FETCH DFW

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Providing highly trained psychiatric service dogs to victims of violence and trafficking

10/08/2026

A service dog and their handler move through the world as a team.

One simple way to practice good service dog etiquette is to give both the dog and the handler enough space to navigate comfortably.

Avoid crowding the team, blocking their path, stepping between the dog and handler, or allowing another dog to approach while the service dog is working.

You don't need to interact with the team to be helpful. Sometimes the most respectful thing you can do is simply give them room to move together. 🐕‍🦺

10/05/2026

“Why didn't they ask for help?”

Because asking for help can carry risks of its own.

A survivor may be worried about being monitored.

They may not have access to money or transportation. They may fear what will happen to their children or pets. They may have been isolated from the people they once trusted—or fear what could happen if their partner discovers they're seeking help.

There isn't one reason someone doesn't ask for help, just as there isn't one path out of an abusive relationship.

We can replace judgment with something much more useful: understanding.

10/01/2026

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 💜

Domestic violence doesn't always look the way people expect it to. It can involve physical violence, but it can also look like control, isolation, threats, financial abuse, intimidation, monitoring, or coercion.

This month, we'll be talking about recognizing abuse, supporting survivors, safety planning, and the role psychiatric service dogs can play as survivors build lives beyond trauma.

Awareness is a start. What we do with that awareness matters.

With survivors. Always.

09/29/2026

We've spent September celebrating service dogs. But before National Service Dog Month ends, we want to talk about the person at the other end of the leash.

Because the dog isn't the whole story.

The story is the survivor who feels more confident leaving home.

The person reclaiming pieces of independence trauma once took away.
The partnership that helps make difficult moments more manageable and everyday experiences more accessible.

FETCH doesn't simply believe in the power of service dogs.

We believe in what survivors can do with the right support beside them. 💜🐕‍🦺

09/25/2026

Abuse isn't defined by whether someone has been hit.

Control over money. Isolation from friends and family. Threats. Intimidation. Sexual coercion. Monitoring someone's movements or communications. Emotional manipulation.

These behaviors may not leave visible injuries, but their impact can be profound.
Recognizing abuse in all its forms matters—because everyone deserves to feel safe in their relationships.

09/23/2026

The vest comes off, and suddenly your highly trained professional remembers they're also a dog. 😂

Service dogs need downtime, too. Play, enrichment, exercise, sniffing, sleep, and time to simply be a dog are all part of maintaining a happy, healthy working partner.

So during National Dog Week, we're celebrating both sides of the dogs we love:
🐕‍🦺 On duty: skilled working partners.
🐕 Off duty: professional goofballs.

09/19/2026

What does a psychiatric service dog actually do all day?

Sometimes they're actively performing a trained task. Sometimes they're monitoring their handler. Sometimes they're lying quietly under a table while life happens around them.

And when they're off duty? They still get to play, nap, sniff, be goofy and enjoy being dogs. 🐾

A successful service dog isn't performing 24/7. They're a trained partner who knows when their skills are needed—and how to comfortably exist alongside their handler when they're not.

09/15/2026

When someone needs to leave quickly, finding important documents may be the last thing they have time to think about.

As part of a safety plan, keeping copies of essential documents somewhere safe and accessible can help—whether that's with a trusted person, in a secure location, or another option appropriate to your situation.

Safety planning is personal. What is safe for one person may not be safe for another, so only take steps that make sense for your circumstances.

09/11/2026

Service dog etiquette isn't only about how you interact with the dog. It's also about how you interact with the person beside them.

Seeing a service dog doesn't entitle anyone to a handler's diagnosis, medical history, or personal story.

You don't need to know why someone needs their service dog to respect the partnership.

Sometimes the most respectful thing you can do is simply let the team go about their day. 🐕‍🦺

09/07/2026

Wishing our FETCH community a safe and happy Labor Day! 💜🐾

Address

Dallas, TX

Website

http://www.fetchdfw.org/

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