Stories

Highlights from service dog teams, volunteers, and dogs in training.

Pat, an older white woman with short gray hair and wearing glasses, is sitting and holding the leash of Benjamin, a black lab who is laying down next to Pat.

Volunteer Spotlight: Catching Up with Pat Holmes

Pat shares a bit about what it's like to be a puppy raiser, both the happy and the sad.

Brigadoon Staff

Feb 281 min read

Six men with yellow vests on stand in the background, 5 of them are holding leashes to the 5 dogs who are each sitting or laying in the foreground.

Transforming Lives on Both Ends of the Leash

Brigadoon’s prison programs at WCC, Stafford Creek, and Coyote Ridge pair incarcerated handlers—including 25+ veterans—with service dogs in training. Handlers teach core skills while building patience, pride, and purpose. In 2025, over 40 handlers participated, gaining meaningful connections while preparing dogs for future placement. As participant Carl B. shared, the program teaches that kindness gets the best results and connects participants to a larger community.

Brigadoon Staff

Feb 282 min read

A golden retriever stands in a field, looking at the camera and wearing a navy blue Brigadoon service dog in training vest.

Catching Up with the Brigadoon Pups

2025 was a huge year for training and placing life-changing service dogs! Here are a few updates on where our pups and newly graduated teams are now.

Brigadoon Staff

Feb 282 min read