USG - Sponsor Keystone Company, LLC

History of GUARD Dogs

2006

  • GUARD Dogs was founded by Rebecca Auger & Shawn Logue as a Student Organization in reaction to the lack of SAFE access to transportation for students who had been drinking.
  • Funding was obtained from the Undergraduate Student Government and GUARD Dogs became an official pilot program of USG
  • GUARD Dogs, Inc. was incorporated with the State of Connecticut
  • Windham Regional Transit District, a bus company in the Storrs area, was contracted to provide a shuttle system Friday and Saturday nights to on and off campus locations.

2007

  • When WRTD denied our request to renew the contract, the GUARD Dogs team of only 6 students researched other transportation options.
  • Enterprise Rent-A-Car, along with other vehicle rental agencies were contacted.
  • An account was created with Enterprise based on rental quotes and their ability to deliver the vehicles each weekend.
  • The GUARD Dogs website was created and promotions and public relations efforts were made to raise awareness about the program amongst the student body and surrounding community

2008

  • In January of 2008, GUARD Dogs gave its first ride in a rented minivan!
  • Operations procedures were developed and a small volunteer base was recruited from the university's Alcohol and Other Drug awareness program, with whom the dispatched center was shared.
  • A larger office was obtained from the Department of Residential Life.
  • Volunteers were recruited from the general student body
  • Partnerships with local food vendors were formed in order to provide our volunteers with nourishment throughout the night.
  • Three sponsors generously decided to join our team.
  • To comply with University Regulations, our incorporation with the State of Connecticut was dissolved.