UDS Service Dogs Plans Annual Fundraiser

Based in Lancaster County, United Disabilities Services (UDS) is a nonprofit organization that is committed to helping seniors and people with disabilities lead more independent and fulfilling lives. Today, over 350 employees serve people with disabilities and the aging population in 40 counties across Pennsylvania. UDS provided services to more than 6,000 people last year alone.

Over the course of 56 years, UDS has developed a wide variety of services and programs, including accessible home modifications, care management, custom wheelchair seating, and service dogs. The second annual golf outing for the UDS Service Dogs will be held on Friday, Aug. 20, at Meadia Heights Golf Club, 402 Golf Road, Lancaster.

On Aug. 20, golfers may check in beginning at 7:30 a.m. Play will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. and will take a scramble format. Refreshments will be provided. A luncheon is set for 1:30 p.m. There will be prizes, giveaways, and a silent auction featuring a Kalahari Resort overnight stay and play package, a Troy Polamalu autographed Pittsburgh Steelers helmet, a Pittsburgh Steelers golf bag, a Darius Rucker autographed acoustic guitar, a balloon ride for two, and more.

Only a portion of the dogs that go through the training process provide mobility assistance. The others go to work as facility dogs or become pets. Several UDS Service Dogs interact with children in schools and with clients in a counseling office near Philadelphia. Currently, the organization is creating a pilot program to work with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and train dogs to assist them, and child advocacy centers are on the waiting list for support canines.

At the golf tournament, the organization will premiere a video highlighting the Pups in Prison Program. In the program, 4-month-old puppies go to maximum security prisons for training with carefully screened inmates. The program gives inmates the opportunity to give back to their communities, as well as the chance to enjoy the affection and companionship that dogs are so eager to share with their humans. The video will focus on the story of one dog raised by an inmate who was released and currently resides in Canada. The dog is now serving in a school district. The video will show viewers how the Pups in Prison Program impacted the inmate's life and the lives of those that the dog now serves.

"If you're a golfer, this a beautiful way to come out and support a worthy cause and the efforts of the UDS service dog program," said Lori Breece, manager of the Service Dog Training Program at UDS. "I've seen miracles with the power of a pup. It's quite amazing to see how life-changing a dog can be."

Preregistration is required for the golf tournament and must be completed by Friday, Aug. 13, at http://www.udservices.org/golf21. Anyone who would like to support UDS Service Dogs by sponsoring the golf outing may contact Breece at lorib@udservices.org.