Breaking Barriers and Building Bonds

The collaboration with North Shore Animal League America’s Mutt-i-grees Curriculum began with Viscardi’s Transition Services, which helps students explore career paths. We welcomed students to our campus, where they experienced firsthand the care that goes into rescuing and rehabilitating homeless animals. Inspired by what they saw, a weekly volunteer internship program was born. As students worked with animals — some of whom had disabilities similar to their own — they discovered newfound confidence. No longer just recipients of care, they became caregivers, forming deep bonds that underscored the power of empathy.

Support the Mutt-i-grees^® Curriculum

For students unable to travel, we launched virtual shelter tours, bringing the world of rescue and adoption directly into their classrooms. Now, our partnership is expanding even further. We’re working to be part of their Museum of Disability History, set to open in fall 2025. This groundbreaking exhibit will highlight the journey of disability rights and include the role of rescue dogs over the years.

While our animals offer lessons in compassion, the students of The Viscardi Center also teach us about strength, determination and possibility. Together, we are proving that challenges don’t define us — our ability to rise above them does

To bring the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum to your school or library, visit muttigrees.org or contact us at info@muttigrees.org.