Animal Farm Foundation Fighting For Dog Owner Rights

Animal Farm Foundation is a nonprofit organization that brings dogs and people together to end discrimination. As a 501(c)3, the organization creates positive change for dogs, people and communities through its service dog program, PAWS prison initiative and K9 detection dog training funding. The organization also works to provide lawmakers with the information they need to create non-discriminatory laws and policies. 

Animal Farm Foundation’s service dog program takes a revolutionary approach to changing the lives of people and dogs. The dogs that are selected by AFF for training are labeled “pit bulls’ by the shelters and rescue organizations. This is a marked contrast with the pure-bred, purpose bred dogs that are usually trained for service roles. Through this approach, AFF debunks negative stereotypes and reduces discrimination against both dogs and people. 

“We are essentially turning the paradigm of traditional service dog training on its head,” says Stacey Coleman. “And the impact is bigger than we can imagine.”

Another major difference is the financial accessibility and equality that Animal Farm Foundation offers. While service dogs can be very expensive and therefore unattainable for many people, AFF provides the trained dogs free of charge. This significantly reduces discrimination against individuals by giving them the access and freedom that service dogs offer, while decreasing the number of dogs in shelters—a positive ripple effect with far-reaching impact. 

“Seeing these dogs do the work of traditionally looking pure-bred dogs is changing the minds of everyone in their communities,” Coleman comments.

Animal Farm Foundation carefully matches the needs of individuals with the dogs in their care. Each dog can do a different job and each handler has distinctive needs. AFF provides all the initial training for the dog and handler—also provides continuous training as needs evolve—a major contribution to the essential well-being of the dogs and people they help.