The Gates Service Dog Foundation

The Gates Service Dog Foundation 501c3 Non-profit Empowering mental health through expertly trained Service and Therapy dogs.

We’re so grateful to Danielle for organizing today’s fundraiser — it was an incredible event, and we appreciate everyone...
05/03/2025

We’re so grateful to Danielle for organizing today’s fundraiser — it was an incredible event, and we appreciate everyone who came out to support our mission.

Community events like this one allow us to continue training and placing service dogs with the veterans and first responders who need them most. Thank you for being part of the work we do.

🐾 Mara Is Ready – Let’s Find Her Forever Home! 🐾We are officially accepting applications for Mara, our incredible servic...
04/08/2025

🐾 Mara Is Ready – Let’s Find Her Forever Home! 🐾

We are officially accepting applications for Mara, our incredible service dog in training through The Gates Service Dog Foundation!

Mara has been working hard and is now ready to be placed with a Veteran or First Responder who needs a loyal, loving, and highly skilled companion. She’s not only beautifully trained—she’s also eager to serve and bring comfort to someone who truly deserves her.

There is a small placement fee, which helps us continue our mission to train and place service dogs for those in need. This fee is only a fraction of the cost of a fully trained service dog.

If you or someone you know would benefit from having Mara by their side, please reach out!

To apply or learn more:
📧 Email us at [email protected]
💬 Or send us a message right here on social media

Let’s find Mara the forever home and purpose she’s been preparing for.

Please share to help us reach the hero who needs her most!

03/27/2025

🐾 Mara is Ready to Meet Her Hero! 🐾

Mara is looking for her forever Veteran or First Responder—could it be you or someone you know? This incredible service dog is trained to provide comfort, support, and assistance to someone who needs her.

Check out this video of Mara helping with laundry! 🧺 She’s not just a loving companion—she’s also eager to lend a helping paw. 🐶✨

There is a small placement fee for Mara, which helps us continue training and placing service dogs with those who need them. This fee is just a fraction of the cost of a fully trained service dog.

If you or someone you know could benefit from Mara’s companionship, please reach out to us at [email protected] for more information. Let’s find this hardworking girl the perfect match!

💙 Tag a Veteran or First Responder who could use a loyal partner like Mara!
📩 Share this post to help us spread the word!

☀️ Casey’s Training Update: Soaking Up the Sunshine! ☀️Casey has been working hard on her training—and she’s making incr...
03/13/2025

☀️ Casey’s Training Update: Soaking Up the Sunshine! ☀️

Casey has been working hard on her training—and she’s making incredible progress! But now that the sun is shining and the temperatures are rising, she’s also making time for a little well-deserved relaxation.

Between training sessions, Casey loves to stretch out and work on her summer tan, enjoying every warm ray. It’s a sweet reminder that even the busiest dogs need time to recharge and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

We’re so proud of how far Casey has come—her dedication to training and her playful spirit make her a joy to work with. With each new day, we see her growing into a confident, well-rounded dog, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for her!

Follow along to keep up with Casey’s journey—there’s so much more to come!

Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan
Humane Society of Branch County

🐾 One of Mara’s Special Skills: Interrupting Leg Tapping 🐾One of the incredible tasks Mara is trained to perform is inte...
03/05/2025

🐾 One of Mara’s Special Skills: Interrupting Leg Tapping 🐾

One of the incredible tasks Mara is trained to perform is interrupting leg tapping—a behavior often linked to anxiety or stress. When she notices this repetitive motion, she gently places her head on the person’s leg to bring their focus back to her. This simple yet powerful action can help ground someone during overwhelming moments, offering both physical and emotional relief.

For individuals living with anxiety or PTSD, unconscious behaviors like leg tapping can be a sign that their stress levels are rising. Mara’s ability to recognize and respond to these cues provides a vital form of support—helping her future person feel calmer, more present, and less alone.

This task isn’t just about interrupting a behavior—it’s about fostering connection, offering comfort, and empowering someone to navigate daily life with greater ease. We are so proud of Mara and the life-changing work she is preparing to do.

Share Mara’s story and help us spread the word about the incredible ways service dogs make a difference!

Mara is ready to be placed with a local Veteran or First Responder. Email: inquiries to [email protected]

’sJourney

🐾 Can You Spot Casey? 🐾Group training sessions can be tough—but Casey is rising to the challenge! 💪 In this photo, she’s...
03/05/2025

🐾 Can You Spot Casey? 🐾

Group training sessions can be tough—but Casey is rising to the challenge! 💪 In this photo, she’s holding a perfect sit-stay alongside her canine friends…and even a dog training cat! 🐕🐈‍⬛

We’re so proud of the progress she’s making. Practicing in a group helps her stay focused around distractions and builds the skills she’ll need to succeed in any environment.

Training takes time, patience, and consistency—and Casey is proving she’s up for the task!

Love following Casey’s journey? Share this post and help us cheer her on as she continues to grow and learn!

Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan
Humane Society of Branch County

Mara – Ready for Placement!Mara is a three-year-old Labrador Retriever service dog, fully trained to provide PTSD and li...
02/28/2025

Mara – Ready for Placement!

Mara is a three-year-old Labrador Retriever service dog, fully trained to provide PTSD and light mobility support. She’s ready to make a life-changing impact on a local veteran.

While there is a fee for Mara, it’s only a fraction of the cost of a typical service dog—covering the care she’s received throughout her years of training.

If you or someone you know could benefit from Mara’s support, we’d love to hear from you.

📧 To apply, email us at [email protected]

🐾 Splish Splash – Grooming Time! 🛁Today, Casey had her grooming session—a key part of her training journey! Grooming isn...
02/14/2025

🐾 Splish Splash – Grooming Time! 🛁

Today, Casey had her grooming session—a key part of her training journey! Grooming isn’t just about looking great; it’s an important opportunity for her to build trust, confidence, and get comfortable with new experiences.

With lots of practice Casey bas gotten a lot better with bathing and low drying.

Keep an eye out as we continue to celebrate Casey’s progress and help her shine inside and out!

We invite you to share Casey’s journey with your friends and family—help us spread the word about Casey’s journey to become one of our Paws with a Purpose dogs.

🐾 Casey’s Training Update! 🐾Casey has been hard at work, and we’re so proud of her progress! 🎉Lately, we’ve been focusin...
02/13/2025

🐾 Casey’s Training Update! 🐾

Casey has been hard at work, and we’re so proud of her progress! 🎉

Lately, we’ve been focusing on her social skills, and one thing we’ve learned—she’s incredibly trustworthy with little dogs! Her and Ellie the Frenchie, love to play together, and the two of them have the best time together. Watching Casey learn to play with a little dog has been fun to watch.

She’s also been excelling in her training sessions, showing off her skills and growing more confident every day. From socializing to obedience, she’s proving to be a superstar in the making! ✨

Make sure you are following Casey’s journey to be come our first Paws with a Purpose candidates. Keep up the great work, Casey! 💪🐕

Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan
Humane Society of Branch County

📣 Calling All Grant Writers! 📣The Gates Service Dog Foundation is on a mission to change lives by training and placing s...
01/28/2025

📣 Calling All Grant Writers! 📣

The Gates Service Dog Foundation is on a mission to change lives by training and placing service dogs with Veterans, First Responders, and individuals in need. To help us expand our impact and reach even more people, we’re looking for an experienced grant writer to join our cause.

If you have a passion for helping nonprofits succeed and want to be part of a life-changing mission, we’d love to hear from you! Your expertise will help us secure funding to support our programs, care for our dogs, and provide essential training.

How You Can Help:
💻 Volunteer your grant writing skills to support our foundation.

🤝 Collaborate with our team to find and apply for grant opportunities.

📩 Email us at [email protected] if you’re interested or know someone who might be the perfect fit!

Together, we can make a difference—one grant and one dog at a time. Thank you for helping us continue this important work!

🐾Mara is Ready to help Change a Life 🐾We’re excited to share that Mara, one of our incredible psychiatric service dogs, ...
01/28/2025

🐾Mara is Ready to help Change a Life 🐾

We’re excited to share that Mara, one of our incredible psychiatric service dogs, is now available for placement through The Gates Service Dog Foundation!

Recently, Mara visited a local restaurant where she showed off her calm demeanor and training in a busy public setting. She’s ready to be matched with a Veteran or First Responder in need of a loyal companion who provides emotional support and stability.

To help our program continue to grow and assist others, there is a placement fee for Mara—a fraction of the typical cost of a service dog. Your support helps us keep transforming lives, one dog at a time.

If you’re interested in learning more about Mara or know someone who might benefit from her companionship, please message us at [email protected] for more details.

Let’s find this special girl the home and purpose she’s been training for!

🐾 Casey’s Weekend Adventure 🐾This weekend, Casey took a big step forward in her training by visiting an empty classroom ...
01/27/2025

🐾 Casey’s Weekend Adventure 🐾

This weekend, Casey took a big step forward in her training by visiting an empty classroom while the school was closed. Exploring new environments is an important part of her journey, and we noticed she’s a little nervous when it comes to exploring new places so we will continue to help her with her confidence.

With each new place, Casey is learning to build her confidence and trust. We’ll continue working with her to help her feel more comfortable in unfamiliar settings, ensuring she’s ready for her future role.

Every day, Casey reminds us that progress comes with patience and persistence, and we’re so proud of her efforts!

Help us get the word out about Casey and her journey to become a Paws of Purpose dog with our program.
💬 Drop a comment to share some encouragement for Casey!
📣 Know someone who loves rescue dogs? Share her journey with them!

Thank you for following Casey’s story and supporting her growth through our Paws of Purpose program.

Humane Society of Branch County
Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan

Address

22465 County Road 104
Elkhart, IN
46514

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15748491838

Website

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