The Placement Process

People interested in getting a dog must first fill out an application. We evaluate the application and decide first, if the applicant will really benefit from the use of an assistance dog and second, if the applicant will be able to care for the dog. Recipients must have the capability and/or the resources to provide grooming, feeding, veterinary and other care for their dog. We follow up with a telephone interview and may request a video of the applicant, their life-style and surroundings. Once an applicant has been accepted into the program, we choose a couple of potential dogs and begin to fine-tune their skills for that applicant.

Recipients are scheduled for two to three weeks of intensive training at the facility and the surrounding area. Bonding between the team begins, but establishing a tight bond can take up to a year. People who live more than a hour's drive from the facility are asked to stay nearby during training. Recipients may bring an assistant if necessary.

At the end of the training period, before graduation, recipient and dog must pass strict certification requirements and an array of tests in real-life situations. After a passing certification test, a graduation ceremony is held with food, fun, laughter and tears, shared by volunteers, trainers, family and friends.

We keep in contact with each of our recipients and provide ongoing support to ensure their continued success. Recipients are contacted by phone or e-mail during their first year following graduation, then quarterly, and finally twice per year. If problems arise, we are readily available for problem-solving and retraining if necessary. Many of our recipients initiate contact more often to share success stories with us; we gladly reciprocate these! Recipients are encouraged to attend future graduations and other functions, and are invited to friendly lunch/dinners with us when we are working in their areas. We want our teams to succeed. If problems arise, we will do what is necessary to fix them. Upon graduation, recipients maintain ownership of their dogs. If after one year we determine that a problem is occurring due to the recipient's failure to follow our direction in maintaining their dog's skills and general upkeep, the recipient becomes financially liable for any follow-up training.

Our teams graduate with the skills and confidence needed to be as independent as possible in this not-so-handicapped-accessible society in which we live.