BREWSTER – Kudos and recognitions were the order of the day when the Brewster Chamber of Commerce honored five of its members at the organization’s annual dinner.
Nancy Teague, CEO/founder of Putnam Service Dogs was named Business Person of the Year.
Teague has been a lover of dogs since childhood.
Her affinity for service dogs began when the Brewster resident fostered a breeding dog for Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
Teague explained when relocating from Brooklyn to Putnam, she raised puppies for the agency before assisting another organization, Canine Companions.
With the experience gleaned from the Long Island based non-for-profit, Teague created Putnam Service Dogs, a charity that provides free, highly trained service dogs in addition to follow up services to people with physical disabilities other than blindness. “Our dogs change the lives of our recipients and their families by adding love, joy, independence and ease. Putnam Service Dogs honors and promotes the nurturing bond between humans and dogs.”
Unlike other agencies which use pedigreed dogs for clients, Teague rescues her dogs from high-kill shelters around the country. “Our hope is to not only rescue dogs but rescue families and handicapped individuals in a win-win. Our motto is from ‘shelter to service.’”
Teague said that organizations which breed dogs employ geneticists on staff. “Despite the testing and pairing, about one-third of the puppies bred make it to the rank of service dog despite being positively gorgeous animals. Another concern is the genetic pool which sadly has resulted in many health issues such as diabetes or cancer thus shortening the dog’s life.”
Teague said her agency escapes that concern by adopting mixed breed canines.
Other awards were presented to Kate Corsitto, Sr. Development Manager of the American Cancer Society received the Community Leader Award; Christine Zito, Owner of Tapped Hudson was named as the Rising Professional; George Apap Painting as the Legacy Business; and DC Hair Studio & Spa as Customer Favorite.
Comments