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Jan's BioJan Murry Lopez CEO B.E.S.T. Service Dogs
Jan Murry Lopez has loved dogs all her life. She began breeding Labradors in the 1990’s with her first purebred Labrador, Tracey. Tracey was the perfect family dog! Gentle with children and an easy going, loveable friend. Jan wanted to be certain to have a puppy to continue the wonderful traits she had learned about in Labrador Retrievers. She found some Labrador Retriever mentors in a local Labrador club and began her education, fascination and love for the breed. |
She learned about service dogs and what they are trained to do to assist the disabled. Her older brother was disabled and, in a wheelchair, faced many challenges. The idea of dogs as a helping partner struck a chord. With the next litter, she donated three puppies to Canine Companions for Independence and watched as they made their journey as service dogs. From then on, she knew that her passion would be to be involved in that process.
This inspired Jan to attend the Bergin University of Canine Studies to complete a master’s degree in Canine Life Studies. This University is the only one of its kind in the United States. Upon graduation, she created the nonprofit organization B.E.S.T. Service Dogs in 2017. The acronym stands for Breeding, Education, Service, and Training which is what B.E.S.T. Service Dogs provides to the community.
With her Labrador breeding program, B.E.S.T. Service Dogs provides puppies for service dog partners such as Paws for Purple Hearts, 4 Paws to Freedom, and Good Dog Service Canines, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) as well as individuals who wish to train their own dogs to Assistance Dog International Standards.
This inspired Jan to attend the Bergin University of Canine Studies to complete a master’s degree in Canine Life Studies. This University is the only one of its kind in the United States. Upon graduation, she created the nonprofit organization B.E.S.T. Service Dogs in 2017. The acronym stands for Breeding, Education, Service, and Training which is what B.E.S.T. Service Dogs provides to the community.
With her Labrador breeding program, B.E.S.T. Service Dogs provides puppies for service dog partners such as Paws for Purple Hearts, 4 Paws to Freedom, and Good Dog Service Canines, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) as well as individuals who wish to train their own dogs to Assistance Dog International Standards.
History of Accomplishments
Out of our very first litter of 10 in 2016, two puppies were temperament tested and chosen by Good Dog! Service Canines. Both dogs are still serving the children that they were partnered with.
In 2016 two more puppies were placed again with Good Dog! Service Canines and one was placed with Paws for Purple Hearts.
B.E.S.T. Service Dogs was incorporated in 2017 with two dogs who were chosen to start our breeding program.
In 2018 two pups again were placed in training with Paws for Purple Hearts.
In 2019 The Home Depot granted us $2000 in materials to upgrade our puppy/dog areas and to make the area ADA compliant with a wheelchair ramp and easy access dog wash/shower. All labor was donated as well. This grant focused on veteran accessibility.
In 2021, one puppy was placed with 4 Paws to Freedom, an owner trained service dog organization helping our veterans.
In 2021 local KCRA news featured us on a story as a woman owned business in Sacramento. We were able to seek a larger audience for our work. As a result of that story, Deputy Director Baldwin Wong with the local VFW Post 8358 came to us asking to help train their veterans in their owner trained service dog training program.
In September 2021 we hosted over 20 well-known local artists who donated artwork at our 1st annual fundraiser-Art Show at the Rancho. This was very successful event that we plan to do every year and make it bigger and better. It was our best fundraiser ever.
Our litter in November 2021 saw placements with Good Dog Service Canines again (1) and three pups went into training with Joyful Paws Service Dog Training in Southern California (now located in Connecticut).
2022 we received a grant of $5000 from the State of California Covid Relief Fund that we hired a team to assist with our programs.
Once Covid is contained, we plan to get our dogs out to our veterans in activities as therapy dogs.
In 2022 we were blessed with 2 litters! 6 puppies were placed as service pups in training: 2 with Paws for Purple Hearts and 1 at the local VFW.
We graduated our very first "Owner Trained" service dog at the VFW. "We started "Sonny" at 8 weeks of age and with superb dedication by his owner, graduated with full public access at one year of age!
We are part of the AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T. Program (Health, Education Accountability, Responsibility, and Tradition) for the past 3 years.
We are dedicated to getting as many health-screened, temperament-tested and well-bred Labrador Retrievers participating as service dogs as possible. Labradors have been proven to have the most success as service dogs above any other breed. We are confident in our breeding program and our accomplishments thus far.
Testimony
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I got a wonderful note today from one of our "owner trained" service dog puppy owners today. Her pup, named "Mayhem" :-) is a sweet thing, only 7 months old and of Raven's last litter. Here is her note:
HI Jan, Thank you so much for providing wonderful service dogs! Mayhem just passed her Canine Good Citizen and her Urban Canine Good Citizen at only 7 months old! She is an absolute darling, and already does great public access work. I am so grateful to have her, and every night, she falls asleep on my lap so I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual! Happy Holidays! Alaska - Owner-trained service dog program |
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"Charlie's been with our family for 4.5 years and now, I can't even remember how we managed without her. She is by far the best decision we have ever made in our parenting journey with autism. She helped make Cade love school…She has built his self confidence with peers. She provides sensory input when he's struggling. She is his very best friend. She is loved and adored by everyone she meets - she is the very best dog to ever exist.“
Amanda B- Good Dog Service Canines
“Today Frances met Jack, a non-verbal 4 year old who has autism. She immediately knew to be calm and still with him. He petted her and walked around and over her and she never moved. She is completely trustworthy. She was perfect. … I couldn’t be more proud of my girl! And I will never stop thanking you for her. Thank you from my grateful heart!-“
Lisa C
“We are grateful every day for Jesse! We love her to the moon and back! “
Donna B
“It’s been quite a journey but Yellow is nothing short of amazing and he continues to help Sebastian at home (autism dog). We love him more than words can express and he’s loving his best life as a retiree these days.”
Kimberley B Good Dog! Service Canines
“Thank you! You breed some wonderful Labs. She has the best temperament. Such an amazing puppy!”
Eloise , Kasey N, Joyful Paws Service Dogs
“Every puppy class, I want to thank you for sharing your wonderful puppy with us. He is doing great and everyone loves Barley! So many puppies have all kinds of behavior issues, but Barley is so ready to please, especially for his kibble! It takes a great breeder, so kudos to you! “
Karen K
“Morgan killed it at training! When I struggled and had to camp out on the ground, she immediately laid with me and kept nudging me (we’ve never trained that or had that scenario happen)…She is amazing and so intuitive. So lucky to have her in my life!"
Renee B – Joyful Paws Service Dogs
“We love him! Not sure what magic you worked the last 16 weeks, but he is an awesome puppy!”
Allison
"Sami is doing so great with his training! He's already improved my life so much and changed my life and he's not even fully trained yet!
Charmaine
Thank you so much for the gift of Sonny for my son. This (VFW training) program gave me back my son! (Mother of US Army Veteran - Iraq/Afganistan)
