog.”
She says their epilepsy response dogs can literally save someone’s life by ringing a bell and notifying other people in the house that there is an issue. Stutheit tells KLIN News they also need more space for classes available to the general public.
“We start with puppy manners and we do everything through basic obedience, canine good citizen and we also have a therapy class.” Stutheit says. That class is for anyone who wants their pet to become a therapy dog.
The new Domesti-PUPS facility will be double the size of the previous location and is expected to open around August 1.
(Photo: Domesti-PUPS Facebook)