Retrieving Freedom Featured on American Dream TV: Turning Puppies into Lifelines

Retrieving Freedom
Oct 15
3 min read

Retrieving Freedom, Inc. recently took center stage on American Dream TV, as host Cindy Curd visited the Sedalia, Missouri campus to learn how this life-changing organization trains Service Dogs for Veterans with disabilities and children with autism.

From the moment Cindy arrived, she was greeted by wagging tails, heartfelt stories, and a mission that reaches far beyond the kennels.

Freedom Through Retrievers

CEO Brandon Butler shared how the organization began with a simple yet powerful idea.

“Retrieving Freedom is a Service Dog organization that provides Service Dogs for free to Veterans with disabilities and children with autism,” he explained. “We provide freedom through retrievers.”

Founded over a decade ago in Waverly, Iowa, Retrieving Freedom grew through the generosity of supporters like Robert and Barbara Hayden, whose passion for both dogs and people led to the creation of the Sedalia campus. Today, Veterans and families come to the peaceful facility, surrounded by nature and free from the triggers of daily life, to train alongside their new Service Dogs.

“When you’re out here, you’re not hearing sirens or anything that may trigger someone living with PTSD,” Butler said. “It’s a serene experience for our clients and families.”

A Two-Year Journey from Puppy to Partner

The feature continued with Katie, Retrieving Freedom’s Director of Training, who explained how each dog progresses through three key training stages.

Stage 1 – Foster Puppy Program: Volunteer foster families open their homes to puppies during their first year, helping them socialize, learn house manners, and build confidence.
Stage 2 – Impact Programs: College and inmate handlers work hands-on with the dogs, strengthening their obedience and expanding their experiences in public environments.
Stage 3 – Advanced Training: The dogs enter intensive, specialized training at the Sedalia or Waverly facilities. Here, professional trainers evaluate each dog’s strengths, prepare them for their specific client, and eventually guide the client through the process of working with their new Service Dog.

“It takes about two years for a puppy to become a fully trained Service Dog,” Katie said. “And we can always use volunteer foster raisers to help make that possible.”

Raising 60 Puppies — and Counting

Next, Cindy met Bobbi, Retrieving Freedom’s Breeding Coordinator and Apprentice Trainer, who shared exciting news: the team is expecting around 60 puppies this year.

“Hopefully, the majority will come from our in-house breeding program,” she said. “But we also work with other organizations. We stagger the litters throughout the year — and families can apply online to become fosters.”

Interested volunteers can visit https://www.retrievingfreedom.org/puppy-raiser and apply to join the growing community of puppy raisers who help transform lives.

From Puppy to Purpose

The episode closed with Cindy meeting Xander, a soon-to-be Service Dog preparing to be placed with a Veteran family. “They turn little puppies into great Service Dogs,” Cindy said, smiling at the loyal retriever beside her.

As Xander wagged his tail, one thing became clear, Retrieving Freedom isn’t just training dogs; they’re building bridges of independence, hope, and healing for the people who need it most.

Watch the full feature on YouTube: