Paige and Copper: Officially a Placed Team

We are happy to announce that Paige, Erica, and Copper passed their Public Access Test and are officially a placed team!

At Retrieving Freedom, every Service Dog spends a minimum of two years in training, preparing for the moment they meet their partner. For Copper, that moment came after a week of hard work with Paige and Erica, and we could not be prouder of all three of them for everything they accomplished together.

Paige is so excited for Copper to welcome her when she gets off the bus from school. She loves that he is so "wrinkly," and her favorite thing to do with him right now is go on car rides, where he falls asleep right on her. It is the kind of everyday companionship that makes these partnerships so special.

Copper is now home with them in North Carolina, and we received an update that he did wonderfully in the airport and on the plane. From busy terminals to a new home, Copper has taken every step in stride, exactly what his years of training prepared him for.

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These three are quite the team, and they are going to work so well together.

A big shout out goes to Copper's puppy raisers, who gave him his foundation, and to Service Dog Instructor Kirby, who worked so hard to finish such an amazing dog. The work they did is a testimony to how hard everyone at Retrieving Freedom works to make these placements happen.

Every Service Dog for children with autism is placed at no cost to the family, made possible by the generosity of our donors, volunteers, puppy raisers, and sponsors.

Placements like this one belong to everyone who had a hand in Copper's journey.

Paige and Copper's story is just beginning, and we cannot wait to see this team grow.

Stories like this one are only possible because of people like you. Donate now and help us write the next one.