Service Dogs, Inc., a nonprofit, has been transforming the lives of individuals with disabilities since its inception in 1988. Founded by attorney Sheri Soltes, the organization is dedicated to enhancing independence and quality of life through partnerships with custom-trained assistance dogs, provided free of charge to Texas clients. Unlike many service dog programs that rely on breeding, Service Dogs, Inc. adopts young adult dogs from shelters and rescue organizations, focusing on those with temperaments suited for service work. The organization is based in Dripping Springs but serves the entire state, including San Marcos. They have also adopted several dogs from the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, and Soltes said they made history this year by adopting two brothers from SMRAS for their training program. This approach not only provides a second chance for these animals but also addresses the needs of clients requiring assistance. The organization employs positive reinforcement training methodologies, ensuring that the dogs are well-prepared to support their future partners.
“We get our dogs from animal shelters throughout Texas,” Soltes said. “On average, we pull one dog from every third shelter we go to. Sometimes we'll get multiple dogs. The process starts with just a general walkthrough. We see dogs that are kind of more composed amongst the rambunctious ones. And then we take those dogs if they match our age requirements and health requirements, and then we'll cross reference behavior reports with the shelter staff. So we usually look at anywhere from one to about five dogs in a yard itself, where we then go into what their instincts are and see if it's something we can mold into service. Service dog training is a lengthy process. So the dogs that come here are very special.”
The range of services offered by Service Dogs, Inc. includes training hearing dogs for individuals with hearing loss, service dogs for those with mobility challenges, and facility dogs that assist professionals in settings such as court- houses and trauma response units. Each dog undergoes extensive training to perform tasks tailored to the specific needs of their handler, such as alerting to sounds, retrieving items or providing physical support.
