Non-Profit Organization Report: Circle Tail
I chose Circle Tail as my non-profit organization. I initially chose this organization because it had to deal with dogs, and the name was interesting, but once I researched it further, I learned all the fantastic things it offers. Circle Tail's mission is to provide service and hearing dogs for people with disabilities at no cost to the individual. They train service dogs and hearing dogs that can work in pubic or just at home, they also train Diabetes alert dogs. Circle tail receives its dogs through donations from families, breeders, humane societies, county shelters, and/or rescued as strays. Its dogs are trained through an inmate program, at Ohio Reformatory for Women and Dayton Correctional Institute. This means that inmates are responsible for all of the dogs' physical and emotional needs. They help with their social development and instruct them in house manners and basic obedience. These dogs are also trained by foster families that give them experience in a normal home. Through all of this the dogs are tracked carefully.
The social issue this organization addresses is the expensive cost of service dogs. They also promote the human-canine bond in the community by providing dog training services, educational programs, and Pet First Aid classes. They give a purpose to stray dogs that they take in and give a service dog to people are not able to pay completely for it. And after reading notes from people in the inmate program, Circle Tail is also providing hope for the people in prison and giving them a chance to take care of dogs. One of my favorite quotes was “I watched a lot of hardened cons doing time for murder, robbery, etc. come out of their shells when the dogs were around. I watched them love on the dogs when they were cold as steel like I was and they would be on the yard waiting for us to bring our dogs out. ” (Notes from Inmate Handlers). This is part of a note from Victor E. Addis, who was in prison for two charges of felonious assault and applied to be part of the Circle Tail program, and says “Circle Tail helped change my life and I haven’t been back to prison. ” (Notes from Inmate Handlers).
Circle Tail is the most deserving of the Magnified Giving grant because it addresses so many issues. They help people train their pet dogs to be more obedient. They offer many different kinds of classes for pet dogs, group classes, private lessons, nosework classes, remote collar training, and as well as others. And they are constantly training service dogs for people with disabilities. They give a purpose to inmates, and they rescue dogs from shelters and the streets. Although adults with disabilities don’t make you ooh and ahh like puppies do, they are still worth attention, they have dreams and determination.
$1,000 would benefit my organization because it has to provide dogs with food every day, vaccinations, toys, and many other things. It costs $15,000 to train one service dog, and they pay for what they call a “Team Starter Tote” which include: collar with ID tag, leash, toy, assistance dog vest or harness, some grooming supplies, 6 months worth of heartworm and flea/tick control medication, 1 month supply of food, membership in the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners and more. These totes cost Circle Tail approximately $350. Any donations keep their causes going, and keeps partnering dogs with people who need them.
