The holiday season is a time to come together, reflect with gratitude, and support causes that make a real difference in people’s lives. At Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, every contribution—whether big or small—helps us pair highly trained service dogs with the individuals who need them most.
If you’re looking for meaningful ways to give back this year, here are several ways to make an impact.
Become a Monthly Donor: Join the Paw Prints Club
Monthly giving through our Paw Prints Club is one of the most powerful ways to support our mission. Consistent contributions help us plan for the future, provide ongoing care and training for our dogs, and ensure that more deserving recipients are matched each year. Even a modest monthly gift adds up to life-changing support.
Members receive exclusive updates and stories that show the difference their generosity creates. To learn more or become a part of this special group, visit the Paw Prints Club page.
Sponsor an Apprentice, a Service Dog, a Team, or Essential Items
Apprenticeship Sponsorship – $80,000
Support the next generation of expert service dog trainers through our accredited 2.5-year Master Service Dog Trainer Apprenticeship Program.
What your gift supports: Tuition, training, and hands-on education.
Benefits: Your logo on diplomas, name/logo on our website for up to 2.5 years, social media mentions, and a private meet-and-greet with apprentices.
You may also choose to sponsor part of an apprenticeship.
Full Team Sponsorship – $37,000
Change two lives at once by supporting both a future service dog and their recipient.
What your gift supports: Housing, food, veterinary care, individualized training, and the full cost of bringing the recipient to our campus for pairing.
Benefits: Name a service dog, receive quarterly pupdates, a commemorative plaque, and your name/logo on our website for two years.
Service Dog Sponsorship – $27,000
Provide up to two years of care and training for a future service dog.
Benefits: Name a dog, receive quarterly pupdates, and a plaque once the dog is paired.
Rescue Dog Sponsorship – $27,000
Help us save two lives by sponsoring the intake and full training of a rescued future service dog.
Benefits: Name a dog, quarterly pupdates, and a plaque once paired.
Recipient Sponsorship – $10,000
Support a recipient’s 10-day training and pairing experience, including travel, lodging, ongoing training, and access to veterinary staff.
Veterinary Care Sponsorship – $20,000+
Join a group of dedicated sponsors working together to fund our $180,000 annual veterinary care program. Your gift helps ensure that recipients living on a disability income never have to choose between healthcare and their service dog’s well-being. Donations are pooled and paid directly to veterinary clinics for approved medical care and preventative treatments.
Every Gift Makes a Difference
If you prefer to give in smaller amounts, there are many ways to contribute:
- $2,500 – Facility maintenance
- $1,000 – One year of veterinary care
- $700 – Two weeks of training
- $500 – Six months of kennel supplies
- $100 – Microchip, vest, and ID
- $50 – Two weeks of veterinary care supplies
- $25 – One week of food for a service dog in training
- $10 – ID tags for one dog
We also have an Amazon wishlist filled with the supplies we always need for our service dogs. Visit here to see the full wishlist.
Consider Legacy Giving and Bequests
For those who wish to leave a lasting mark, legacy giving provides a meaningful way to carry forward your support for years to come. By including Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs in your will, trust, or estate plan, you help ensure future generations of recipients receive the life-changing assistance they deserve.
Explore Corporate Partnerships
Businesses seeking to make a positive impact can get involved through sponsorships, fundraising events, employee giving programs, and other initiatives. Corporate partnerships not only provide vital funding but also unite teams around a shared mission of helping others.
Volunteer and Share Your Time
You don’t have to give financially to make a meaningful impact. Volunteers play an essential role—from assisting at events to helping spread awareness within the community. Your time, skills, and energy help us reach more people and grow our mission.
Get into the Spirit of Giving. Donate to Guardian Angels Today!
No matter how you choose to give, your support helps transform lives. This holiday season, we invite you to be part of a mission built on hope, independence, and the healing power of service dogs.
Questions about donations or volunteering? Contact us today!
