Life-changing Marv Tuttle, a disabled U.S. Army veteran, with his service dog Yara.
Sleep shop chain Mattress Discounters, whose parent company Sleep Train is based in Sacramento, Calif., has partnered with Canine Companions for Independence, a national nonprofit that provides service dogs to the disabled. The retailer has launched the “Good Deed Dogs” campaign.
The first phase of the fundraiser runs through March 9 and raises awareness and funds for all of the nonprofit’s canine programs, including facility dogs–used in treatment and rehabilitation settings, service dogs and service dogs for veterans. The second phase of the fundraiser begins March 10 and is focused on awareness and fundraising for the service dog programs.
“These dogs are life-changing for a person with a disability,” said Corey Hudson, chief executive officer of Canine Companions. “The stories of the positive impact these dogs have on the lives of their human partners are astounding.”
Donations can be made at any Mattress Discounters store as well as online at www.mattressdiscountersdogs.com. Good Deed Dogs donations support training and availability of service dogs that assist those with disabilities such as spinal cord injury, deafness, multiple sclerosis, autism and cerebral palsy, as well as service dogs for disabled veterans.
This article was updated Feb. 21, 2014.
