Animal Planet Premieres New Series RESCUE DOG TO SUPER DOG, 8/12

Millions of dogs live in shelters in the U.S. waiting for their forever homes. Tens of millions of people in the U.S. live with physical, psychological or neurological disabilities. In Animal Planet's new series, RESCUE DOG TO SUPER DOG, shelter dogs are given a SECOND CHANCE to become a service dog in training to a person with a disability who needs assistance. RESCUE DOG TO SUPER DOG premieres on Animal Planet on Saturday, August 12th at 10 PM ET/PT.

In RESCUE DOG TO SUPER DOG, dog trainers Nate Schoemer and Laura London meet a person in need and match them with a shelter dogs with the right attitude and aptitude to provide the specific service for the person in need. The work begins as Nate and Laura begin training activities with each dog and human to ready them for their new roles.

"Once our participants meet their potential service dogs in training, we witness a meaningful transformation that proves that not only do people rescue dogs, but dogs also rescue people," said Patrice Andrews, general manager of Animal Planet.

The basic training for the dogs include techniques specifically geared to each person's disability and for the human, the training includes mastering obedience commands. The dog's training ranges from opening and closing doors to turning on lights to applying the necessary pressure during panic attacks to assisting with walking. The process to become a service dog in training takes place over four months as Nate and Laura work hand-in-paw to fine tune the relationship and training of the dogs and person they assist.

RESCUE DOG TO SUPER DOG is produced for Animal Planet by Plimsoll Productions. For Plimsoll Productions, Grant Mansfield, Karen Plumb and Laurie Girion are executive producers. For Animal Planet, Keith Hoffman is executive producer and Sarah Russell is producer.