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs is proud to announce that it has received a generous $60,000 donation to its Recipient Veterinary Relief Fund from long-time donor and friend of the organization, Karen Hilburn. This plan covers the costs of all medical care for service dogs at no cost to the 89 recipients it currently serves and is projected to cost close to $175,000 annually. (more…)
June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. This month and every month, we at Guardian Angels are committed to fighting the stigma around PTSD and providing our unwavering help and support to all those battling this invisible disability. (more…)
In last month’s newsletter, we explored two of the most simple and powerful ways to create a legacy of support for Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs: Wills & Trusts and Beneficiary Designations in our article titled “Celebrate National Legacy Day: Leave a Lifesaving Legacy with Guardian Angels Medical Service Dog.” If you missed that article, you can read it here.
Based upon the overwhelmingly positive response to last month’s article and the number of inquiries we received, we wanted to further expand on Legacy Giving, and how you can incorporate it into your legacy plans.
In this article, we will discuss two commonly held financial tools that fall under the Beneficiary Designation category. These options may already be part of your financial life, and with just a few simple steps, you can create a lasting impact and save lives for generations.
Bank Accounts, Investments, Stock, and CDs: A Legacy Within Reach
Many donors are pleasantly surprised to discover they already own financial tools that can easily become powerful instruments of generosity.
Everyday financial accounts such as checking and savings accounts, investment portfolios (including stock), and Certificates of Deposit (CDs) can effortlessly be transformed into meaningful legacies. By naming Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs as a beneficiary, you can transform your ordinary financial assets into an extraordinary, life-saving gift that can help many for years to come.
How to Set It Up:
Step 1
Contact your financial institution or account administrator and request a simple “Change of Beneficiary” form, also known as a Payable-on-Death (POD) or Transfer-on-Death (TOD) form.
Step 2
Complete the form, designating Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs as either a partial or sole beneficiary (choose any percentage you desire).
Step 3
Notify us once you’ve made your heartfelt choice. We’d be honored to acknowledge your generosity and celebrate your commitment to changing lives.
Taking these easy steps ensures your generosity continues to save lives far beyond your lifetime.
Life Insurance: Create Your Life-Saving Legacy
Using life insurance as part of your legacy planning is a straightforward yet profoundly impactful way to support Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. Whether you currently hold a life insurance policy or are considering obtaining one, designating Guardian Angels as a beneficiary transforms your policy into a powerful tool for saving lives.
This meaningful action delivers lasting hope, freedom, and independence to veterans, first responders, and other heroes we proudly serve.
If You Already Have a Policy:
- Request a “Change of Beneficiary” form from your insurer.
- Name Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs as your full or partial beneficiary (any percentage from 1% to 100%).
- Submit the completed form to finalize your legacy gift.
This process is simple and is typically completed within minutes.
If You’re Considering a New Policy or Don’t Have Life Insurance Yet:
- Obtain a new policy through your insurance agent or provider, designating Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs as your beneficiary from inception.
- Many affordable life insurance options are available, making legacy giving accessible to virtually every donor.
Whichever path you choose, your generosity ensures our mission continues, leaving a meaningful legacy that reverberates far beyond your lifetime.
Why Consider Legacy Giving?
Legacy gifts allow you to continue supporting the causes you care about without impacting your current finances. They are easy to set up, flexible, and allow your generosity to carry on well into the future.
Your Legacy. Their Lifeline.
By naming Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs in your financial plans, you’re helping provide independence, support, and hope to those in need. If you’ve already taken this step, we thank you. If you’re considering it, we’re here to help.
Please reach out to Chris Weber with any questions or to let us know about your plans by email Cweber@medicalservicedogs.org or call (248) 904-0579.
We would be honored to recognize your commitment to our mission.
We’re proud to announce that Guardian Angel Medical Service Dogs (GAMSD) has earned the 2025 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid, the world’s largest source of nonprofit information. This prestigious designation represents the highest level of recognition offered by Candid (formerly known as GuideStar).
We are honored to announce that Medal of Honor recipient and author Kyle Carpenter will speak with Guardian Angels supporters this May at our anniversary event in Pittsburgh. The Medal of Honor is our country’s highest military honor, and we invite you to join us on May 17th in Pittsburgh to meet Kyle and hear his inspiring story of heroism and resilience. (more…)
As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, we are grateful for your support, honored to help our recipients, and humbled by our service dogs’ life-changing impact. (more…)
On Monday, September 9th, Pirates fans have an extraordinary opportunity to cheer on their favorite team, meet Slugger the Team Dog, and contribute to a great cause. We invite you to join us at PNC Park as the Pirates take on the Marlins for a special event—Night at the Pirates Fundraiser, celebrating Military Monday and supporting the remarkable work of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. (more…)
In a touching and exciting collaboration, Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs and the Pittsburgh Pirates have come together to introduce the newest member of the Pirates family—Slugger, the team dog. Selected by fans from a lineup of names including Bandit, Homer, and Rookie, Slugger now carries a legacy of community choice and support.
