We're thrilled to share some exciting news with you! In 2024, IHDI is entering a new chapter full of opportunities, and a significant part of this journey involves a name change. We're transitioning to Paragon Service Dogs.

This evolution from IHDI to Paragon Service Dogs has been the culmination of a two-year-long effort led by our leadership. It's aimed at positioning our organization as a renowned service dog provider, spurred on by our recent acceptance as an Assistance Dogs International Accredited Member. This achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to excellence in service dog training and carries forward IHDI's 45-year legacy of dedication to serving the d/Deaf community.

The name Paragon Service Dogs was carefully chosen to reflect our aspiration to set the standard in providing specialized service dogs and to amplify our mission. As Paragon Service Dogs, we're expanding our services to cater to a broader spectrum of individuals in need of service dogs.

This shift brings about three significant impacts. Firstly, while we maintain our focus on raising, training, matching, placing, and supporting hearing service dogs, the name change allows us to increase the overall number of service dogs placed each year by reaching a wider audience. Secondly, our training programs will now be tailored to best match each dog's strengths and characteristics, ensuring that they are equipped to meet the unique demands of assisting individuals with hearing impairments. Lastly, by diversifying the populations served under Paragon Service Dogs, we're laying a more robust foundation for the organization's sustainability, anticipating the development of more varied and engaged communities of volunteers and supporters.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have supported us thus far and invite you to join us in embracing the opportunities that lie ahead. If you have any questions or comments about this transition, please feel free to reach out to Carol, our Executive Director, at carol@hearingdog.org.