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C E L E B R AT I N G 4 0 Y E A R S1
WHAT’S INSIDE1 LETTER FROM OUR CEO2 NEADS BY THE NUMBERS4 WW OH AR TL DM CA LKAE SS S AS NE RE AV DI CSEDOG6 T H E Y E A R I N P H O T O S8 W H Y I . . . F E A T U R E18 FF OU TU UN RDEA TI INOI TN ISA TF IOVRE T H E20 FN IENWASN C& I AG LI VHI NI GGH L I G H T S ,I N F O R M AT I O N2NEADS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT
LETTER FROM OUR CEOThere is so much going on at NEADS that it can be a challengeto stop even for a few minutes to reflect on the prior year. Sowriting my letter for the annual report forces me each year to dojust that. This past year we opened the Kathy Foreman ClientHouse in September, relocated the Early Learning Center (ELC)to a renovated space in the old client house and moved ourretail operations to their own space at the head of the drivewayon campus. In addition we completed the planning phase forour kennel renovation, which will include setting up a temporarykennel in the old ELC. Much of what we did this past year seemsto have revolved around work on our Princeton campus.Gerry DeRoche with Loring at the State HouseHowever at the forefront of everything that we do are our clientsand the training of World Class Service Dogs to meet their needs.Because of the flexibility that the new client house affords us, wewere able to have 7 clients training on campus the same time.career changer it was vitally important at this inflection point in mylife to do something that benefits society. I consider myself to beextremely fortunate to have found NEADS.Over the course of the next few pages you will hear fromindividuals about why they are part of NEADS Nation. And thebest news: They are only a representative sample that illustrateswhy NEADS is such a special place.We have now placed over 1700 client pairs in 39 years ofoperation and we are well positioned to continue to be a leader inthe industry that we played a large role in creating!Thank you for supporting NEADS!Gratefully,NEADS is a magical place that provides a valuable service for ourclients. There are so many people responsible for making thathappen every day. So we decided to feature a few volunteers,staff, donors and clients answering: “Why I ”For me “Why I” love working at NEADS is really simple: I feelfortunate to have been given the opportunity to become involvedwith such a dedicated organization that can help civilians, bothadults and children, as well as veterans, to enjoy a life with a levelof independence that might not otherwise be possible without oneof our fabulous canines. There was also a connection becausemy father was profoundly hard of hearing and our family has alongstanding love affair with our own golden retrievers; so weare clearly dog people. Coming from the corporate world as aGerry DeRocheChief Executive OfficerC E L E B R AT I N G 4 0 Y E A R S1
NEADS BY THE2CHOCOLATELABS34YELLOWLABS235BLACKLABSNEADS 2016 ANNUAL N TRAINING
436221082Our Staff *TRAUMA ASSISTANCEDOGSCLASSROOM DOGSCOURTHOUSEFACILITY DOGSSOCIAL DOGSHEARING DOGSSERVICE DOGS FORVETERANSSERVICE DOGSTHERAPY DOGS13,811 L I K E S1,197 F O L L O W E R S983 F O L L O W E R S12S TAT E SW E P L AC E D3 7 D O G SNUMBERS40*9* Numbers reflect client pairs trained in the last fiscal year.912MALESPRISON PUPPARTNERSHIPS2136FEMALES2521425ACTIVE NEADSCLIENTSDIFFERENTSTATES37NEW CLIENTSIN 2016Taverly AdamsDawn AndersonChristy BassettTamara BelandSusan BerryMagen BlakeLisa BraleyAmanda CharbonneauSharon ConcannonAlyson CoxGerry DeRocheKerri FlynnDylan FodenKathy ForemanApril-Lynn ForestElizabeth GaulinLacy GillottiMarilyn HolwayMaureen HuhtalaAnn JonesEllen JonesTracy KellyHannah KumpKelly LegerBrittney LoganJohn MoonPam MurrayKaty OstroffLouAnn PignateroMary RedingtonDoreen SheridanAndrew Shusta Jr.Anna TepeJulie VautourJosselyn VinshAnne WilcoxEon WoodsErin WylieCathy Zemaitis*As of 8/31/16C E L E B R AT I N G 4 0 Y E A R S3
