Retrieving Independence

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Nashville, TN
Retrieving Independence

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Empowering lives through service dogs.

We train and place highly skilled service dogs while transforming lives through volunteerism, community partnerships, and second chances. 🐾💛 We are a registered 501(c) non-profit organization that breeds, trains and places top quality service dogs with children and adults living with physical and mental disabilities.

10/08/2026

Sniff sniff. 👀🐾

Our dogs are sniffing around for something specific: diabetic scent samples to support our scent detection training.

If you’re interested in helping us collect samples, send us a DM or click the link for more information. We’d love to hear from you!

🔗: https://loom.ly/cqokJXg

[VD: Three close-up photos of a happy yellow labs outside. The first two show the dogs sticking their noses right into the camera for a boop, and the third shows a golden retriever looking up with a big, goofy smile.]

10/07/2026

🎂 Happy 2nd birthday to Franklin, Bryant, Jonah, & Kermit!

These four have been growing, learning, and putting in the work, and they’re getting closer to the next chapter of their journeys. We’re excited to see where the road takes them. 🐾💙

And while we’re celebrating, we’re sending birthday wishes to all of the RI dogs, past and present, who have had birthdays this year, as well as all the dogs our community knows and loves. 🎉🐶

[VD: Four individual studio portraits show service dogs wearing blue vests or collars with their names printed in the corner. First is Franklin, a black Labrador looking upward in a blue polka-dot party hat. Second is Bryant, a yellow Labrador resting calmly against a light blue backdrop. Third is Jonah, a yellow Labrador sitting in a service vest while wearing the same festive party hat. Fourth is Kermit, a yellow Labrador lying on a light blue background with a happy smile and tongue out.]

10/02/2026

A few weeks ago, members of our leadership team traveled to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the Assistance Dogs International (ADI) Leadership Summit, hosted by PAWS With A Cause. 🐾

The Summit brought together leaders from assistance dog organizations across North America to connect, share ideas, talk through challenges, and learn from one another.

We’re grateful to for hosting and to ADI for creating space for collaboration across our community. We always come home from these gatherings with new ideas, new connections, and plenty to think about as we continue moving Retrieving Independence forward.

Love. Dignity. Change. 💙

[VD: The first image shows a black Labrador sitting on a concrete walkway in front of a building entry with dark pillars and stone-faced bases. Above the entrance, large white lettering reads "PAWS WITH A CAUSE" next to a yellow logo of a dog wearing a blue service vest. The second image shows a large group of people posing indoors for the "ADI Leadership Summit," organized by Assistance Dogs International. They stand and kneel together in front of a banner branded with the Paws With A Cause logo. Two service dogs—a black Labrador sitting on the left and a golden retriever sitting on the right—are included in the front row with the group. At the bottom, text reads, "Thank you to Paws with a Cause for hosting!"]

09/30/2026

Jossie and Pumpkin spent the day at Belmont University | Nashville, TN 🎵 Student Connections Fair, making friends and getting plenty of attention along the way. 🐾

We had a great time meeting students, talking about Retrieving Independence, and sharing some of the ways they can get involved.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to meet Jossie and Pumpkin and learn more about RI! 💙

[VD: Two puppies, one white, one orange, are pet by hands. Various clips of the dogs being pet, sitting, laying down, & finally, napping.]

09/25/2026

This is what community looks like. 💙

A few favorites from Retrieving in the Round. Special thank you to everyone who made the night happen and supported RI, from our attendees and sponsors to our volunteers, performers, auction donors, and everyone who helped behind the scenes and so much more.

Together, we raised more than $100,000 to support Retrieving Independence and the people and dogs at the heart of our mission. 🐾

And a huge thank you to for capturing it all so beautifully. Check out more of their work at cloversmedia.com!

