Sarah Rushing,- Co-Founder/President and Co-Head Trainer
Sarah is a cofounder of FurReal Heroes and also serves as co-president of its board of directors. One of two head trainers at our organization, she directs training of both the dogs and volunteers at FurReal Heroes while overseeing the ongoing training efforts of our volunteer dog foster owners/families. Sarah also establishes and manages our relationships with partner organizations and works with clients to ensure the successful training and placement of each dog. Beyond her day-to-day responsibilities, Sarah also participates in events aimed at educating the public about service dogs, their handlers and the respective rights of both.
Sarah’s heartfelt connection to service dogs started when she began working with special needs students at her high school and discovered the different ways service dogs were able to assist many of these individuals. In college, Sarah’s connection with service dogs deepened through her involvement in a college club called Viking Pups, where she discovered a true talent and passion for training service dogs. During her four-year tenure at Viking Pups, Sarah has grown both her knowledge and involvement in all aspects of service dog training and public education efforts, and now leads the club as its President. In 2020, Sarah will graduate from Augustana College with a double major in Biology/Pre-Veterinary Science and Spanish and a minor in Biochemistry. Afterwards, she will be pursuing her graduate degree in Veterinary Science, with the goal of becoming a licensed veterinarian in Illinois.
“Throughout my life I have been involved in numerous organizations, and I have always had a passion for animals. But nothing has changed my life like working with service dogs. After seeing the incredible impact these dogs can have on people’s lives and watching the amazing tasks they can perform–I know that working with them is something I want to be a part of for the rest of my life.”
Nicole Adams- Co-Founder/President and Co-Head Trainer
Nicole is one of the co-founders, co-head trainers, and co-presidents of FurReal Heroes. As a co-head trainer at FurReal Heroes, Nicole works to oversee the training of all dogs within the program as well as train new volunteer and be available to help FurReal Heroes’ current volunteers. Nicole also works closely with any and all partnerships that FurReal Heroes has, and makes sure all of FurReal Heroes’ volunteers are well taken care of and respected. Through her work as co-head trainer, Nicole helps to facilitate the bond between client and dog, and works closely with our wonderful clients to make placement go smoothly. Besides working directly with FurReal Heroes’ dogs, Nicole works on educating the public on all things related to working dogs and how they benefit the public or their individual person.
Nicole’s past experience with service dog training came from the years she spent in Viking Pups at Augustana College, but through her family she had been taught basic dog training skills, and the dos and don’ts of training with a dog. Nicole majored in Biology and minored in Environmental Studies at Augustana College. Before college, Nicole had never been exposed to the world of service dog, but now she believes that the service dog life can be extreme beneficial to both the handler and the dog when the dog loves its job.
“All my life I have always worked and lived with animals of all different shapes and sizes, but training with service dogs and facility dogs and seeing the impact they can have on individual people and a community is nothing that can be replicated. I love that I get to help people through working with these amazing dogs, and also have the opportunity to educate those who may not have been exposed to service dogs before.”
Brittany Adams- Community Outreach Coordinator, Trainer
Brittany is our community outreach coordinator and serves as one of our trainers. She facilitates connections within the FRH community, finds opportunities to educate the public and help fundraising efforts.
For as long as Brittany can remember, service dogs have been in her life. Brittany grew up watching all the ways a service dog can transform someone’s life. When Brittany was looking at colleges, one reason she chose Augustana was for the Viking Pups program. After graduating, Brittany knew she wanted to continue to be apart of the service dog world so she continues to volunteer with FurReal Heroes.
“I grew up around service dogs and have always been amazed at what they can do. When I found out I could be apart of the service dog world, and make such a difference, there was no hesitation and here I am 5 years later. The most bittersweet part is watching a dog, you worked so hard to train, graduate and become a service dog. It’s truly a special experience.”