Supporting Partners

As Snitker Goldens has continued to grow, we've met some incredible individuals and organizations. Hearing their stories and watching them impact others inspires us - as we hope it inspires you. 

We've committed to supporting several organizations with puppies from our program, structuring our imprinting program to prepare these pups for their important work ahead. And while we enjoy being a part of the process, it is the people behind these organizations who are the true heroes.

​Thank you to Puppy Jake, Retrieving Freedom, and Lutheran Christian Charities for allowing us to support your work. To see other individuals and groups who are serving with their Snitker Golden Retrievers, please visit The Therapy Club. 

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Puppy Jake
​Des Moines, Iowa

"Puppy Jake Foundation is dedicated to helping military veterans through the assistance of well bred, socialized and professionally trained service dogs. We are proud to select, train and place only the best-performing dogs with these deserving men and women."    - Puppy Jake

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Puppy Jake is located in Des Moines, Iowa - just a stone's throw from Waukon, Iowa where we are located. Like many, we've had close family members serve in the Armed Forces, so the work that Puppy Jake does is near and dear to us. 

Matt Hodges' story is not unlike many others who have served our country.  For Matt and others like him, Puppy Jake provides service dogs at no cost to the veteran. Puppy Jake, on the other hand, spends $18,000-$20,000 from birth to placement on each service dog. Learn more or donate to Puppy Jake. 

Retrieving Freedom
​Waverly, Iowa & Sedalia, Missouri

Retrieving Freedom has two facilities located in Waverly, Iowa and Sedalia, Missouri. The dedicated people behind Retrieving Freedom are responsible for training service dogs to help both veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and those recovering from injury. They're equally as passionate about children living with autism and work to provide them with service dogs as well. 

"No child is impacted by autism in the same way. Retrieving Freedom trains service dogs who are matched to meet the needs of a specific child. Not only does this help the child excel, but it can reduce lifelong costs associated with the child’s care." - Retrieving Freedom  Learn more or donate to Retrieving Freedom. 

Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry
​Northbrook, Illinois

"Launched in August 2008, the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is a national human-care ministry embracing the unique, calming nature and skills of purebred Golden Retrievers. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs are working animals, trained to interact with people of all ages and circumstances who are suffering and in need. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs serve every day in the community in which they are placed and are dispatched in times of disaster and crisis to bring comfort to all those affected, including first responders and the volunteers who serve them."    - Lutheran Christian Charities

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LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs in Parkland, Florida, ready to comfort students returning to school.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs have been around the U.S. comforting victims in some of the most devastating situations since 2008. 

​They also have a section of their website where you can meet the Golden Retrievers who are currently serving and training! To see where they're working currently, LCC provides updated news on their comfort dogs and handlers. 
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Learn more or donate to Lutheran Christian Charities K-9 Ministries.

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Past Organizations

Veterans Moving Forward
​Dulles, Virginia 

Veterans Moving Forward (VMF) was the first service organization that Snitker Goldens partnered with and our program is the richer for these experiences. The first Snitker Golden to ever serve a veteran was Prince, a Silas/Ina son. Though others have followed, Prince holds a special place in our hearts because it was his journey that led us to VMF, Puppy Jake, and Lutheran Christian Charities. 

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Copyright © Jasmine Cen & Yunfei Zhao in association with Veterans Moving Forward.
​This video has been used with permission and may not be copied or used in any way.

Prince is currently serving his veteran in the greater D.C. area. He and Maureen have entertained at the White House as well as other venues and enjoy their comedy acts together. 

Not only was Prince a part of bringing Veterans Moving Forward (VMF) into our lives and our program, but he has been a part of shaping and restoring Maureen's life. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into Maureen and Prince's days in "A Service Dog and His Veteran" (published in September 2016).

Vincent (Nadia/Silas 2015) is currently serving both veterans and non-veterans at Cherry Blossom Estate and Birmingham Green in Virginia. While he makes "official" visits to the facilities, he also arrives "unofficially" to greet residents. According to the staff,  "Both residents and staff are benefitting from his presence within the facility, especially on the dementia unit".

Pictured Above from left to right: Albie, Service Dog Prince, and Service/Therapy Dog Vincent..

Vincent serving at Birmingham Green, Manassas, Virginia.

Rhonda Snitker, Vincent, and Donna (Vincent's Raiser)