Our Founder ~ Denise CoStanten
A Message from Denise to You
Reflecting on my time at Brigadoon, I am very proud of the work I have done and people I have helped. Over 130 human dog partnerships graduated, many of those partnerships were veterans, and I started 4 prison programs.
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Brigadoon gave me purpose and has been my entire life for the past 18 years. It was personal, passionate, emotional, and tied to my heart. Now it is time for me to discover a new adventure.
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I appreciate all the support you have given me over the years, and your financial support to Brigadoon. It has been a pleasure knowing you. I am fortunate to have formed friendships along the way.
Photo: Denise receiving the Volunteer of the Year Golden Tennis Shoe from Senator Patty Murray.
Denise CoStanten
Founder & Past Executive Director
Started Brigadoon May 2004 ~ Retired Dec 2022
Since Brigadoon secured its non-profit status, each year, on average, we have twenty-six service dogs in one of three training phases. Thanks to our wonderful donors, staff and an army of volunteers, we have:
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~ set up a training facility and animal housing facility approved by Assistance Dog International (ADI),
~ trained and successfully placed over 100 service dogs meeting ADI requirements,
~ established Brigadoon’s Prison Program, a service dog training program with select inmates at four correction facilities, three of which contain Veteran Pods focused specifically on incarcerated Veterans and,
~ developed Brigadoon's Canines & Heroes for Independence (CHI), a program specifically created to match Veterans who suffer with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or mobility issues with highly trained service dogs.
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(December 2022)