WHAT MAKES A NEADS WORLD CLASS SERVICE DOGHEALTH:THERE ARE THREEELEMENTS THAT MAKENEADS DOGS WORLDCLASS SERVICE DOGS:HEALTH, TEMPERAMENTAND TRAINING. HERE ISA DEEPER LOOK AT WHYTHESE FACTORS ARE VITAL.At NEADS, the health andwell-being of our dogs iscrucial. From the momentthey arrive on campus,our dogs have consistenthealth monitoring thatcontinues throughout theirtraining. This includesroutine exams and care,orthopedic screeningsand vaccinations. NEADSpartners with over threedozen veterinary practices,including VCA AnimalHospitals and has fourveterinary clinics within prison facilities where NEADS dogs aretrained. Additionally, we feed them high quality, nutritious food,because NEADS understands how important proper weight is to ahealthy dog. NEADS also partners with Trupanion Pet Insurance sowhen our pups leave training, their partners can continue to offerthe best in care.TEMPERAMENT:Not every dog can be a NEADS Service Dog. It takes a veryspecific disposition to graduate from our program. Our dogs mustbe people oriented, sociable, friendly, and well-mannered. NEADSpups must also be able to work in all environments, and be able torecover from stressful situations seamlessly. To achieve this goal,we start socialization early with our puppies, beginning at eightweeks old, when dogs begin early exposure to different surfaces,people, sounds and objects. Progressive socialization continuesthroughout the pup’s training to make sure that when they arematched with a client, they are experienced and confident.4NEADS 2016 ANNUAL REPORTTRAINING:Our Dogs:NEADS aims to acquireapproximately 100 dogswithin each fiscal year,with about half of the dogsgraduating from training.About 95% of our puppiesare acquired from purebredbreeders. We currently useLabrador Retrievers in ourtraining program, however,we occasionally work withhypoallergenic dogs.The remaining percentage of our dogs are acquired from animalshelters and rescue groups throughout New England.Our Trainers:NEADS trainers muststart as an apprenticetrainer and are requiredto spend two years in thatrole until they graduateto the position of trainer.Not only does a NEADStrainer need to beexcellent with dogs, butthey also must be greatwith people and all typesof personalities. They mustpossess the maturity andprofessionalism to workin a prison facility. Additionally, trainers must be able to expressempathy towards others to fully understand each client’s uniquecircumstances.
Our Training:NEADS Dogs are trained to performtasks and behave obediently throughthe use of positive reinforcement andclear leadership. Our dogs love to work!The behaviors we teach are inherentlyfun for them (like tugging on a rope orrunning to a sound), so the dogs learn toassociate tasks with having a good time.At the Laura J. Niles Early LearningCenter, the puppies continue to learnthat humans are friendly and fun, loudnoises are not scary and unusual itemsare not frightening.Once a puppy becomes acclimated with the NEADS program, they head off to oneof nine correctional facilities throughout New England, known as NEADS Prison PUPPartnership. Under the guidance of NEADS trainers, inmates are able to provideconsistent training at a high level and can devote significant time to the dogs.To ensure that the puppies have a full range of experiences, volunteers helpout by socializing the puppies on weekends. These Weekend Puppy Raisers,specially trained in socialization skills by NEADS, are assigned to a puppy forthe entire time the dog is in the prison program. Puppies spend their weekendsat a volunteer’s home and follow the volunteer’s routine around town based onthe pup’s training level.C E L E B R AT I N G 4 0 Y E A R S5
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WHY I.8NEADS 2016 ANNUAL REPORTJack Curtin and Maurice
