A Golden Idea

by Jill Duff-Hoppes

Laura Barnett is a firm believer in the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

The Biblical tenet holds sway in Laura’s life – so much so that she helped found an organization called D.U.O. Assistance Dogs, based in Lake Mary. What does D.U.O. stand for? Do Unto Others, of course.

An official 501(c)(3) nonprofit since April 1, 2024, D.U.O.’s mission is to train assistance dogs to serve the needs of individuals with disabilities. Its motto is Empowering Independence, a goal the founders say can be more readily achieved with the help of a well-trained service dog.

According to the National Library of Medicine, less than one percent of people in the United States who are living with a disability are paired with a service dog, a statistic that Laura finds astounding.

“There are a lot of people whose lives could be transformed by having a dog that is task-trained for that individual,” says the Lake Mary resident, a retired teacher with Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS). “The need is huge. D.U.O. is a way to serve a community that we’ve discovered needs support. This is a calling.”

In addition to Laura, the organization’s co-founders are Wendy Hartman, Susan Napier, and Amy Mayberry. Combined, the four women have 40 years of service-dog training experience and 75 years of public and private school teaching experience. Wendy and Laura serve as co-executive directors, and Susan is director of client services. The Orlando resident is uniquely qualified for that role, because she uses a wheelchair, herself, and has her own service dog, a golden retriever named Disco.

The entire team has a heart for serving people and for working with dogs, says Wendy, a former resident of Lake Mary and, like Laura, a retired SCPS teacher.

“I have witnessed the incredible impact that service dogs can have on individuals with disabilities, providing not only practical assistance but also emotional support, companionship, and a renewed sense of independence,” says Wendy. “Each dog is not just a helper but a partner, capable of empowering individuals to overcome challenges they might not have been able to face alone.”

So Many Ways to Help

Currently, D.U.O. provides a variety of services for its clients, including:

Mobility dogs that are trained to assist individuals who have a physical or neurological disability

Autism dogs – the empaths of the canine world – that are trained to help those with autism spectrum disorder

Well-trained service dogs suitable for a variety of disabilities

Owner-trained dogs that the D.U.O. team evaluates and then helps the owner train to address specific needs.

The overall cost for the client varies. Some dogs are purchased from a reputable breeder or rescue, raised, and trained by the D.U.O. team to be service dogs, while others are bought or provided by the clients to be trained for their specific needs. In each case, what D.U.O. offers free of charge for its approved clients is the actual training, says Laura, which can otherwise cost tens of thousands of dollars.

And even though D.U.O. is less than a year old, its team has already helped several Central Florida residents. Among them is 62-year-old Terri Thomas of Heathrow, a client who is mostly wheelchair bound. She is also on the autism spectrum and has a history of seizures.

More than a year ago, Terri’s father bought her a German shepherd puppy as a Christmas present. The idea was for the pup (named Cooper) to be her pet, but because of his breeding and temperament, Terri thought he might make a good service dog for her needs.

After thoroughly evaluating the dog, Laura agreed. Since then, she has been working with Terri, Cooper, and Terri’s daughter on the dog’s training. Terri is thrilled about Cooper’s transformation from pet to a service dog in training, and she is beyond grateful to D.U.O.

“They really care about the people and the dogs, and they’re willing to work with me and my needs,” says Terri. “This is life-changing, absolutely life-changing.”

D.U.O.’s journey has only recently begun, but things are already looking golden for the organization and its clients.  

“This is about filling a critical need and making a tangible difference in the lives of people with disabilities,” says Wendy. 

Adds Laura, “D.U.O. is here to serve, and there are an awful lot of people out there who need us.”

Do Unto Others Assistance Dogs is looking for volunteers to join its team as puppy raisers and to help with other tasks, such as transporting dogs and tabling at events. To learn more about the organization, visit DUOAssistanceDogs.org.