Service Dog in Training Hero Dogs Derby masks up 
Service Dog in Training Hero Dogs Derby winks at the camera
Hero Dogs Derby visits Fort Detrick!
In addition to the outings the Advanced Training dogs go on with staff trainers, a long time Hero Dogs volunteer and trained dog handler, Marc, will occasionally bring one of the dogs at the kennel with him to work at the Department of Homeland Security at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland. Today, Marc brought service dog in training Hero Dogs Derby along and wrote about their day:
Today was Derby Day at Fort Detrick. She is one amazing pup and must have had an amazing puppy raiser. š While it must have been awful boring for her to listen to a day full of virtual meetings, she kept her āplaceā most of the day. She was so quiet, you wouldnāt know she was here. And she was focused on me the entire day. Wouldnāt take her attention and gaze off me. She was very happy to see the cleaning crew, as they were her. She was interested in our silly masks, so I sized an N95 on her. Couldnāt figure out where to put the straps. She loved to demonstrate opening and closing one of the office cabinets, over and over and over again. Mostly on her own. š Derby demonstrated her skills to the two staff that were here today, one a former K9 officer and another a PhD research scientist from another government agency. He wished his Golden was as talented. In my humble opinion, Derby will make an excellent Hero Dog, although Iād like to keep her for myself!
– Marc C., volunteer dog handler
Alas, Marc can’t keep Hero Dogs Derby for himself, but you may be able to partner with her or another one of our service dogs in training! If you are interested in applying for a service dog, or know someone who is, check out this page for more information on eligibility and the application process.
