Retrieving Freedom, Inc.

10/16/2026

Eric arrived at class with a truck, a trailer, and a motorcycle. He is going home with one more addition: his new Service Dog, Kitty.

From the very first night, the two bonded over dog-themed movies and games of fetch. Kitty’s happy personality has already made a mark, and now she is ready to ride along for the rural roads, the motorcycle wrenching, and every workday in between.

Welcome to the family, Eric and Kitty. We cannot wait to watch your story unfold.

Read more about Eric and Kitty here: https://ow.ly/oLjh50ZYziM

10/15/2026

Thank you to First Bank, our Gold Sponsor for the 15th Anniversary Gala.

On October 24 we are gathering in Waverly, IA, a few blocks from First Bank’s own front door. There is something right about the community hosting this celebration also being the one helping fund it.

Their support goes straight into the training behind our Service Dogs, placed with Veterans with disabilities and children with autism at no cost to the client.

Join us. Tables and tickets are still available at https://ow.ly/SNTW50ZYh8y

10/15/2026

Want to make a difference in the Sedalia and Waverly community? We’re looking for dedicated volunteers to join the mission at Retrieving Freedom! ❤️

From raising and socializing future Service Dogs to helping at events, fostering puppies on weekends, or assisting at our facility, there are so many ways to get involved. Every helping hand makes a difference!

Interested in volunteering? We’d love to hear from you!🐶

Please reach out to:
[email protected]
660-586-2055

Connect with local businesses by picking up the latest issue of Showcase Sedalia!

10/14/2026

Fifteen years in the making.
Over 200 Service Dogs placed.
One new Veteran team ready to ride.
A record-breaking Wings for Wags in the books.

That is just the start of what happened at Retrieving Freedom last month. October’s Mission in Motion is live, and it is a celebration of 15 years of mission and everything your support helps make possible.

Read it now: https://ow.ly/j8ob50ZXN0N

10/13/2026

Thank you to Avenue Veterinary Clinic, a Silver Sponsor of our 15th Anniversary Gala.

Veterinary care is built into every Service Dog we place. Two years of training only works if the dog behind it is healthy, and that takes a team paying attention from the first checkup forward.

Avenue Veterinary Clinic knows that work from the inside. We are grateful they chose to stand behind it.

Join them on October 24 at Wartburg College. Tables, tickets, and sponsorships are available at retrievingfreedom.org/gala

10/11/2026

The next hands to shape our Service Dogs could be yours.

Retrieving Freedom is hiring a Service Dog Instructor to join our team at our Waverly, Iowa facility. This is a hands-on role that touches every part of our mission, from training Service Dogs in training through the stages that prepare them for placement, to interviewing applicants, instructing new handlers, and following up with graduate teams.

If you have a background in dog training, a heart for the Veterans and children we serve, and the leadership and communication skills to carry a dog and a client through the journey together, we want to hear from you.

A few things we are looking for:
- Bachelor’s degree or trade-specific schooling and experience
- 3+ years of experience in dog training
- Experience working with individuals with disabilities, particularly PTSD and autism, preferred
- Completion of an ADI apprenticeship program, preferred
- Strong leadership, organization, and communication skills

Interested? Reach out to Director of Training Katie Ruiz at [email protected] or visit retrievingfreedom.org/careers to upload your resume.

Share this post with someone who would be a great fit. Our next hire could be the reason another Veteran or child gets their partner.

10/10/2026

Today is World Mental Health Day.

Mental health is not an abstraction here. It shows up as a dog who notices the shift before anyone else in the room does. As a night that ends in sleep instead of pacing. As a grocery store trip that finally happens.

Our Service Dogs are trained for a minimum of two years to do that work for Veterans with disabilities and children with autism. It costs more than $50,000 to place one, and no recipient has ever paid a dollar of it.

Make this day count. Sponsor, buy a ticket, or donate to our 15th Anniversary Gala on October 24.

https://ow.ly/2MEq50ZWr1a or retrievingfreedom.org/donate

10/08/2026

Fifteen years ago, Retrieving Freedom placed its first Service Dog.

On October 24 we are marking that at Wartburg College, and you are invited to both halves of the day.

The morning is our Graduation Celebration, 10 AM to Noon in the Lyceum, where we recognize teams from the Classes of 2023 through 2026. Refreshments, dogs, and a chance to meet the teams. Free to attend.

That evening we gather in the Ballroom of the Saemann Student Center for our 15th Anniversary Gala. Doors at 5:30. Dinner, stories from our teams, raffles, games, and a silent auction.

Tables of eight are $400 and individual tickets are $50. Sponsorships are available.

Graduation RSVP: retrievingfreedom.org/graduation
Gala tickets: retrievingfreedom.org/gala

10/07/2026

We are so excited and honored to share that Retrieving Freedom’s Wings for Wags Fundraising Event was nominated and named a Gold Winner for Best Fundraising Event in the Best of Sedalia by The Sedalia Democrat! 🏆

Thank you, Sedalia, for supporting Retrieving Freedom and for this incredible honor! We are so grateful for each and every one of you who continues to stand behind our mission and make Wings for Wags a success year after year! 🇺🇸🐾

You nominated and you voted. Now it's time to find out who's the Best of Sedalia in today's edition of the Sedalia Democrat.

https://www.sedaliademocrat.com/eeditions/

10/05/2026

Behind every Service Dog placement is a team making it possible. We are growing ours.

Retrieving Freedom is looking for a Development Coordinator to join our team. This is a remote, full-time role working closely with our CEO and development staff to support donor relations, fundraising campaigns, events, grants, and the partnerships that make our mission possible.

If you are highly organized, love building relationships, and want your work to directly fund the training and placement of Service Dogs for Veterans with disabilities and children with autism, we want to hear from you.

A few things we are looking for:
- 2+ years of experience in fundraising, development, nonprofit administration, or a related field
- CRM experience, Salesforce strongly preferred
- Strong communication, organization, and project management skills
- A heart for the mission and the people it serves

Apply or learn more: retrievingfreedom.org/careers

Share this post with someone who would be a great fit. Our next hire could be the reason another Veteran or child gets their partner.