COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

OPERATION AT EASE INC
SCHENECTADY, NY · EIN 810866429 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE D61 · Animal-Related · Small ($100K-$1M) · operationatease.org
revenue
$318K
expenses
$209K
net assets
$323K
employees
6
program ratio
61%
mission · from form 990

Takes dogs from shelters, pairs them with deserving veterans and first responders and provides a free guided training program for post traumatic stress and light mobility service dogs.

profile · synthesized from sources

Operation At Ease Inc pairs shelter dogs with veterans and first responders, providing free guided training to support those with post-traumatic stress and mobility needs. The organization operates in New York, specifically the Capital Region, and is staffed by experienced dog trainers who are also part of the military and first responder community. Their work includes service dog training, therapy dog certification, and community outreach programs.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Service Dog Training Program
Pairs shelter dogs with veterans and first responders, providing free guided training for post-traumatic stress and light mobility support
Sponsor a Service Dog Team
Donors can sponsor a team to cover adoption fees, training tools, and program costs; sponsors receive a certificate and photo upon graduation
Telehealth Therapy for First Responders
Free telehealth therapy program offered to Schenectady County first responders as part of mental health support services
Therapy Dog Training Class
8-week course preparing dogs for AKC Community Canine and OAE Therapy Dog certification, with public access training and testing
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Animal-Assisted Support Services 5 activities
    • Lifelong behavioral and therapeutic support for service dog teams
      Provides lifelong behavioral support at no cost for dogs trained through the program, along with free therapy dog support resources and telehealth therapy services for first responders in Schenectady County. Also implements a therapy program pairing first responders with dogs for emotional support.
    • Professional staffing and operational capacity
      Employs professional dog trainers with at least ten years of experience and ongoing education to deliver training and support services to veterans and first responders.
    • Public and private dog training programs to support core mission
      Conducts public dog training classes and offers one-on-one private lessons (including semi-private options) and virtual sessions via Microsoft Teams at its Rotterdam, NY headquarters. Proceeds from these paid classes support the organization’s veteran-focused service dog training program. Graduates of therapy dog classes may earn certification through the AKC Community Canine test or the organization’s own Therapy Dog Test.
    • Rescue, training, and placement of service dogs for veterans and first responders
      Rescues dogs from shelters and pairs them with veterans and first responders, providing a free guided training program for post-traumatic stress and light mobility service support. The program includes an eight-month weekly training curriculum at the Rotterdam, NY facility, and ensures teams pass two American Kennel Club public access tests upon completion. Services are provided exclusively in New York's Capital District.
    • Therapy dog outreach and community visits
      Provides therapy dog visits to veteran organizations, military bases, and first responder locations as part of its community outreach efforts.
  • Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
    • Annual motorcycle and car fundraising rides
      Organizes annual events including the Post Traumatic Stress Awareness Ride and other motorcycle/car rides that start and end at Spitzies Harley-Davidson in Albany, NY, drawing over 350 participants in past years. These events serve as major fundraisers supporting dog rescues and animal-assisted therapy programs.
  • Animal Welfare and Rescue Support 1 activity
    • Funding adoption, medical care, and training tools for service dogs
      Covers adoption fees, medical care, and training tools for rescue dogs placed in the service dog program, ensuring financial barriers do not prevent participation.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$318K
Contributions & grants$277K87%
Program service revenue$33K10%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$8K
expenses
Total expenses$209K
Program expenses61%
Admin / overhead39%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$98K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$325K
Cash$325K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1K
Net assets$323K
Liquid reserves18.6 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +42.8%
relationships · 27

Who they work with

  • ABC News 10 Partner — Covers Operation At Ease initiatives including therapy programs and awareness rides.
  • Albany Healthcare System Partner — Lists VA Albany Healthcare System as a recommended mental health resource for veterans.
  • Albany Vet Center Partner — Lists Albany Vet Center as a provider of confidential counseling services for veterans and connects them as a recommended resource.
  • American Kennel Club Network — Recognized as an AKC certified therapy dog organization; offers AKC Community Canine testing.
  • American Kennel Club Partner — Partners with the American Kennel Club for public access testing of service dog teams.
  • American Legion Department of New York Funder — Awarded a $30,000 grant to support the rescue, training, and placement of service dogs for veterans.
  • Animal Protective Foundation of Schdy Partner — Partner organization providing shelter dogs for service dog training program.
  • Benson's Pet Center Partner — Sponsors the Post Traumatic Stress Awareness Ride.
  • Colonie Center Partner — Hosted public access testing for service dog teams.
  • Colonie Police Department Partner — Provides escort for the Post Traumatic Stress Awareness Ride.
  • Give an Hour Partner — Recommends Give an Hour as a provider of mental health services for individuals affected by human-made trauma.
  • Hannaford Supermarkets Partner — Provides lunch for participants at the Post Traumatic Stress Awareness Ride.
  • Lorenzo Murray of Your Home Team at HUNT Real Estate, ERA Partner — Sponsors billboards for the Post Traumatic Stress Awareness Ride.
  • Military OneSource Partner — Recommends Military OneSource as a 24/7 confidential support resource for service members and military families.
  • Niskayuna Fire Department District 2 Partner — Listed as a supporting organization.
  • Northern Rivers Partner — Lists Northern Rivers Mobile Crisis Services as a mental health crisis support provider for adults, children, and families.
  • Opitz Transmissions & More Partner — Listed as a supporting organization.
  • SignUpGenius Partner — Platform used to manage and post volunteer opportunities and calendar.
  • South High Marathon Dance Partner — Student-led fundraising event at South Glens Falls High School that has supported Operation At Ease in 2024 and 2025.
  • Spectrum News 1 Partner — Reports on service dog placements, mental health programs, and community engagement efforts.
  • Spitzies Harley-Davidson Partner — Hosts the annual Post Traumatic Stress Awareness Ride, serving as the start and end location for the event.
  • Spitzies Harley-Davidson of Albany Partner — Host location for the Post Traumatic Stress Awareness Ride.
  • Spitzies Harley-Davidson of Albany Partner — Listed as a supporting organization.
  • The Daily Gazette Partner — Regularly covers Operation At Ease events, programs, and milestones in news reporting.
  • Upstate Canna Co Partner — Listed as a supporting organization.
  • WNYT News Channel 13 Partner — Covers adoption campaigns and organizational milestones.
  • Wolberg Funder — Provided a $10,000 donation in 2025 as part of their 100th Anniversary giving campaign.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Barrier-Free Access Model
    methodology: barrier_free_access
    By removing financial, logistical, and systemic barriers through free, personalized, and timely service dog training and placement, the program increases equitable access and utilization among veterans and first responders, because eliminating structural obstacles enables earlier intervention and broader reach for those most in need.
  • Client-Led Service Dog Training
    methodology: client-led_training
    By empowering veterans and first responders to train their own service dogs through one-on-one and small-group instruction, the program strengthens human-animal bonding and improves skill retention, leading to more effective long-term outcomes in post-traumatic stress treatment because active participation fosters ownership, confidence, and therapeutic engagement.
  • Mutual Rescue Model
    methodology: mutual_rescue
    By pairing rescued shelter dogs with veterans and first responders in a shared rehabilitation process, both parties experience healing and purpose—because the mutual dependency fosters emotional recovery, reduces isolation, and creates a reciprocal cycle of empowerment and resilience.
  • Real-World Immersion Training
    methodology: real_world_immersion
    By training veteran-dog teams in real-world public environments, the program builds practical confidence and self-advocacy skills necessary for successful service dog integration, because experiential learning in authentic contexts produces faster adaptation and sustained public access competence.
  • Veteran Peer Mentorship
    methodology: veteran_peer_mentorship
    By using graduated veteran service dog teams as peer mentors, new participants receive relatable guidance and social support that enhances training success and community integration, because lived-experience mentorship increases trust, reduces stigma, and models achievable recovery pathways.