Nick and Brenda Paradiso in Lakewood Ranch are raising Newton, a 9‑month‑old Labrador retriever who suffered a broken leg while being trained to become a service dog. Service dogs are known to provide substantial long-term benefits for individuals with disabilities, contributing positively to their emotional connection and community participation.

They volunteered to puppy‑sit Newton for 30 days in June and, after the injury, decided to keep him longer rather than return him to the program; the account describes five animals and five people involved in the Lakewood Ranch Puppy Raisers Club effort.

The Paradisos said they took Newton to help Dogs Inc while the organization searched for a temporary home. Brenda Paradiso recalled the moment they decided to keep him: “My husband and I just looked at each other going, ‘We can’t turn him back in. We’ve got to see this through.'” The emotional commitment reflected by the Paradisos’ decision is a common theme echoed by many puppy raisers.

Newton is described as a “love bucket” who was eager to play. A vivid detail in the account says he made a “humongous, hot puppy jump” and landed wrong, which resulted in the broken leg. It’s a poignant reminder of the physical challenges service dogs can face during their training.

Volunteers and co‑leads of the Lakewood Ranch Puppy Raisers Club support one another through training and difficult decisions. “Our job is to bring them into our homes and make sure they’re safe,” said Sandy Wilkey, co‑lead of the club. Before dogs like Newton can be placed with a handler, they undergo extensive training that typically includes exposure to various public environments, basic obedience commands, and task-specific training tailored to assist their future companions.

The club traces its activity in the area to 2019 when the Lakewood Ranch chapter was started; Nick and Brenda joined the chapter in 2023. Other volunteers named in the account include co‑lead Alex Jeanroy and volunteers Marty and Mollie Saia and Bob Kasperski.

Several other dogs being raised locally are noted in the account. Emmy, a 14‑month‑old black Labrador retriever described as extremely intelligent and able to open doors, is being raised by Marty and Mollie Saia. Coach, a 10‑month‑old Labrador described as especially affectionate, is with Bob Kasperski. Georgie, the first dog Kasperski raised that did not fit the Dogs Inc programs, was adopted by Kasperski, and Ruth is noted as a previous service dog raised by the Paradisos.

Volunteers underline both the practical and emotional sides of puppy raising. Brenda Paradiso said people often ask how raisers can return a dog at the end of the process: “The biggest question that you get asked is, ‘How do you turn the dog back in? How can you do that?'” She added, “Turning in a dog is definitely filled with a lot of tears and emotion.” This emotional strain is a testament to the strong bond formed between the volunteers and the dogs they raise.

Members also point to the rewards of the work. “It is amazing seeing how the little puppy we raised is changing and improving the life of someone else,” said Bob Kasperski. The impact of is significant; research indicates that individuals paired with service dogs report enhancements in various aspects of their well-being, emphasizing the value of this vital support.

Puppy raising sits at the intersection of household care and formal training overseen by organizations such as Dogs Inc. For context on staged training and the roles volunteers play in socialization and basic obedience, organizations like Canine Companions outline similar phases of preparation for service work; additional material on the longer-term benefits of service dogs can be found through resources such as Putnamservicedogs.

Newton remains in the Paradisos’ care as they help him recover and continue his early training, supported by the Lakewood Ranch Puppy Raisers Club and fellow volunteers.

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Original reporting: view the original article.