Planet Dog Foundation Awards Grants to Seven Canine Service Organizations

Portland, ME, June 2009 — The Planet Dog Foundation (PDF), Planet Dog's non-profit arm, is proud to announce the recipients of their latest grants. Grants ranging from $3,000- $7,000 have been awarded to Assistance Dogs of the West; Gabriel's Angels; Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota; NEADS; Susquehanna Service Dogs; Teacher's Pet and Working Dogs for Conservation.

The mission of the Planet Dog Foundation is to promote and celebrate programs in which dogs serve and support their best friends. "In order to assist with the financial security of our current partners, we chose organizations we have supported in the past for this grant cycle," says Kristen Smith, PDF's Executive Director. "Of the thirteen grantees that applied, we are proud to be re-funding seven," adds Smith.

· Assistance Dogs of the West: This Santa Fe, NM organization trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities. The program PDF is funding recruits at-risk teens in danger of failing or dropping out of school, or who have had trouble with the law. These teens are taught dog training skills, and then engage in comprehensive training for the assistance dogs. Teens are provided with invaluable lessons in empathy, trust and responsibility, and given the reward of unconditional love, a marketable job skill, and an alternative to the risky behaviors they were involved in before. This is the second PDF grant to ADW. www.assistancedog.org

· Gabriel’s Angels: Based in Mesa, AZ, Gabriel’s Angels provides therapeutic visits to abused, neglected and at-risk children in crisis centers, homeless and battered women’s shelters, treatment centers, and residential facilities for orphans and abandoned children. These children get the benefit of playing and petting dogs with a calm, loving temperament, and often open up about the trauma and abuse they have experienced with a dog in the room. PDF will also provide collars and leashes for all participant dogs, and items for the children. This is the third PDF grant to Gabriel's Angels. www.petshelpingkids.com