Freedom Dogs, Inc.

04/09/2021

Have you registered for Walk N Wag 2021?! Many local businesses will be at Barketplace to make your pet’s day extra special! Participants also have the option to join in the fun virtually! Register today and guarantee your cool event T-shirt!
Register at www.hspets.org

01/19/2020

I was having a panic attack & Atlas was tasking. Even w/people boarding & kids squealing out “doggie!” Atlas was focused. Then came a boy with a puppy straining on the end of a flexi-leash. Its eyes were huge with fear searching for shelter in the chaos. He saw Atlas & attacked, lunging, barking, & snapping. The handler & parents did nothing: no comfort for the terrified pup; no apology; no concern to see if their dog had injured mine. Atlas ignored it but the attack shook him. A few minutes later he missed a seizure alert for the first time in months. I starting seizing out of my seat & hit my head on the window.

This is an increasingly familiar experience for service dog (SD) handlers as more people violate the boundaries of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Non-disabled people tell us:

“No one complains about my dog in stores!”
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“She’s my baby, I can’t leave her!”
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“It’s not like I’m hurting anyone!”
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“He gets scared alone so I bought him a vest.”
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“I got a doctors note online!”
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“I bought a certificate & ID so my pet can go everywhere!”
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Whether ignorance or arrogance many people are convinced that it’s their right to use ESA & SD laws to manipulate the system, break the rules, & avoid federal prosecution. But the reality is most dogs aren’t equipped to handle stressful public situations & can behave unpredictably when they are thrown into an environment they aren’t trained to handle.

Faking a SD is not a victimless crime. It puts disabled people & their medical equiptment at risk. It causes us to be harassed, refused service, & illegally barred from resources non-disabled people enjoy. Businesses that have bad experiences with pets illegally bar disabled handlers from Ubers, hotels, restaurants, stores, & housing. Every year people lose their SDs because of attacks, harassment, & injuries. Many handlers become afraid to risk leaving their homes.

It‘s exciting to bring your dog with you to pet-friendly stores, restaurants, & hotels! But bringing your dog into spaces illegally has far-reaching ramifications that you can’t always see. Help protect disabled people’s lives. If a business isn’t pet-friendly leave your pet at home.

12/24/2019

**Courtesy listing** If you recognize this dog, send us a message and we will put you in touch with the finder.

12/14/2019

We may be a dog rescue, but look at this guy's beautiful emerald eyes!

11/24/2019

11/23/2019

11/20/2019

**FOSTER NEEDED IN THE PERKINS AREA**
Lady had surgery to remove a growth on her jaw Monday. Surgery went great, but we are looking for a foster who can give her some extra love and attention until her stitches can be removed on Dec. 3. We will provide you with food, a crate, collar, and harness. She is fully vetted and gets along well with other dogs (we don’t know about cats). She is very playful and an absolute love bug. If you have space in your home for Lady to crash for a couple of weeks, please give us a call at 405-547-2445.
*Please note: We need to keep Lady in the Perkins area so that we can easily get her to vet appointments if necessary.

11/19/2019

11/19/2019

It is with broken hearts that we must let our followers know that Betsy passed peacefully, surrounded by a team of people who loved her. When we saved Betsy from the freezing cold, we promised her that we would care for her like one of our own and she would never know any suffering again. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we could not repair nearly a decade of neglect. Her health took a turn for the worse and after much discussion between our vet and her foster family, it was determined that it was in Betsy’s best interest to let her go. Our hearts are broken for our sweet girl and we will miss her dearly. We want to thank everyone who helped give her the best life possible while she was with us. We especially want to thank Perkins Veterinary Clinic for providing her with the best care possible and for always working us in when we have a dog in need. Certainly, Betsy received much more love and attention than she had ever known before.

11/18/2019

Lady is resting well after surgery. Thank you to everyone who made this happy tail possible! As soon as she heals up a bit, she will be available for adoption through Perkins Animal Shelter.