rainbowsvcdogs
rainbowsvcdogs
| Forum role | Member since | Last activity | Topics created | Replies created |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Sep 9, 2018 (8 years) |
- | 1 | 0 |
- Forum role
- Member
- Member since
Sep 9, 2018 (8 years)
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Bio
Kelley Fecteau is the program director of Rainbow Service Dogs. She began working with animals as a young teen in her parents pet store. She trained new owners on proper care for the dogs, and health information. In addition, she matched animal owners with breeds best suited to their life style. This included parrots, dogs, cats, and reptiles. Kelley began training service dogs as an apprentice, at a local service dog training center in her home state of Massachusetts in 1995. She completed a total of 6 years working with and for the agency finally receiving her certification.
Due to her own medical needs, Kelley acquired her first service dog, a red nose pit through one of the local shelters in Springfield, MA. and did her own training in the apprentice program. In 2002, Kelley adopted Hildie, who became the first Rainbow Service Dog. She’s the Mastiff pictured on the logo for the company. Hildie received several medals for heroism and participated in saving lives and rescues.
In 2005, Kelley moved to Arizona. She looked into various programs because she wanted to continue Hildie’s socialization. Hildie graduated with her certification but Kelley wanted to further train her for needs that developed. Eventually, Kelley created Rainbow Service Dogs. Her concept was to train people to train their own service service dog. She believed the best way to make the training effective, would be for those who were further along in the the training to become peer support trainers for newer members. This also defrayed the cost for those who were lower income.
Initially, Kelley wanted to help the homeless, veterans, children, seniors, and low income individuals. Her work has expanded into working with children with autism as well other psychiatric issues. She’s gone to great lengths to that end. She’s worked tirelessly for fundraising to help others who had a great need. She wanted the program to be unique in that it would address not only the physical and social training of the animal and their handlers, but to include education on safety needs, potential dangers such as food toxins, awareness of certain bacterial, fungal, and diseases that dogs are prone to, and how to recognize them. In addition, she wanted to impart knowledge of rules and ettiequte for service animals in the community, as well as federal and state service dog laws. Initially, trainings were done at the malls, and local parks.
Eventually, Kelley established herself as a mobile trainer and began to go to peoples homes to do the work. The program includes 120+ hours of physical and social training of the dog and handler, 40+ hours of community outings, and 40+ hours of education as stated above. The program has expanded to networking with the pima county animal shelter, with local rescues, and various service dog agencies and local trainers, She’s presented educational talks at local schools, church groups, and boy scout troops. Her presentations include service dog protocols, procedures, requirements and awareness about why people require service dogs.
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