05/07/2026
Three times a year, EENP holds “leash ceremonies” at each of the three prisons we partner with through our At Both Ends of the Leash (ABEL) program. Along with celebrating our ABEL Trainers, these ceremonies mark an important transition in our pups training, celebrating puppies moving beyond their “young puppy” phase and entering ABEL, as well as dogs leaving ABEL to prepare for placement with a client as fully trained service dogs.
More than half of our young puppies advancing to the next stage of training in the ABEL program this May have spent the past several months being raised by incredibly dedicated Duke University students, along with one UNC student, through our partnership with .
Between school and extracurricular activities, these students have dedicated countless hours to training and caring for these puppies while also attending weekly Young Puppy Training classes and various community events, providing each puppy with valuable socialization experiences. As a result of these student volunteers' dedication and time, each of these puppies has been given an amazing foundation for their future success as a life changing service dog.
We’re deeply grateful for the time, energy, and commitment Alea, Chapman, Elizabeth, and Leah devoted to Olive, Willow, Cypress, and Douglas, and cannot wait to celebrate the next chapter in these puppies' journeys.
Thank you, Duke Canine Cognition for your unwavering support for our puppies, young puppy trainers, and our mission – and for connecting EENP with wonderful student volunteers! 💙
📸 Photos by Satsuki "Sunshine" Scoville