Lions Club Supports Local Service Dog Program

Golden Paw Lions Club and many Lions Club Throughout the world are supporting our Programs that help us help the disable community. Thank you!!

Golden Paw Program

Gold patio stepping stones in the shape of a large canine paw print are now being laid at the Florida Dog Guides F.T.D training school located in Bradenton Florida. These Golden Paws form the Golden Paw Walk at the training center. The Golden Paw patio stone can be purchased for the sum of $25.00 each. The stone can be in memory of a loved one, a cherished pet, or for yourself.  Each pawprint has the name of the designated donor and the year the Golden Paw Print was purchased. Golden Paw Print Lapel pins will be awarded for each paw print ordered and may be picked up at the training school or will be mailed by request. If you would like to order a Golden-Paw print please send us an email message to the email address in our "Contact Us" web page.

Golden Paw Signers

As an extension of our sign language classes, the Golden Paw Signers present Songs in sign language. This group of hearing impaired / hearing individuals interpret songs in sign language and appear as a group to present their program to Service Organizations and entertain at community events. They also "sign to song" for children with special needs as well as other school related programs. The group can perform  such favorites as: "How much is that doggie in the window? to holiday favorites like "Rudolph the red nosed raindeer" A donation of $25.00 from Service Organizations is requested to help defray travel costs under 25 miles from Bradenton Florida. Long distance engagement requests can be made by calling or sending an e-mail to us our phone number and e-mail address is on the "Contact Us" page of our web site.

Pennies for Pooches Project

Florida Dog Guides F.T.D. Inc. Pennies For Pooches program was established in 1997 to encourage school childeren to save and then donate their pennies towards the training of a Hearing Dog Guide. Soon, other groups like the Lions clubs and Good Sams camping clubs began collecting pennies for Donation to Florida Dog Guides F.T.D. Inc.
The Pennies collected from the Pennies For Pooches Project canisters have totally funded the training program for several Hearing Dog Guides in the state of Florida. Pennies make the dollars and Florida Dog Guides F.T.D. Inc. plans to continue with the Pennies for Pooches program as more groups request collection canisters. We would like to thank each and everyone who collects pennies for this program.

Service Dog Program Serving Florida & Grand Bahama

   Welcome to the Florida Dog Guides F.T.D.

      Florida Dog Guides  F.T.D. Inc.       

Our program trains Hearing, Service, and Specialty Dogs for Florida's Deaf, 
Legally Deaf and Physically Challenged Residents .

"We are an in-home training program and we train the deaf, legally deaf and physically challenged person how to train their own dog."
 - Arlene Dickinson -

The Florida Dog Guides F.T.D. was founded in 1984 by the deaf community in Manatee County, Florida. Fifteen hearing challenged people with their dogs and a Basic Obedience Instructor, with sign language skills, developed much of the program as it stands today.

The organization’s “In The home Training Concept” is recognized at the International level as innovative and successful, and has led to other training programs using the same training techniques.

In 1999, the program purchased a four-acre horse farm in Manatee County. The location was converted to an Assistance Dog Training School. The school, located in Bradenton, Florida, is the state headquarters for Florida Dog Guides F.T.D. Inc.

The site includes an outdoor training course that introduces teams-in-training to stair-steps, moving platforms, and the like. It also provides a safe, fenced-in “rein” area for the animals, Dog park and Lions Club home-base of the Bradenton East Golden Paw Lions Club.

Florida Dog Guides F.T.D. is a non-profit training school designed to assist Florida residents with:

• Hearing Loss: Hearing Dog Guides

• D.A.V.I.D.'s Program

• Therapeutic Certification ( for in-facility rehab use) 

• Mobility Loss: Service and Support Dogs

• Therapy Dogs: Hospital and care giving facilities certified

• Specialty Dogs: Multiple Disabilities

Service Dogs Help Abuse Victims in the Disabled Community

Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse are on so many peoples minds right now. 

Being a domestic violence survivor myself it I had not thought until recently just how my situation could have been if I could not see, walk or hear.

How does a person protect themselves , save themselves or try to escape from an abuser. Society has learned the cycle of abuse, and that abuse is not only violent, but emotional, sexual, financial and also isolation.

How isolated are you already when you can't hear, see, or walk. If you rely on your spouse for help to shop, drive, go to church, walk you dog, and lead a normal life. Think of the many ways that people with disabilities live on their own.

People with disabilities have found ways to be more independent in the last 30yrs. They have adaptive equipment, computers that speak and listen, smart phones, and service dogs.

Abusers are now able to restrict a disabled persons independence by "disciplining" the abused spouse.
If you "lose" a smart phone or the pc is unplugged or broken, your ability to call for help is gone.
If your service dog is chained outside, muzzled or worse killed, you have now way to get help, leave or run for your life.
Research shows us that leaving an abuser is the leading cause of death related to domestic violence, because in order to safely leave an abuser, you must have a solid safety plan. A safe way to leave.

If your safety plan requires your smartphone to call for help or your service dog to lead you to a safe place what can you do? As a compassionate society we need to help men and women in these situations.
The fist thing to do, is to educate yourself to the warning signs of abuse of disabled people.

Adult abuse is expected to increase

Each year more than 20,000 calls of concern come in and we investigate more than 12,000 complaints of adult abuse and self-neglect. In 2010, 13 percent of Oregon's population was 65 or older. In 2030, 20 percent will be 65 or older. 

Indicators of Physical Abuse

• Cuts, lacerations, punctures, wounds.
• Bruises, welts, discolorations, grip marks.
• Any unexplained injury that doesn't fit with the given explanation of the injury.
• Any injury incompatible with the person's history of unexplained injuries.
• Any injury which has not been properly cared for (sometimes injuries are hidden on areas of the body normally covered by clothing).
• Poor skin condition or poor skin hygiene.
• Dehydration and/or malnourished without illness-related cause.
• Unexplained loss of weight.
• Burns, possibly caused by cigarettes, caustics, acids or friction from ropes or chains.

Indicators of Verbal or Emotional Abuse

• Being emotionally upset or agitated;
• Being extremely withdrawn and non communicative or non responsive;
• Unusual behavior usually attributed to dementia e.g., sucking, biting, rocking); and
• An elder's report of being verbally or emotionally mistreated.

Indicators that may be warning signs of sexual abuse

• Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding.
• Torn or bloody underwear.
• Bruised breasts.
• Venereal diseases or vaginal infections.
• Sudden changes in the emotional or psychological state of the person.

If you believe an older adult or an adult with physical disability is being subjected to physical abuse, contact your local DHS or AAA office. If you believe an assault or crime has been committed, call your local law enforcement. If an injury needs medical attention, get immediate medical help or call 911.