At Company Distilling, we believe in the power of community and the difference it makes when people come together to support one another. This August, we are honored to announce that The Service Dog Institute has been selected as a recipient of our Gather Around Giving Grant.

About The Service Dog Institute

Founded in 2009 by families with differently-abled children in Greenville, South Carolina, The Service Dog Institute (TSDI) was born from firsthand experience – parents who knew the daily joys and struggles of raising a child with special needs, and who saw the profound difference a service dog could make. What began as a mission to serve children expanded in 2013, when TSDI was approached to train a service dog for a young woman and stepped up to the challenge; today, they place dogs with children ages 5-18 and adults with special needs alike. Rather than generically training their dogs, TSDI listens closely to what each family actually needs and customizes the match accordingly – a philosophy they call “The Service Dog Institute Difference.”

Programs Offered

  • Mobility/Balance Assistance Dogs: Trained to assist with mobility limitations or unsafe movement, these dogs can also retrieve objects, open doors, and provide physical support and stability for their partner throughout the day.
  • Multi-Purpose Service Dogs: Specially trained to perform a wide range of tasks tailored to each individual’s unique needs, these dogs are equipped for public access and equipped to handle the specific challenges their partner faces.
  • Companion Dogs: With a calm, dependable, and affectionate demeanor, these dogs provide steady company to someone who may need a friend, offering comfort without the same level of task-based training.
  • Therapy/Facility Dogs: Working alongside a trained volunteer or professional in one or more locations, these dogs are trained to bring comfort and connection to the people and communities they serve.

Impact

Since 2009, The Service Dog Institute has grown from a small group of determined families into an organization that has placed custom-trained service dogs with children, adults, and their families across the region. Every dog is matched, trained, and supported with the same personal attention the founders once sought for their own children – a reminder that behind every partnership is a story of independence regained and a family made whole.

How You Can Support The Service Dog Institute

Your support helps TSDI continue matching families with life-changing service dogs. Here’s how you can help:

  • Donate: Financial donations help cover the significant cost of raising and training a service dog, whether given generally or earmarked for a specific dog’s journey.
  • Become a Foster Parent: TSDI is always in need of volunteer puppy raisers – families who can provide a safe home with plenty of supervision, socialization, and love as puppies grow into future service dogs.
  • Donate Your Time: Experienced or in-training designers, copywriters, marketers, photographers, filmmakers, and fundraisers are needed to help raise awareness of TSDI’s mission.
  • Purchase Some Coffee: Every bag counts — shop TSDI’s “Ricky Roast” coffee, available in classic bags or K-cups, with proceeds supporting the organization.
  • Spread the Word: Follow The Service Dog Institute on Facebook and share their mission within your networks. Awareness leads to volunteers, donors, and the partnerships that make this work possible.

Join Us in Making a Difference

At Company Distilling, our Gather Around Giving program empowers communities by supporting organizations like The Service Dog Institute. We invite you to join us in this mission. By supporting TSDI, you help give children, adults, and their families the confidence, comfort, and independence a service dog partnership provides.

Visit The Service Dog Institute’s website to learn more about how you can get involved. Together, we can help more families experience the life-changing gift of a service dog.

Company Distilling’s Gather Around Giving program supports nonprofits that create positive change in their communities. To learn more about our initiatives and how you can participate, visit our Gather Around Giving page.