Canine Support Teams

Each year an average of 30 dogs are placed with clients. These dogs are with us from puppy stage until they pass all required tests to become a service dog. These dogs are trained to do tasks such as open and close doors and cabinets, pick up dropped items (retrieval), basic obedience, etc. Our organization uses volunteers and full-time staff to train and care for the dogs throughout the process. Volunteers are needed during the puppy stage to care for the dogs as if they were their own and start the training process. Once the dog is ready for more advanced training, we utilize volunteers from the local men's and women's prisons and our own staff to facilitate the training. Approximately 20 dogs are currently being trained at the prisons and the rest are at our facility. All volunteers are under the supervision of our organization's trainers. At our facility we follow specific guidelines to care for and train all of our dogs. The more care we take with training our service dogs the better they will be for our beloved clients. The best part of what we do is releasing our service dogs to their new owners. The joy on both our clients and the dogs' faces are priceless. Our clients need the best trained dogs possible in order to help them enjoy life more independently.