ECAD, Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities

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ECAD, Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities ECAD is a Connecticut 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1995 by Lu and Dale Picard. Learn more at www.ecad1.org
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with a mission to enable people with disabilities to gain greater independence and mobility through the use of specially educated dogs.

💚 Transformation Tuesday: From ECAD Donor to ECAD Grad! 🐾Mark has supported ECAD as a monthly donor, helping make life-c...
10/20/2026

💚 Transformation Tuesday: From ECAD Donor to ECAD Grad! 🐾

Mark has supported ECAD as a monthly donor, helping make life-changing partnerships possible for people living with disabilities.

Now, he's experiencing that transformation firsthand.

After years of living with sudden vertigo episodes and severe hearing loss, Mark often feared going out on his own.

That began to change when he met Service Dog Taro. 🐾

With Taro by his side, Mark is looking forward to enjoying retirement with renewed confidence and greater independence.

And his experience has given him a deeper understanding of what it means to support ECAD.

"I am a monthly donor to ECAD myself. After being part of the process, I know, firsthand, my donations are changing someone's life."

Mark knows the power of giving because he's now living the difference it makes. 💚

Your support nurtures Service Dogs, empowers clients, and transforms lives.

Meet Gabby and Bravo, one of the teams featured on our petition.In Gabby's words:"Bravo enhances my overall well-being. ...
10/19/2026

Meet Gabby and Bravo, one of the teams featured on our petition.

In Gabby's words:

"Bravo enhances my overall well-being. He helps me with things that I can’t do myself like opening the doors and retrieving my mouth stick putting it in my mouth so I could use my phone. HE gives me independence that I don’t have anymore. Bravo is the best thing that has ever happened to me. He means the world to me he is my rock, my other half, my best friend, the one who I could count on to bring me joy"

Opening doors and retrieving dropped items are tasks we've covered on Task Tuesday. For Gabby, Bravo's retrieve includes her mouth stick – the tool she uses to operate her phone.

Out in public, it looks like this: at the zoo, the aquarium, even the salon, Bravo stays settled at Gabby's side – calm, out of the way, and ready when she needs him.

This is what a trained Service Dog team looks like, and it's who our petition is working to protect.

Share this with someone who needs to see it. https://petition.ecad1.org/

Every new place a pup sees on the weekend shows up in their training on Monday.To our Home for the Weekend volunteers: t...
10/18/2026

Every new place a pup sees on the weekend shows up in their training on Monday.

To our Home for the Weekend volunteers: thank you for the walks, the car rides, the couch time, and the patience. You're building steadier dogs, one weekend at a time. 💚

🐾💚 Saturday Spotlight: Meet Your ECAD Grads, Mark & Service Dog Taro!After more than 40 years of government service, Mar...
10/17/2026

🐾💚 Saturday Spotlight: Meet Your ECAD Grads, Mark & Service Dog Taro!

After more than 40 years of government service, Mark was ready to enjoy retirement. But sudden episodes of vertigo and severe hearing loss had made going out on his own something he feared.

Then he met Taro. 💚

This life-changing Service Dog is trained to alert Mark to important sounds he cannot hear and wake him if his CPAP equipment becomes disconnected.

But one of Mark's favorite things about Taro is much simpler. When Taro settles into a "Down Stay," he likes to rest his head on Mark's foot.

"We bonded almost immediately," Mark shared.

Now, with Taro by his side, Mark is looking forward to enjoying life with renewed confidence.

"He has given me confidence, companionship, and a renewed sense of independence."

Because of YOU, Mark and Taro's next chapter is possible. 💚

Friday mood, brought to you by SDiT Pickles! 🐾😂It's officially TGIF, and Pickles has a look that says it all!What do you...
10/17/2026

Friday mood, brought to you by SDiT Pickles! 🐾😂
It's officially TGIF, and Pickles has a look that says it all!
What do you think this face is telling us? 👀
Drop your funniest caption in the comments below! 👇💚

10/16/2026

Happy Home Handler Friday! 🐾

Your Service Dogs in Training have been working hard all week! Just look at them go in this week's Class in Session! 💚

But training doesn't stop when the weekend begins.

That's where YOU come in! Home Handlers give your future Service Dogs a chance to practice their new skills in real-world settings while enjoying some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

A weekend in your home helps prepare them for the day someone will depend on them.

Have room in your home (and your heart) for a weekend guest? 🐶

Become an ECAD Home Handler!

👉 www.ecad1.org/volunteer

Throwback Thursday 💚🐾30 years later, and Service Dog Gus helped Meghan make it back to her high school reunion!Meghan sh...
10/15/2026

Throwback Thursday 💚🐾

30 years later, and Service Dog Gus helped Meghan make it back to her high school reunion!

Meghan shared:

“Without Gus this wouldn’t have been possible for me. It was so great to see everyone!”

With support from her friends, family, and Gus, Meghan was able to celebrate this special milestone with her Class of 1996 classmates.

These are the moments that remind us what Service Dog partnerships make possible. 💚

Sharing is caring this Wishlist Wednesday! 🐾💚Your Service Dogs in training ALWAYS need more toys! From tug toys to enric...
10/15/2026

Sharing is caring this Wishlist Wednesday! 🐾💚

Your Service Dogs in training ALWAYS need more toys! From tug toys to enrichment favorites, every toy helps keep tails wagging and makes learning fun.

Can't send a toy? Sharing this post helps spread the word!

🛒 Check out ECAD's Amazon Wishlist and help your dogs get the toys they need!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/16MGRVWKRUVUL/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go_v

10/15/2026

Channeling that fall pumpkin energy.

10/15/2026

Boo! Did we scare you?

Address

149 Newfield Road
Wi******er Center, CT
06098

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+18604896550

Website

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