D O N AT E T O N E A D SBY SUE CURTINWhy our family foundation has made NEADS aphilanthropic priority relates to many of our family’s firsthand experiences. This includes honoring our mother’slegacy and celebrating the success of our son, Jackand his NEADS Social Dog, Maurice.We are also profoundly moved by the Prison PupPartnership, which brings the organization to whatwe call “full circle.” In addition to providing transformative experiences for its clients, NEADS also runsworld-class training programs within several prisonsystems establishing another profound programmingarm to the organization.My siblings and I will never forget the devastating newswhen our mother, Julie, was diagnosed with MultipleSclerosis at a time when the disease had little to notreatments available. Although our mother always puton a brave face and valiant fight against her diseasethe reality of accomplishing every day tasks was oftenoverwhelming and the isolation it created for her issomething we will never forget or take for granted.We were first introduced to NEADS through thePawsitively Strong Fund and as we began to learn moreabout the community we began to see firsthand howincredibly empowering NEADS Service Dog teamswere for their clients. Every story is unique and everyService Dog match is its own special and inspiringpartnership. The quality of the Service Dogs and theclient programming really puts NEADS as a nationalleader in this field.As we came to know NEADS, my husband and I beganto research the possibility of a Social Dog for ourson, Jack. What we have experienced has been lifechanging and we often share how much Maurice hascreated independence, confidence and empowermentfor our son. It is actually hard to remember what lifewas like before Jack and Maurice were matched. It hasmade that much of impact on our daily lives.We often think about what our mother, Julie’s lifewould have looked like with a NEADS Service Dog.Through our family foundation we are honored tobe able to support Service Dog teams and hope tocontinue to make that a reality for others. And forall those reasons and more we hope to continue tosupport NEADS.The Curtin Family“What we have experienced has been lifechanging and we often share how muchMaurice has created independence, confidenceand empowerment for our son.”C E L E B R AT I N G 4 0 Y E A R S9
AM A NEADS TRAINERBY CHRISTY BASSETTIt’s not hard to understand what drawsmost of us to NEADS. Cute puppyfaces, lots of animal interaction and anidea of “doing good”. But what keepsme there is not the animals. It’s thepeople.raising money, arranging transportation and time for training, setting uptheir home and adjusting their lifestyleto accommodate an assistance dog,there are lots of favors called in. It ishard work to gain a NEADS dog. Andthey do it with a disability.Our inmate handlers are in aposition that none of us hope to everexperience. Stripped of their rightsand identities, they are not given manychances to succeed at this point intheir lives. Most come to us with a loveof animals, the hope of learning a newskill and the notion of giving back. Withtime and experience in the NEADSprogram, all three of these emotionsare intensified.Christy Bassett with a dog in trainingWHY I.10NEADS 2016 ANNUAL REPORTChristy Bassett pictured with her dog, JaggerBeing an introvert, I never expectedthat I would enjoy instructing in frontof a group of inmates or working witha diverse array of clients. But NEADSpeople are not normal people. Theyare passionate, compassionate andwelcoming. (And being animal loversdoesn’t hurt either.)Our clients are humble, but so verystrong. Each one of them has facedchallenges that the vast majority ofthe population has never felt and theyhave either overcome them or learnedto live with them and press on. Formany of them it does not come easy toask for help. Showing up on NEADS’doorstep is doing just that. BetweenOur volunteers are selfless and willing.They give up their weekends, their freetime and their own agendas. And thenthey give up the dog they’ve treated astheir own. It’s something that not manyof us would be willing to do.“Being surrounded by thesewonderful, admirable peopleevery day is compelling.”The energy created and passedaround amongst this group iscontagious. Stories of triumph,self-growth, relationship building,giving and receiving- both told anduntold, affect me. Plus there’s dogs.