(more…)
Our dogs are an important part of our lives. Whether they are a pet or a service dog, keeping them at a healthy weight is crucial for a long and happy life. When it comes to a dog being overweight, there are a wide variety of risks that rise in numbers and severity with increasing weight to the point that pet obesity is now categorized as a disease in companion animals as it is in humans. (more…)
On Friday, November 10th, Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs broke ground on the Pennsylvania Campus, a multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art center for raising, training, and donating service dogs for veterans and first responders in Robinson Township, Washington County. (more…)
With perfect weather and outstanding community support, the 2023 Community Mutt Strutt was a fantastic success and the best one since we began the event seven years ago! It was a beautiful day on the Great Lawn at the North Shore, filled with generous community support, live music, and loads of fun for all. (more…)
…from Pirates Pup to Super Service Dog
In 2021, the Pittsburgh Pirates and PNC teamed up to sponsor the training of a medical service dog for a veteran in need. The Pirates became the first professional baseball organization to team up with Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs for this cause.
In a public social media contest, Pirates fans worldwide chose the name Bucco for this all-black German Shepherd puppy, destined to change a life forever.
Since that time, little Bucco has worked really hard, training everyday with the trainers at Guardian Angels. He’s learned all the basic commands, like sit, stay, and heel plus a myriad of special skills that normal dogs don’t do, such as being trained as a scent detection dog to alert of chemical changes within his recipients’ body, that may cause a negative medical impact, allowing the recipient to take corrective action prior to any health episode.
He’s also worked really hard to keep up with his Bucco fans, and is quite the social media Supaw-star, with over 3,000 followers on Twitter and nearly 2,000 fans on Instagram! Last week, he made several appearances at PNC Park to watch his teammates play and win.
Bucco’s made several lasting memories with his Pirates’ team and fans. Here are a few of his special moments:
Visiting the field with his Dad on Father’s Day
Hanging out with Pirates Legend, Manny Sanguillen
Holding his very own Paw-ress Conference
Visiting one of PNC’s Grow Up Great centers with the Parrot & Pirates players
and, of course, meeting all the fans!
Here’s a little secret that few people know – Bucco’s very best friend is the Pirate Parrot! These two were best buds from the start and we’re sure they’ll keep in touch.
The best news is that Bucco has completed his training, passed all his classes, and has just met his person. While Bucco is a little bummed about leaving his teammates and retiring his No.1 jersey, he is excited to fulfill his mission in life, ensuring that his recipient is well taken care of! Although Bucco has had a very friendly and public training period, it’s important for people to remember that, once he’s paired with his new person, people should no longer approach or interact with him, unless given explicit permission by his new handler, so that his full focus can remain on his recipient.
Bucco will have a rockstar sendoff from his baseball career as he is paired on the field with his new teammate for life, David, on September 4th at PNC Park. David was an Army medic assigned to the First Infantry during Vietnam and has struggled for years. We know that Bucco is going to be the difference in beginning a beautiful #NewNormal for David.
Please join us in congratulating the Pirates, Bucco and David!
Whether you have a service dog or a pet, their health and well-being are always at the heart of what you do. From feeding a healthy diet to ensuring they get enough exercise, we all make efforts to care for our service dogs or pets each day to ensure a long and happy life.
Service dogs can provide a wide range of support for people with PTSD. This condition impacts portions of the brain that regulate emotions and fear responses. It is characterized by high anxiety, panic attacks, brittle emotions, debilitating triggers, and re-experiencing traumatic events through flashbacks and/or night terrors. It is common in veterans and first responders but can be experienced by anyone who has suffered through a traumatic event or series of traumatic events. Symptoms of PTSD frequently lead to isolation and serious depression. (more…)
