Domesti-pups
About Domesti-pups
Domesti-Pups is the kind of local nonprofit that keeps its work close to the ground, in classrooms, homes, and real daily routines. In Lincoln, it trains service dogs for people with disabilities, therapy dogs for schools, and adoptable dogs who need structure before they find the right place. Donors can back a program that supports people, volunteers, and dogs all at once, without losing sight of any of them.
What stands out here is how many different paths a dog can take through the same organization. A puppy can be raised by a volunteer family, handled on weekends, trained for service, or helped toward adoption through work at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. Domesti-Pups also keeps the training practical, with classes, certification, and support for therapy and service work.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Service-PUPS service dog program
Trains dogs over about two years and places them with people with disabilities for balance, mobility, seizure response, and diabetic alert support.
Edu-PUPS
Places trained dogs in classrooms and school settings to support learning, participation, comfort, and confidence.
Reading-PUPS
Partners certified therapy teams with children who read aloud to a dog to help with reading practice and motivation.
Raising-PUPS
Uses volunteer foster families to raise puppies during their first 12 to 18 months, teaching obedience, socialization, and community exposure.
Weekend Warriors
Matches dogs in training with weekend handlers who take them into public places and home settings to build socialization and public access skills.
Adoptables program
Provides shelter and rescue dogs with behavior and obedience training at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution to help make them more adoptable.
Dog training classes
Offers positive-reinforcement training classes for basic manners, advanced obedience, and social skills.
Puppy classes
Provides free puppy socialization, puppy manners, and puppy obedience classes for young dogs.
AKC Canine Good Citizen and therapy certification classes
Offers AKC Canine Good Citizen training, pet therapy certification, and related testing for dogs and handlers.
Private training
Provides one-on-one training tailored to individual goals and dog behavior needs.
Diabetic Alert Dogs
Trains dogs to alert handlers to high or low blood sugar and to perform related retrieval and mobility tasks.
Law enforcement canine services
Provides canine candidates and related training support, including service dog and ADA law training, prison dog training program mentoring, and epilepsy training for first responders.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
Volunteer training for therapy dogs.
Who they serve
People with disabilities who need service dogs, children and students in classrooms, and volunteers who raise, foster, train, or handle dogs.
How your donation helps
- training and care for dogs in service, therapy, and adoptables programs
- wish list items and supplies for dogs in training
- service dog program costs
Our story
Founded in 2000, Domesti-Pups built a local program around service dogs, therapy dogs, and adoptable dogs. Its service-dog work includes volunteer puppy raisers, weekend handlers, and training partnerships with the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women and the Reception and Treatment Center.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Domesti-pups’s services.
People seeking a service dog can email info@domesti-pups.org to request an application. Service-dog clients attend a 12-day training camp, and therapy teams complete AKC Canine Good Citizen training, the Domesti-PUPS pet therapy certification program, and two visitations per month over a 3-month period.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
My service dog gives me the freedom and security to help overcome some of my limitations.
He was definitely the dog for me. Slater was incredible. He was a fabulous balance dog. He was always steady, and always seemed to be my built in therapist.
Their journey is our mission.
Events
Pints 4 Pups
An event listed by the organization on its news page.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Domesti-pups has shared.
Current needs
- wish list items
- food and toys for dogs in training
Volunteer opportunities
- Puppy Raising
- Weekend Warriors
- Edu-PUPS
- Adoptables
- Part Time Fosters
- Pet Therapy Team Volunteer
- Service Dog Program
- Instructor
- Veterinary Coordinator
- Adoption Coordinator
Recognition & press
In the media
- Lincoln Journal Star, profile of a girl with epilepsy and a service dog
- St. Joseph Channel, coverage of Domesti-PUPS therapy dogs heading to Olympic swim trials
- WOWT, feature on a new classmate at Fremont Middle School
- New York Daily News, coverage of therapy dogs helping swimmers relax at Olympic trials
- ABC11, feature on a teen with epilepsy seeking a service dog for college
- Omaha World-Herald, profile of a dog trained in prison offering solace for a girl with disabilities
- 1011 Now, coverage of Domesti-PUPS hosting a Pints 4 Pups event
Partners & funders
In the news
Articles featuring Domesti-pups from the Love What You Fund newsroom.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How can someone apply for a service dog?
Email info@domesti-pups.org to request an application.
What kinds of disabilities do the service dogs support?
The service-dog program supports balance disorders, wheelchair and mobility assistance, seizure alert and response, and diabetic alert support.
How do therapy dogs work in schools?
Edu-PUPS teams serve in classrooms and on school campuses to support learning, encourage participation, build confidence, and offer comfort when stress is high.
What is the adoption program for?
The Adoptables program gives shelter and rescue dogs 12 weeks of obedience training at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution to help them become more adoptable.
What is required to become a Domesti-PUPS therapy dog team?
Dogs must pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test, complete the Domesti-PUPS pet therapy certification program, and complete two visitations per month over a 3-month period.