Today’s guest was a return visitor, Carol Borden, founder and CEO of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs.  They are now in their 11th year of providing service dogs to the disabled community.  They serve both veterans and other persons with disabilities.  Guardian Angels focuses exclusively on German Shepherd Dogs.  

Carol shared that German Shepherds were the original service dog, serving blind war veterans after World War I.  Their versatility makes them ideal for other service dog jobs.  Today, Guardian Angels has more than 350 teams across the country and they hope to add another 50 teams this year.   If you need a service dog, you can make an application here.  Guardian Angels also helps people that have their own dogs that may be suited for training as a service dog.  This program is called P.E.T.S. (Pets, Evaluated and Trained for Service Program).  You can find more information here.   Read more

The current retirement plan laws make it easy for you to support animals using your Traditional or Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA).  If you are over the age of 72, you can leverage your IRA to make tax-free contributions – up to $100,000 per year – to the charities of your choice.  We hope you’ll consider Animal Care Trust USA, Inc.  

All you need to do is to direct your IRA custodian to make a distribution directly to your favorite animal charity.  The distribution will not be subject to income tax when paid directly to the charity.  Likewise, there is no corresponding charitable deduction; it is a tax neutral transaction, but one that offers many benefits.    Read more

I thoroughly enjoyed talking to today’s guest, Katherine Hilton, Program Manager for Donor Relations and Stewardship at Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary.  This amazing organization was founded in 2005 by Alana Miller and her daughter after they adopted a blind kitten from a local shelter that had been surrendered and was going to be euthanized.  Today, they are still going strong.  They are located in St. Pauls, North Carolina.   

Blind Cat Rescue caters to numerous resident cats who live out their lives in the comfort and safety of their forever home.  Blind Cat Rescue is a true sanctuary, the residents are not available for adoption.  They have already suffered too many uncertainties and some of them, irreparable trauma.  However, all of the residents can be sponsored with your monthly donation.  You can pick one or more of your favorites online at “Meet the Cats.”   Read more