AM A WEEKENDPUPPY RAISERBY CINDA CAPONEWHY I.Cinda Capone with NEADS dog in trainingThe reasons I began puppy-raising,and the why behind why I continue,have changed as the experiencehas changed me. I initially beganvolunteering in the puppy housetaking pups out on the weekends,and I was immediately drawn to themission of this organization. As mychildren were getting ready to leavethe nest, I began researching the ideaof raising foster children or perhapsbecoming involved in puppy-raisingfor NEADS. My husband, who waslooking forward to enjoying grownchildren, quickly suggested thatpuppy-raising would be the bestoption. Thus began a journey that hasforever changed my life.I began puppy-raising with theidea that it would be a way to dosomething I loved while contributingto a meaningful cause. As I spent thetime working with my first pup, takinghim on numerous field trips, andwatching him grow in confidence andability, I began changing. I knew therewas a mission, a goal I was aimingfor. It was more than enjoying thecompany of a dog for a weekend. Irealized that I was helping to raise thispup so that one day, like my children,he too would leave the nest and beall that he was meant to be. Somedaythere would be a forever personwaiting for him with a job he wouldneed to do. I knew I was a part of theteam that would help get him readyfor his job.Though I initially began puppy-raisingpartly because I loved dogs, once Irealized the amount of work involved,that love for dogs alone would notkeep me coming back for more. Isaw how NEADS was changingpeople’s lives one pup at a time, andas a puppy raiser, I was given theawesome opportunity to be a partof this. I have seen and talked withclients whose perfect match withtheir pup has completely altered theircircumstances and outlook. Theseexperiences have changed me andhave changed the “why” behind mydesire to continue puppy-raising.Why do I volunteer with NEADS as apuppy raiser and why do I continue tostart all over with a new pup again andagain? The answer is easy, and it onlytook one time to discover “One time meeting a foreverperson one time attending agraduation one time watchingthe pup I helped raise becomean extension of his foreverperson one time hearinghow a pup has given a personnew life. One time and somany lives, including mine, areforever changed.”C E L E B R AT I N G 4 0 Y E A R S11
A M A N I N M AT EHANDLERBY JASONMy name is Jason and I’m a NEADSprimary handler. Since entering thisprogram over a year and a half ago, Ihave come to realize that this programis about more than just training dogs,but it is also about the selfless serviceof people whose greater purposeand mission in life is to ensure thewell-being of others.WHY I.Adhering to the mission and purposeof this program has helped immenselyin my own quest to become a moregiving and compassionate individual,because being a person who alwaysthought of himself first, the idea ofgiving back was completely foreign tome. I learned how to be selfish, as myunderstanding of what it meant to helpthy fellow man (or neighbor) becamesomewhat of a distorted conceptdue to the environment in which Iwas raised. And while there’s nothingwrong with individual accomplishments; thinking exclusively along thoselines, however, can create imbalanceand allow selfish ideals to becomeprevalent in one’s life, as became thecase with me.But learning to work as a team in aunified manner alongside a group ofindividuals whose primary objective isto achieve the common goal of helpingothers while putting our own selfishinterest to the side, has led to anamazing discovery for me since joiningthis program. I’ve discovered that nomatter the circumstance or current12NEADS 2016 ANNUAL REPORTsituation that we may find ourselvesin, we all possess the ability to exhibitaltruism despite past displays ofselfishness.Author, Robin Casarjian, mentions“acts of selfless service” in her book,HOUSES OF HEALING, in which shewrites, “Selfless service is servicewhere you don’t do it for personalacknowledgement or gain. You don’tdo it in order to get points for goodbehavior. You do it to pay back whatyou’ve taken in some way. You do itto heal yourself.” She goes on furtherto write that “Facts of this kind can beany work that makes someone else’swell-being your priority.”These sentiments ring true for manyof us who assist in training theseprecious animals.“We are all striving to becomebetter people today so as to notallow the mistakes from the pastbecome that which defines us.”The NEADS program serves to providemany of us with the opportunity tore-define what it is that we stand for,and how we wish to live and proceedwith the rest of our lives going forward.
