Service Dogs Alabama

05/18/2026

We are getting closer.... are you ready?

05/16/2026

Today was one of those days that leaves your heart full and your pockets mysteriously full of dog hair.

Razzle, Reese, and Kirby headed to Spanish Fort for an incredible Service Dog Awareness Festival organized by Girl Scout Troop 8756 as part of their Silver Award project.

And when we say these girls THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING, we mean it.

There were prizes for answering questions about service dogs, craft vendors, food vendors, fundraising activities, and one giant paint-by-number community art piece that slowly turned into something really special throughout the day. Honestly, this masterpiece may need to make an appearance at Art Unleashed because it is becoming a one-of-a-kind work of art with a whole lot of heart behind it.

The troop was also raising money for Service Dogs Alabama, collecting donations to create baskets for future puppy raisers, and helping recruit puppy raisers for upcoming litters.

Meanwhile, our dogs were hard at work being adorable professionals.

Kirby, naturally, handled everything like a seasoned expert and showed off exactly why he’s a pro. In fact, Kirby demonstrated that not only can he walk perfectly on a leash… he can apparently walk another dog too. Reese got her very own es**rt service as Kirby proudly carried her leash and walked her around like, “Don’t worry everyone, I’ve got this puppy under control.”

Reese and Razzle also got to show everyone just how impressive seven-month-old puppies can be. Between the two of them, there were plenty of happy wiggles, learning moments, and “look how grown up we are” moments during the four service dog demos throughout the event.

We are so thankful to Troop 8756 for the time, creativity, and heart they poured into today. Service dog awareness, future puppy raisers, community involvement, art, education, and dogs all wrapped into one event? That’s a pretty amazing Saturday.

05/16/2026

This afternoon, one of our volunteers, Jackie, took Leia on an exciting visit to Maxwell AFB to visit OTS.

Leia spent the day exploring obstacles, meeting instructors, and taking on the catwalk. Once they got up the stairs to the upper catwalk there was a moment when Jackie thought she might be carrying 55 pounds of chocolate lab back down, but Leia was a brave girl and made it down on her own.

That’s exactly what these experiences are all about. New environments can feel big and intimidating at first, but with encouragement, patience, and positive exposure, our dogs learn confidence one step at a time.

Leia took it all in stride: curious, thoughtful, and winning over everyone she met along the way. We’re so proud of her willingness to try something new, even when she wasn’t completely sure about it at first.

A special thank you to our volunteer Jackie for helping create opportunities like this for our dogs. Jackie, along with fellow military family volunteers Margaret and Amanda, will soon be heading to their next stations. These families have given so much love, dedication, and support to our program, and they will be greatly missed.

Military families may move on to new assignments, but the impact they leave on our dogs lasts for years to come.

05/14/2026

Tiny tornadoes meet.

Watching Razzle and little Ricky play together is more than cute. It’s exactly what healthy puppy development should look like.

Razzle, now seven months old, is learning how to be gentle, take breaks, read body language, and adjust her play style for a younger puppy. Ricky, at just 10 weeks old, is learning confidence, communication, and how to interact appropriately with other dogs. There’s bouncing, pausing, chasing, rolling, regrouping, and plenty of “okay, your turn” moments. No bullying. No fear. Just good canine conversation.

These everyday moments are a huge part of puppy raising.

Future service dogs are not born knowing how to navigate the world. They learn through thousands of small interactions like this one. Puppy raisers help shape dogs who can stay calm in busy places, adapt to new situations, and work respectfully around people and other animals.

Sometimes training looks like big public outings.
Sometimes it looks like two labs turning the yard into a giant playpen with excellent manners.

Interested in being part of the beginning for a future life-changing service dog? Puppy raisers help our dogs learn the world one moment at a time. Contact our Director of Puppy People at erin@servicedogsalabama.org

05/13/2026

What do you get when you combine yoga, mental health, and a bunch of very good dogs? Apparently… the best afternoon ever.

Madison City Schools had a tail wagging good time for their mental health event, and the dogs were absolute rockstars!

Shoutout to Nova and Luq keeping up with the rockstar facility dogs Fern, Daryl, Barnie, and Indy and for bringing the calm, the cuddles, and just the right amount of dog hair to yoga mats everywhere.

We love seeing the many ways these dogs support wellness, connection, and community.

05/13/2026

HI EVERYBODY I’M Richard.

But you can call me little Ricky because apparently “Rowdy Roddy Piper” was denied by management.

I am 10 weeks old and looking for a puppy raiser to hang out with me until I’m about a year old while I learn how to become a future service dog. Right now my main talents include:
• stealing socks
• falling asleep mid-play
• zooming for absolutely no reason
• carrying leaves around like rare treasures
• and being EXTREMELY cute

Here’s what I need from my future human:

-- You gotta love puppies. Like, REALLY love puppies.
-- You should be okay with tiny shark teeth and occasional chaos.
-- I need someone who will take me places and teach me about the world. Stores! Car rides! New sounds! Weird statues!
-- You have to help me learn manners and boundaries even when I look at you with my little puppy dog eyes.
-- Bonus points if you can walk fast because I have Important Puppy Business everywhere I go.

The best part? The Service Dogs Alabama humans help too! They’ll teach you how to help me become the best boy possible with training classes, support, and guidance along the way.

So if you’ve ever looked at a tiny yellow lab and thought, “Yes, I would like my life to become a furry tornado with paws,” this may be your moment.

Contact our Director of Puppy People at Erin@servicedogsalabama.org if you think you can keep up with me.

05/12/2026

This week, we pause to honor the men and women behind the badge during National Police Week.

At Service Dogs Alabama, we are grateful for the officers who serve our communities with courage, steadiness, and compassion, often carrying burdens the public never sees.

We see you. We thank you.

05/11/2026

05/11/2026

Something special is coming.....

05/09/2026

Happy Dog Mom Day to the women with fur on their clothes, treats in their pockets, and approximately 7,000 photos of dogs on their phones.

To the puppy raisers, trainers, socializers, nannies, volunteers, and every mom whose world somehow revolves around paws, leashes, and strategically timed potty breaks—today we celebrate you.

Thank you for the early mornings, muddy footprints, patient repetition, vet visits, belly rubs, and all the tiny moments that shape these dogs into something extraordinary. Behind every confident service dog is someone who spent countless hours loving them through the goofy stages, the stubborn stages, and the “please don’t eat that” stages.

Your love leaves paw prints far bigger than you realize.

05/08/2026

We had an amazing visit from the Occupational Therapists at Faulkner, and our dogs were more than ready to clock in for class.

Tito, Noble, Nala, Kirby, Olive, and Pepper got the chance to work with the OTs while soaking up attention, practicing skills, and showing off a little personality along the way.

Now the big question is… which of these pups will eventually be heading to their clinics someday to show off their professional skills in the real world?