NEADS service dogs honored by Red Sox

PRINCETON — NEADS service dogs, based in Princeton, have been well-represented at Fenway Park this summer. As part of the Boston Red Sox Service Dog of the Game program, which NEADS has been part of since 2019, several NEADS Service Dog teams have been honored in pregame, on-field ceremonies during Tuesday home games throughout the season.

This year, eight NEADS service dogs and facility cogs have been recognized. Service dogs work one-on-one with someone with a disability, and facility dogs work with professionals in classroom, therapeutic and other community settings.

“The Red Sox Service Dog of the Game program is a great way to pay tribute to the contributions working dogs make in their communities,” said NEADS CEO Aubrey Henderson. “We’re thankful to have been involved with this program since 2019, and to the Boston Red Sox for their recognition of the valuable work these dogs do.”

• NEADS service dog Simba and her human partner Betsy Hamill of Chelmsford were celebrated at a game this summer at Fenway Park. With Simba by her side, Betsy is seen, welcomed and connected in every public space she enters, NEADS representatives said.

• NEADS service dog Knight with his human partner Patrick Cogan of Wenham. Thanks to Knight’s help, Patrick is living independently with the degenerative disorder Friedreich’s ataxia.

• NEADS service dog Lexus lives with retired Staff Sgt. Brendan Ferreira, a U.S. Army veteran and small business owner from Somerset.

• NEADS service dog for hearing Pally with his human partner Kate Thurman of Waltham. Pally is Kate’s third service dog from NEADS.

• NEADS facility dog Missy with her human partner Patricia Parrillo of North Attleboro. Missy works alongside Patricia, a guidance counselor at Robinson Elementary School in Mansfield, supporting students every day.

• NEADS facility dog Sara with her human partner Deborah Goldfarb of Melrose. Sara works with Deborah in two settings: at Boston Medical Center, where Deborah is a social worker, and at Suffolk County Jail in Boston, where Deborah is implementing a therapy program she designed for incarcerated individuals.

• NEADS service dog for hearing Cali with her human partner Mary Bird of Somerset. Cali alerts Mary to important sounds in daily life. Mary is a licensed independent clinical social worker at Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital who specializes in treating deaf patients and is fluent in American Sign Language.

• NEADS facility dog Elwood with his human partner Kelly Sullivan of Worcester. Elwood works alongside Kelly, who is director of the Bachelor of Social Work program at Assumption University in Worcester, helping support students throughout their college experience.

NEADS Inc. is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1976. It offers service dog programs for people with a physical disability, veterans, people with hearing loss, and children with autism or other developmental disabilities. NEADS dogs are also partnered with professionals in classroom, therapy, hospital, ministry and courthouse settings. For more information, visit neads.org and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.