WHY I.AM A NEADSE M P LOY E EBY K AT H Y F O R E M A NFrom the beginning of my involvementwith the organization, I have alwaysbelieved in our mission that dogs canhelp people. Having spent decadesat NEADS, I am proud to say thatthe organization’s mission has neverchanged. I began my career at NEADSwhen my kids were in elementaryKathy Foreman and Gerry DeRoche in front of theKathy Foreman Client House & Training CenterKathy Foreman in 1988 with Tonka, a dog in trainingKathy Foreman and her dogs Teddy and Gleeschool and I was ready to get backto work. I came across an ad in thelocal paper for a job posting for theHearing Ear Dog program (NEADSfounding name.) I have always loveddogs and knowing that the programwas working to train rescued shelterdogs to become Hearing Dogs wasimpressive. I inquired about the trainerposition and the rest was history!I have now been a NEADS teammember for more than three decadesand my passion for the mission is justas strong as it was on my first day onthe job.“To have the ability to play apart in changing someone’slife through the love anddevotion of a dog is somethingI am grateful for every day.”I truly enjoy working with a group ofpeople that energize me too. Staff andvolunteers have so much enthusiasmfor our mission that it is contagious.To have the ability to play a part inchanging someone’s life throughthe love and devotion of a dog issomething I am grateful for every day.I feel lucky to be a part of NEADS.C E L E B R AT I N G 4 0 Y E A R S13
ARE ON THE BOARDOF DIRECTORSBY IRA KAPLAN DVM &A N I T A M I G D A Y, D V MOrganizations have life cycles justlike people. The major difference isthat organizations do not die, theymorph. For example, the March ofDimes changed its mission afterpolio eradication was achieved. AtNEADS, the oldest hearing ear dogprogram in the United States, weevolved into the assistance dog worldand then created Service Dogs forVeterans to help wounded warriorsdeal with a multitude of physical andpsychological issues.As Board members, we toohave morphed. In the 1980’s wevolunteered for the then adolescentNEADS board to add our professionalabilities to the program. We providedveterinary services to every dog thatwent through the program. Eachmonth the Board met, to decide byconsensus, the best way to achieveNEADS 2016 ANNUAL REPORTAs an organization becomes matureit adopts a family called “employees”that provide the services originallysupplied by the volunteer boardmembers.“As board members with a 30year history, we rededicated ourfocus to keeping the board onmission while mixing with newboard members who can bringthe skills of fundraising andvisibility to the organization.”WHY WE.14the mission of providing dogs topeople with physical disabilities.Fundraisers were small but petpictures with Santa and walkathonsbonded the board to the mission andeach other.Ira and AnitaIn the last phase of our organizationallife, we considered the hiring of astrong CEO to be our most importantrole. We feel that we succeededwith Gerry. We hope that our effortswill leave a legacy of structure anda history of philanthropy. And, wehope that the future will find a boardthat develops its own leadership thatkeeps it connected to the value of thedogs in our lives and the people inneed of NEADS.
RECIPIENTS OF THE2016 NEADS SPIRIT AWARDThe NEADS SPIRIT AWARD is given annually to a volunteer(s) who passionately exudes the energy, values and commitmentto our mission over an extended period of time. The recipients in 2016 were Doctors Ira Kaplan and Anita Migday. Theirenormous contribution and impact on a professional level as veterinarians and personally as active members of the NEADSBoard of Directors spans more than 30 years.2016C E L E B R AT I N G 4 0 Y E A R S15
CHOSE TO VOLUNTEERBY MARY REDINGTONAfter a successful career inadvertising and a sabbatical to havetwo children I was looking for a newadventure. I have volunteered for avariety of positions at my local school,church and town. I am a hard worker,so my spare time was in demand.But I wanted to choose my nextvolunteer opportunity. I am an animallover and service dogs have alwaysintrigued me. So three years ago, Icontacted NEADS and filled out avolunteer application. I knew I wantedto work with the animals and the word“husbandry” was mentioned multipletimes. My first day was November 19,2013. I jumped in. What seemed likethe simple task of walking the dogs fortheir