Founded in 1982 as Southeastern Guide Dogs, Dogs Inc was created to train guide dogs for people with vision loss in Florida and the Southeast. It has since expanded to provide service dogs for veterans with disabilities, therapy dogs for military hospitals and first responders, and skilled companion dogs nationwide.

What began with one instructor and three dogs has grown into a nonprofit with about 200 “pack members” and 700 guide dog and service dog teams located across the country.

Dogs Inc pups are born on the organization’s Palmetto campus and are placed with volunteer “puppy raisers” at about 10 weeks old. These raisers lay the foundation for when the pup returns to campus about a year later to start their advanced instruction. That’s when the dog chooses their “career path”—guide dog, service dog, therapy dog or skilled companion dog. Dogs that don’t choose these roles may join partner organizations for scent detection work or fulfill their purpose as a beloved pet.

For students receiving a dog, the impact is profound. “You can’t move beyond your vision loss and regain your independence until you’re willing to ask for help. My guide dog Quincey takes a world filled with fear and helps me navigate it,” says two-time guide dog recipient Katie McCoy.

Because Dogs Inc provides these expertly trained dogs, online and in-person training, lifetime alumni support, premium dog food and preventative veterinary at no cost to recipients, it relies on generous donations and volunteers to continue its mission.

A NOTE FROM JACK GORDON, BOARD-CERTIFIED CIVIL TRIAL LAWYER BOARD-CERTIFIED MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAWYER

Dogs may not be our whole lives, but they certainly make our lives whole.

I’m a big fan of Senator George Vest’s eulogy to his dog, Old Drum. Here are a couple of excerpts from the much longer speech he delivered on the Senate floor:

“The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog…. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains….” 

Space Donated by Maney | Gordon Trial Lawyers

Jeffrey “Jack” Gordon is well-known for helping clients in the Tampa Bay area with medical malpractice, wrongful death and personal injury cases. However, in addition to his work in the courtroom, Gordon also supports Dogs Inc., which trains guide, service, companion and therapy dogs at its Palmetto campus, transforming lives nationwide at no cost to recipients. Tampa Bay-area charities and nonprofits need your support now more than ever. The following guide lists some Bay-area charities and how you can get involved and help our community thrive.

To learn more about Maney | Gordon Trial Lawyers,
call 1-866-344-LAWS or visit FightNegligence.com