The Exceptional Sidekick began as a way to help the town of Newtown, CT’s teens and young adults struggling with a psychiatric disability. It has grown into something so much more. Each dog has touched countless lives, from our first service dog at the Sandy Hook School to our service dogs helping their handlers graduate from high school and attend college. Many have shared something special with a dog or two in the program from our puppy raisers, trainers, and others who cross paths with our dogs in public.

We strive to educate the community on what  Psychiatric Service Dogs can do and proper etiquette when you see a dog in public. As our small organization has grown, we are now serving people across CT and nearby areas. With one in four people with a diagnosable mental health disorder, we have a lot of work to do to get people the help that they need.