Empowering Communities Through Innovation, Science and Puppies
World Wide Technology has long been recognized for its leadership in global technology solutions. Behind our industry success lies our culture and values, which include a commitment to investing in our communities. The partnership with Duo Dogs, Inc. is a great example of how serving the community, our business and our employees creates real, lasting impact.
"When I first heard about Duo Dogs, I was serving as the ERG Lead for WWT ABLE, and I immediately felt their mission aligned perfectly with our goal to make the workplace and community more accessible for all. Over the past four years, our partnership has grown far beyond the ERG level to the corporate level, allowing us to make an even greater impact." – Jessica Schoenfelder
Duo Dogs is a St. Louis-based nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by providing Assistance Dogs to individuals with mobility challenges, people that are deaf or hard of hearing, PTSD Assistance Dogs to local Veterans, and Facility Dogs to organizations that provide therapeutic services to at risk populations. Our partnership is not only making a difference in the lives of individuals, families and our employees but is also advancing scientific understanding of service dog training and well-being!
Earlier this year, WWT sponsored a litter of Duo puppies known as the WWT AI Litter, complete with artificial intelligence-themed names. These puppies, now in training, are set to become service and facility dogs, offering invaluable support to individuals and communities. When we decided to sponsor the AI-Litter earlier this year, we knew we would be part of a greater impact, but we didn't realize just how much this adorable litter of puppies would be changing both lives and impacting scientific research!
WWT's support and innovative approach to our work together are opening new doors for us. From welcoming our assistance dogs in training into their offices, making Duo Touch Therapy part of their employee wellness culture, to actively participating in groundbreaking new practices in the service and facility dog industry. - Dawn Van Houten, CEO of Duo Dogs, Inc.
Advancing Science: The University of Missouri Study
In addition to transforming lives on the ground, the WWT AI Litter is at the center of a groundbreaking study conducted by the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri, in partnership with the Animal Behavior and Cognition Lab at Lyon College and the Endocrinology Laboratory at the Saint Louis Zoo and funded, in part, by the Doris Schneider Mental Health Research Fund. Led by Don Cherry, MS, a PhD student at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine specializing in the Area Pathobiology Program with a focus on Human-Animal Interaction, this research aims to deepen our understanding of how service dogs respond emotionally and physiologically during their earliest training stages.
The study, titled Evaluating Non-invasive Physiologic, Biologic, and Behavioral Markers of Stress and Engagement to Better Understand the Affective State of Service Dogs During Training, employs two simple, non-invasive tools:
- Urine samples: To measure cortisol levels, an indicator of stress.
- Facial expression analysis (FACS/Landmark Detection): To observe signs of focus, relaxation, or stress.
By attending the WWT AI Litters training sessions each week, Don Cherry and the research team seek to identify early signs of emotional dysregulation or engagement. These insights are key to enhancing training outcomes, informing placement decisions, and improving the overall success rate for service dog careers.
Why This Matters
The collaboration between World Wide Technology and Duo Dogs, Inc. is a shining example of what can happen when innovation meets compassion. Through sponsorship, scientific inquiry, and community engagement, this partnership is not only changing lives today but also paving the way for a better world tomorrow – for all, even puppies!
"Duo Dogs has set the standard for excellent care and training for working canines. Their dedication to the well-being of every animal in their care makes them the ideal partner for this project, and we are proud to showcase that commitment through objective, evidence-based research." – Don Cherry
From the breeding program to advanced research, the journey of the WWT AI Litter embodies the shared vision of World Wide Technology and Duo Dogs, Inc.: to open doors to independence, emotional well-being, and lifelong learning. Their work exemplifies how strategic partnerships can drive meaningful change—one puppy, one person, and one community at a time.