[A six-photo gallery highlighting moments from a "Retrieving in the Round" event benefiting Retrieving Independence. The images feature speakers sharing stories on stage—including a man in a pink blazer, two women smiling mid-conversation, a woman reading while a yellow service dog rests at her feet, and a man speaking into a microphone. Complementing the stage presentations, featured service dogs are pictured in their working gear, including a yellow Labrador relaxing on a green floor and a white Labrador sitting attentively beside its handler in front of a "Testimonial Hallway" display.]

09/14/2026

Nashville, we’re one week out! 🎶🐾

This Saturday, we’re bringing together live music, working dogs, good food and a whole lot of fun at Retrieving in the Round.

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now’s the time! Tickets are still available for September 19 at the Honey Alexander Center.

Come spend the evening with us and help support the dogs who make independence possible.

Pom Pom is already looking forward to enjoying her Nashville weekend. We hope you’ll join her. 💛

🎟️ Get your tickets: https://loom.ly/9_WKKd4

[VD: A yellow Labrador retriever lies on the grass in front of the Parthenon in Nashville, with the building’s

09/09/2026

A look back at our August training crew! 🐾

Last month, our dogs in training put their skills to work in a new environment, taking on crowds, busy surroundings, new smells, traffic, and even a ride on the bus in downtown Franklin. 🚌

And they absolutely crushed it! Boarding, finding their spots, settling beneath the seats, and staying calm throughout the ride are all skills that take practice. Every new experience helps our dogs build the confidence and focus they’ll need to navigate the world alongside their future partners.

[VD: Several dogs in blue service-dog-in-training vests are shown approaching and boarding a bus, finding space beneath the seats, settling calmly during the ride, and exiting the bus. Clips highlight each dog calmly navigating the different steps of the bus experience.]

09/05/2026

🚨 THE AUCTION IS LIVE! 🚨

Retrieving in the Round is just two weeks away, and you can officially start bidding on this year’s auction items! 🐾

About 80% of the auction is already live, with more items being added over the next week as we put the finishing touches on everything. And you do not have to attend Retrieving in the Round to bid—so start browsing, find your favorites, and get those bids in!

We’ll also be previewing some of our live auction items in the days leading up to the event, keep your eyes peeled. 👀

👉 Browse the auction + start bidding: https://loom.ly/LIpGbog

Want to join us in person? Tickets are still available for September 19 at The Honey Alexander Center, from 6–9 p.m. 🎟️

Get your tickets now: https://loom.ly/9_WKKd4

Every bid and ticket helps us continue training and placing service dogs with the people who need them most. ❤️

[VD: This six-slide social media post announces that the "Retrieving in the Round" online auction is live, beginning with a title slide that reveals the event's retriever logo through a torn-paper design. The following slides highlight various featured auction items displayed outdoors. Item #71 is a bone-shaped woven basket filled with KONG dog toys and treats, while item #76 features a Skoah facial treatment package with a certificate and lotion. Item #79, titled "A Little Indulgence for Him," consists of a Peter Millar travel bag packed with Jack Black skincare products. Item #53, "Coffee & Cozy Reads," includes two dog-themed coffee mugs alongside the book Old Dogs. Finally, item #58 presents a Parnassus Books set containing an illustrated canvas tote, a bandana, and two novels.]

09/02/2026

Client Lesa and Service Dog Nicholas recently got some professional photos done, and we’re a little obsessed with how sweet these turned out.

Loving this yearbook photo energy! 🐾

08/31/2026

Pool party… take two! 🐾💦

Our July training session was all about water tolerance and safety, and thanks to a scheduling hiccup, some of our pups took their turn this month!

Safe to say, nobody’s complaining about puppy pool party round 2. 🐶☀️

[Several clips of labradors & golden retrievers with white, yellow, and black fur show dogs swimming, jumping, & splashing in a pool.]

Address

Honey Alexander Center, 2400 Clifton Avenue
Nashville, TN
37209

Website

http://www.riservicedogs.org/, https://linktr.ee/RIServiceDogs?fbclid=PAAab2iu9vbMiRrO6MJXAxRppvsPj4RRQ0Ko1avG8-PKzsR9HB

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