Client Stories
A Note from the RI Team
It’s been a full summer around Retrieving Independence, in all the best ways!
Over the past few months, we’ve welcomed new puppies, celebrated scholarship recipients, watched dogs take exciting next steps in their journeys, and gathered with so many of you for our very first Retrieving on the Ridge 5K. Looking back, one thing stands out more than anything else: none of it happens without this incredible community.
Whether you volunteer, raise puppies, donate, cheer us on from afar, or you’re just getting to know RI, thank you for being part of this journey. We hope you enjoy catching up on what’s been happening around RI this summer, and join us for more adventures this fall!
Off to a Running Start: 5K Success
When we first started planning Retrieving on the Ridge, we hoped around 50 people would join us for our inaugural 5K. Instead, more than 100 runners, walkers, rollers, volunteers, families, and four-legged friends came together for an unforgettable morning at Mill Ridge Park.
Together, we raised nearly $15,000 to support future service dog teams (WOW!), but what we’ll remember most is the sense of community. It was a joy to meet new faces, reconnect with familiar ones, and watch people of all ages (and plenty of dogs) spend the morning together in support of our mission.
One of the day’s most meaningful moments happened outside of Nashville. Our Inside Track Pack, the dedicated inmate trainers who help raise many of our service dogs, organized and completed their own 5K in solidarity. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to fully fund their donation goal, making this celebration one our entire RI family could share.
Safe to say… we’ll be doing it again. Planning is already underway for next year’s Retrieving on the Ridge, and we can’t wait to see everyone back on the course in May 2027. A huge thank you to those that supported this event’s inaugural year!
Looking Ahead: Retrieving in the Round
Our favorite night of the year is almost here.
Join us on September 19th for Retrieving in the Round, an unforgettable evening of live music, incredible auction packages, delicious food, and stories that remind us exactly why this work matters.
We’re excited to announce this year’s featured performers: Ryan Larkins, Emily Shackleton, and Brian White. These talented Nashville singer-songwriters will bring an intimate songwriter-in-the-round experience to our stage, sharing the stories behind the songs and the inspiration behind some of country music’s most memorable moments. With a lineup of accomplished writers and performers whose songs have been heard on stages, radio stations, and screens across the country, this will be a night of incredible music you won’t want to miss.
This year feels especially exciting as we’ll be celebrating together in our recently finished facility. More than anything, Retrieving in the Round is a chance to get an up-close look at the lives being changed through service dogs. It’s one thing to hear about our mission, and another to hear directly from the people whose lives have been transformed because of it.
Our silent auction will also return this year and will open online ahead of the event. Follow us on social media or join our mailing list to be the first to know when bidding goes live and start exploring this year’s exciting auction packages.
We’d love to spend the evening with you. Click here to buy your tickets now!
Investing in Independence: Scholarships on the Horizon
Every service dog placement is made possible by a community of people who believe independence should be within reach.
This summer, we’re taking another step toward making that belief a reality by expanding opportunities for clients who may face financial barriers to placement. We’re excited to be launching new scholarship opportunities designed to make an RI service dog more accessible to those who need one.
More details are coming soon. To the donors and supporters helping us open these doors: thank you. Your generosity helps ensure that financial circumstances don’t stand between a person and the independence they deserve.
Growing Together: New Board Members & Grants
As RI continues to grow, so does the team helping guide our mission. This year, we welcomed Owen Shirk of Pinnacle Financial Partners and Katie Delaune of Mars Petcare to our Board of Directors in January, followed by Ruth Howard of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in July.
Their expertise, perspective, and commitment to our mission strengthen the leadership guiding Retrieving Independence into its next chapter. We’re grateful to have them on board.
We’re also incredibly grateful to the foundations and organizations that have recently invested in our mission through grant funding. Their support helps strengthen every part of our work—from puppies just beginning their journey to clients receiving life-changing service dogs.
A special thank-you to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Preds Foundation, Dettwiller Foundation, Phyllis Foundation, First Horizon Foundation, and Tennessee Titans for believing in what we do and helping us continue to grow our impact.
Puppy Updates
There has been no shortage of puppy breath around RI lately.
Meet The Clownigans: Timmy, Pumpkin, and Norm. Born on April 1, these three orange puppies earned their nickname almost immediately. They’re equal parts adorable, goofy, and full of personality, and they’ve quickly become favorites around the training center.
Meanwhile, another special group is preparing for an exciting milestone. This week, the Reys of Sunshine litter (Samson, Pom Pom, Lucy, Grace, Ruth, and Moxie) will head to our prison training program to begin the next phase of their journey toward becoming service dogs. This litter is especially meaningful because they’re the first puppies from Rey, one of RI’s own breeding dogs. We can’t wait to watch these six continue to learn, grow, and surprise us.
Reys of Sunshine
Every Dog Has a Purpose: Careers & Changes
Every puppy enters training with the hope of becoming a service dog, but our goal has always been finding the career where each dog can thrive.
This summer, Yoda began an exciting new chapter after transitioning into Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) work. While service work ultimately wasn’t the right fit for him, his talents made him an excellent candidate for another important career. We’re incredibly proud of him and can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next.
We’re also looking forward to a busy fall, with three client teams currently working toward graduation. Watching these partnerships grow from first introductions into confident working teams is one of the greatest privileges of what we do, and we can’t wait to celebrate these milestones with all of you.
Thank You
Thank you for continuing to believe in the mission of Retrieving Independence.
Every puppy raised, every volunteer hour, every donation, every client, every staff member, and every supporter plays a part in making stories like Anna and Kylo’s possible.
We hope to see many of you at Retrieving in the Round this September. Until then, give your pups an extra scratch from all of us at RI.