My name is Tom Abraham, I am a former volunteer Fire Fighter in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada.
I started this organization not by choice but rather by chance. My primary passion has always been dogs, Service Dogs – in specific, German Shepherds for Military/Law Enforcement purposes.
About 10 years ago I approached an individual who attended the same church as me, he was working at a Youth Detention facility at the time. My hope was to place one of my trained dogs there as a part of their security measures, he happened to be the ‘Chaplain’ at that particular facility. My plan was to show the jail how a K9 could be advantageous to their system. I was to do this by way of a ‘Dog Demonstration.’ To make a long story short, I was granted permission to do so with only one stipulation at hand which was to include a positive message to the youth who were there and incarcerated at the time.
Dog in hand I was off to my very first “Dog Demonstration”. The demo involved disciplines such as scent work, tactical obedience and of course some bite work which involved one of the prison staff members wearing a protective arm and getting bit by my German shepherd dog! This of course was very well received by the incarcerated youth who were now in a roar of cheers and applauding. Following the demonstration the youth had many well thought out questions for me in regards to Service dogs and their training. I answered their questions with enthusiasm recognizing their keen interest in the working dog aspect.
On the drive home that day my thoughts were running deep, something had changed inside of me, and I guess the best way to describe it would be to say that I knew I had found my ‘Calling’ for my life.
A couple of days later I followed up with a phone call to the institution in regards to the purchase of my dog. Though the response was not what I had hoped for, due to budgeting restraints, the facilities request was not one I had expected either. Apparently my dog and I had made such a connection with the youth that the staff were wondering if I was able to go back to the prison and mentor to the youth with the use of a K9.
From that point I was referred to two other youth detention facilities to mentor to Youth through what was now being referred to as ‘The Dog Program’ where incarcerated youth were mentored to, cared for and obtained high school credits from my program. All of this was done absolutely free of charge voluntarily for the duration of approximately 1.5 years. Fast forward seven years later we are still doing what we do with youth through school programs, probation office, Family Children Services, group homes and other institutions as well as agencies.
My passion and commitment remain the same to bring youth hope through the reality of Dogs and their true to life training.