The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs and Therapy Dogs

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Newtown, CT
The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs and Therapy Dogs

Providing Psychiatric Service Dogs and empowering communities. It has grown into something so much more than that.

The Exceptional Sidekick is the only non-profit organization in the area that offers psychiatric service dogs to teens and young adults. The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs (TESSD) and Therapy Dogs is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. TESSD began as a way to help Newtown and our teens and young adults that are struggling with a psychiatric disability. Between our Service Dog at the Sandy Hook

School to one of our dogs that is helping his handler attend Clarkson University, we have found that each dog has touched countless lives. We look forward to continuing our mission in Newtown and now also share this exceptional program with other communities within Connecticut. With one in four people suffering from a psychiatric disability we have a lot of work to do to break the stigma of mental illness and get people the help that they need.

06/05/2026

CT’s only locally run AKC Recognized Therapy Dog Organization! If you have a dog that loves to visit with others and you have a strong desire to give back to the community, join our group in visiting local libraries, schools, hospitals, and community events. Our teams know that Therapy Dogs Know How to Heal!

05/29/2026

Join us at two great Pride events this weekend! We look forward to meeting everyone and celebrating 🌈

05/25/2026

Therapy Dog Carly has been hard at work visiting the Brookfield Library twice a month! Carly is one of over a dozen therapy dogs that are working hard for our communities. Thank you Carly 🐾❤️🐾

05/11/2026

Thank you to everyone that joined us for a very special Mother’s Day puppy yoga! We hope all of the moms got plenty of the cuddles and kisses to make your day extra sweet. 🐾❤️🐾

05/01/2026

Our Sacred Heart University student puppy raisers are truly something special.

These students welcome 12-week-old puppies into their lives and take on the responsibility of raising them to become psychiatric service dogs for teens and young adults working to complete their education. It’s not just about teaching basic obedience. It’s late nights, early mornings, constant consistency, and an incredible amount of patience, love, and sacrifice.

While they do earn academic credit , what they give goes far beyond any classroom requirement. Volunteer puppy raising has to be one of the most selfless acts. They are shaping dogs that will go on to change — and in many cases save — lives.

We see firsthand the time, energy, and heart they pour into every single puppy. These students are not just participants in a program. They are the foundation of it.

We could not be more proud or more grateful. The future is brighter because of them.

Follow their dogs:

Keep an eye out for our new group of puppies joining us this summer and follow the students doing great work in the lab!

04/28/2026

Surprise Mom this Mother's Day with all the puppy cuddles and none of the cleanup.

Grab your mom, daughter, wife, or mother figure, and spend Mother's Day afternoon surrounded by puppies and good vibes. It's yoga. But with 7-week-old puppies, graciously provided by Southpaw Labradors. We really don't need to say much more than that.

Get ready to stretch, smile, and snuggle at our Puppy Yoga Fundraiser! Join us on Sunday, May 10th at 4:00 PM for an unforgettable yoga session surrounded by adorable puppies with big dreams to become Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs!

This feel-good event supports the early training and care of our next generation of life-changing service dogs. Every downward dog helps us raise confident, compassionate canines who will go on to support teens and young adults overcoming trauma and mental health challenges.

Spots are limited, so grab your mat and reserve your place now!

Come for the yoga, stay for the puppy kisses, and leave knowing you made a real difference.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mothers-day-puppy-yoga-to-support-the-exceptional-sidekick-service-dogs-tickets-1988366695311?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/24/2026

We are so lucky to be able to work with the amazing students at Sacred Heart University! Jessica Bogucki has been an integral addition to our program this year and her dedication is remarkable. We are honored to have her for a few more years as she works on her masters degree.

04/18/2026

Is your dog through the chaos of puppyhood and now a well-behaved pet? Could your dog mentor the next generation? A calm dog at home is honestly our dream foster setup. Our puppy needs someone to look up to, and your exceptional pet is exactly the kind of role model we're looking for. Foster with us this summer. Link in bio.

04/01/2026

Such a sweet article written about the incredible comfort that dogs bring us. Thor, one of our wonderful therapy dogs, is featured for his role on the set of Annie this past summer. We are all so lucky to have dogs in our lives.

02/09/2026

For 10 years we have been providing psychiatric service dogs to teens and young adults, struggling to complete their education. Help us celebrate the amazing dogs and volunteers that make this all possible.

Address

3 Simm Lane
Newtown, CT
06470

Telephone

+2032703647

Website

https://linktr.ee/exceptionalsidekick

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