morning constitutional, emptyingand cleaning the kennels, bowls,bones and bedding, was challengingfor me in the beginning. The protocolscreated to protect the dogs’ healthand training required me to unlearnmy personal experiences with pets.Like not using the dog’s name, notsaying “no”, and waiting patientlywhile the dog calms him/herself andmakes eye contact. It’s physical,sometimes messy work and I love it.WHY I.16NEADS 2016 ANNUAL REPORTI’ve met some amazing volunteersincluding students, a collegeprofessor and a retired octogenarianveterinarian. Plus it’s satisfying.Usually at the end of my shift, thedogs have been fed, played with orNEADS Volunteer, Mary Redingtonwalked, and their beds and kennelsare cleaned and prepared with freshbones and bedding. Hopefully I’vesoothed a nervous dog, exercised anenergetic one, or just given the stafftime to do a little paperwork. It’s asmall part, but it’s my part. And everycouple of months when we havecoffee and meet some clients andhear their stories. I know I supportsomething good in the world.I read somewhere that dogs don’tjudge people when meeting them;that’s why they are so happy tomeet everyone. As humans wehave thousands of subconsciouspre-conceived notions based on yearsof daily experiences, which createsunintentional (but real) biases andprejudices. So I’ve been consciouslyworking at being more like the dogs,greeting everyone with an open mindand heart. And volunteering weekly atNEADS reminds me of this personaleffort and awareness. I hope tocontinue here for years, and perhapsexpand my role at some future date. Iam appreciated and thanked regularlyfor my efforts, plus I get to spend timewith smart, kind, loving, goofy, futureService Dogs. That’s why I volunteer.
AM A NEADS CLIENTBY C H R I S S L AV I NCommunity is important to me. Ilearned from one of my youngstudents that “Community is my family,my friends, my neighborhood, mytown, my country and my world.” Iliked that, and believe very much inthat philosophy. I feel that membersof a community should support,encourage and empower one anotherto be their best selves, making livesbetter from the micro to macro level.It is connection to others that isso important to me, the giving, thehelping and the sharing.WHY I.Chris Slavin and Earle visiting IrelandWhen in the discerning processaround getting a Service Dog,I naturally wanted to find anorganization that agreed with my ownethos. I have many friends that haveAssistance Dogs, and the NEADSdogs stand out. Not just for theirtraining, but for their ability to stillhave the giving, devoted and lovingheart of a dog. As I learned about thePrison Pup Partnership, some HearingDogs being rescues, and the amountof community involvement I couldhave, I knew it was the place I wouldapply. Upon meeting the staff andtrainers, volunteers and supportersI immediately felt the sense ofcommunity that is so important to me.My life has changed so much sinceEarle has partnered with me. Alwaysan active person, I thought I was veryconnected to the world. I had no ideathat my world would get so large andthat Earle would be the catalyst tothat. Since Earle has come into mylife I have begun working in DementiaCare, where he is changing the livesof our residents with dementia invery profound ways. I have traveledback to Ireland for the first time sincemy accident. Earle has been theopener for many conversations andfriendships.“Where people once saw mywheelchair and a barrier tointeraction, they now see abeautiful, amazing and loyaldog.”We have brought our message ofintegration and accessibility intoschools, community organizations,and to the general public; we havebeen asked to return to Ireland nextspring and continue to educatein schools. We are recognizedthroughout our community and Iproudly put on his vest and share thestory of NEADS.Earle has expanded my opportunities,my independence, my life and myheart. NEADS and its supportershave given me a gift that is finer thananything I imagined. It cannot bedescribed.C E L E B R AT I N G 4 0 Y E A R S17
180DOGS UTILIZEOUR CAMPUSBUILDINGSEACH YEAR18NEADS 2016 ANNUAL REPORT
FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE INITIATIVEEARLY LEARNING CENTER ANDKENNEL RENOVATIONEACH YEAR OVER 50CLIENTS, 90 PUPPIES,80-100 ADULT DOGS,NUMEROUS VISITORS,VOLUNTEERS, AND STAFFUTILIZE OUR CAMPUSBUILDINGS.Twenty years ago, withthe input of veterinariansand other animal carespecialists, we built a newkennel to house our dogsduring their evaluationsand Service Dog training.However, by today’sstandards, our kenneldoes not provide our staff,volunteers, or dogs withthe best environmentpossible.We are currently in the beginning stages of renovating ourkennel facility. This kennel, from the ground up, will be a cuttingedge Service Dog kennel. Within the industry, NEADS is regardedas innovative, and our new kennel design will minimize stress byproviding an environment that is healthier for our staff and dogs.The success of our program starts with our puppies. In additionto a new kennel for adult dogs, our plans include revitalizing abuilding on our property to accommodate our newly arrivingpuppies. NEADS pups spend up to two weeks on our campus.During that time, our puppy instructors begin teaching basicobedi ence. Between lessons, the puppies have plenty of time toplay, and receive lots of attention from our staff and volunteers.NEADS is continuing the Foundations for the Future fundraisinginitiative, which began with our new Kathy Foreman Client Houseand Training Facility, to include the creation of a new EarlyLearning Center and completely renovated kennel.At the completion of this project, NEADS will have a state of theart kennel as well as a renovated Early Learning Center for ourpuppies which was recently completed. As we move forwardtoward a state of the art campus, our commitment to our clientsand dogs remains strong. These improvements will help usdo what we do best - train and place Service Dogs with thepeople who really need and deserve them, making increasedindependence in their daily lives a reality.C E L E B R AT I N G 4 0 Y E A R S19
NEuArnDinSgFinancial Highlights20162015* 1,808,989 ,592(203,406)is t40!WE ARE CELEBRATINGO U R 4 O th A N N I V E R S A R YTHIS YEAR!Operating Revenue:General fees and contributionsContributed goods, services and propertyGrants and foundationsInterest incomeInvestment returnOther incomeTotal support and revenueThe organization opened its doors in 1976 and hasbeen a pioneer of the Hearing Dog and Service Dogindustry ever since! At its inception, the organizationwas called Hearing Ear Dog program and the firsttraining was done on an experimental basis bythe animal science department at Holliston JuniorCollege in Lenox, MA.1,615 2,593,450 2,703,473Operating Expenses:Training program2,116,8321,990,554Management and l expenses 2,540,730 2,350,601 52,720 352,872Change in net assetsNet assets, beginning of year20 6,530,118 6,177,246 6,582,838 6,530,1184% 5%83% 8%general management9%SUPPORT AND REVENUEEXPENSESBY CATEGORYBY CATEGORYNEADS 2016 ANNUAL REPORTThe parents of a nine year old hearing impairedboy, Larry Burgess, heard of the new programand applied for a dog for their son. Larry andNugget were matched and trained together. Theybecame one of the first Hearing Dog teams.Nugget provided the ability to Larry to do thingsany adolescent dreams of, which is to become anout-going and confident teenager!NEADS has been carefully training and matchingdogs for four decades, having matched over1700 dogs with people in need. We are excited tocelebrate 40 years of training and matching WorldClass Service Dogs!fundraisinginvestment gainstraining & programs8% 13% 9% 37% 2% 14% 8%othergrantsservice dogs for veteransexpansiongeneral donationsappealsprogram incomecontributed goods & servicesNet assets, end of year2016Staff at the college began a pilot program withseveral mixed breed dogs. One of these dogs wasa young beagle mix named Nugget. She respondedvery well to the experimental training.Larry Burgess and Hearing Dog Nugget – 1977Charity Navigator has awarded NEADS a 4-star ratingfor the 14th year in a row! NEADS is 1 of only 10charities that has received this rating for 14 years!*Numbers reflectNEADS fiscal years.2015 income andexpense numbershave been adjustedto reflect NEADSpolicy effectivein 2016 to netretail expensesand special eventexpenses againstthe correspondingincome.NEADS’ Service Dogs provide life-changing independence, companionship andconnection for people with a disability. With ded
specific disposition to graduate from our program. Our dogs must be people oriented, sociable, friendly, and well-mannered. NEADS pups must also be able to work in all environments, and be able to recover from stressful situations seamlessly. To achieve this goal, we start socialization early with our puppies, beginning at eight
