For Immediate Release:

 

Contact:  Niki Voudren, 540.342.3647 x106, nvoudren@saintfrancisdogs.org

 

 

 

Saint Francis Service Dogs Breaks Ground for the Future
After years of fundraising, Saint Francis will build its first kennel

 

Roanoke, Va. (May 22, 2009) – Roanoke-based Saint Francis Service Dogs broke ground for a long-awaited kennel building.  The custom designed, state-of-the-art kennel building will be built on the premises of the organization’s 18-acre training center on Enon Road in Roanoke, Virginia.

 

In addition to the kennel itself, there will be a small apartment for the kennel manager, which will allow the organization to attend to the dogs’ needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The kennel will be the first priority, and will provide space for up to 24-30 dogs in training, additional storage space, a food preparation area, a laundry room, and run space for the dogs.

 

 “Although we have been successful, the kennel has been the missing component in our ability to grow” says Cabell Youell, Executive Director of Saint Francis.  “Presently, all of our dogs spend the night in the homes of our trainers or volunteers and must be delivered to and picked up from our facility every day.  With the new kennel we anticipate being able to train more dogs in less time.” 

 

The new kennel building is the result of a capital campaign that has raised $1.5 million of its $3 million goal.  The organization seeks to raise the remaining money by the end of the year.

 

In addition to training efficiencies, the kennel will allow the organization to increase the number of dogs in the program therefore reducing the length of time that candidates must wait for a service dog.  Saint Francis currently places 5-10 service dogs per year, but has an ultimate goal of placing 20-25 dogs each year throughout the commonwealth.  The service dogs, which perform a wide variety of task work and assistance to children and adults with disabilities, are placed throughout Virginia at no cost to the recipient.

 

 

Click here for video of ground breaking ceremony. 

 

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Saint Francis Service Dogs raises and trains service dogs for children and adults with physical and emotional disabilities to enable them to become more independent and self-sufficient.  As one of fewer than 50 accredited service dog organizations in the world, the Roanoke, Virginia based foundation relies on donations from public contributions to support its mission.