Service / Assistance Dogs

General Information / Associations & Organizations / Fundraisers & Events / Books

General Information / Articles:

Service Dogs are trained to assist people who have a wide variety of mobility impairments and other hidden disabilities, such as seizures, psychiatric disorders, life threatening medical problems, or chronic pain. These dogs provide services to disabled individuals helping them function with greater self-sufficiency; prevent injuries; and summon help in a crisis.

Service Dogs receive approximately six months to one year of training on learning to perform various tasks, obedience, and public access manners.

• Assistance Dog Tasks by Joan Froling
  This report identifies over one hundred possible tasks that guide, hearing and service dogs can master to assist with daily life activities and safety concerns.
• A Helpful Friend: Dogs and autistic children
• IAADP Says Konnichiwa to Japan — by Devon Wilkins
• Monument Honours Assistance Dogs — by Devon Wilkins

Associations & Organizations:
(Listed in alphabetical order)

AASK — Assistance Animals of Saskatchewan Dedicated to providing specially trained Service Dogs to individuals with disabilities. Specializing in the training of Psychiatric Support and Response Dogs, but also working with Mobility Assistance Dogs. AASK is based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, but dogs can be found across Canada. The Canadian Foundation for Animal-Assisted Support Services P.O. Box 279 Winchester, Ontario, K0C 2K0 Tel.: 613-774-0001 E-mail: generalinfo@cf4aass.org Website address: www.cf4aass.org and www.cf4aass.org/events

Jersey and Griffin Photo courtesy of: Copperstone Reg'd Labrador Retrievers

Vision Statement: Our vision is to support the innovation, coordination, and integration of Animal-Assisted Support Services. Mission Statement: Our mission is to receive and maintain a fund to build the capabilities of individuals facing physical, intellectual, emotional, behavioral, developmental, social and spiritual challenges through the use of animal assisted therapy and related services. Goals: To unite Animal-Assisted Support Services Stakeholders to identify core values and common priorities to stimulate collaborative action in the spirit of cooperation and inclusiveness. To inspire and ensure a consistent level of quality, safety, and End-user satisfaction. Canines with a Cause Ottawa, Ontario based Canadian registered charity dedicated to train Assistance Dogs as well as to help create awareness in our community on the value these special dogs bring their human partners. Diamond In The Ruff Medical Dogs Located in the GTA, Ontario (Serving all of Canada) Tel.: 905-782-3647 Offering pre-trained medical service dogs, owner assisted medical service dogs and obedience classes for the general public, seniors and those with disabilities in a home-like environment simulating real life for a great well-rounded family pet. Providing services for all medical and physical conditions including cross mobility dogs. Encouraging Paws Service Dogs — Serving all of Southern Ontario. E-mail: info@encouragingpaws.com Tel.: 905-628-4779 — Training personal pets to become working dogs and dedicated to helping people with physical and or medical disabilities; those with Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Scelerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Epilepsy (Seizure Response as opposed to Seizure Alert Dogs), Parapelegics, Quadrapaledgics, Amputees to name just some. All training is done in the home environment. Personal pet training is also available in your home. Handi-Dogs, Inc. A Service Dog Training Organization located in Tucson, Arizona. — "At Handi-Dogs, Inc. we help people with physical disabilities to achieve an improved quality of life through the training and use of service dogs." International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP) A non-profit, cross-disability organization representing people partnered with guide, hearing and service dogs. Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides Lions Foundation of Canada is a federally incorporated charitable foundation founded by the Lions Clubs of Canada. Its mission is to provide service to physically challenged Canadians in the areas of mobility, safety, and independence. Lions Foundation of Canada was incorporated on February 20, 1983, and provides Dog Guides to Canadians through three on-going programs: Canine Vision Canada, Hearing Ear Dogs of Canada, and Special Skills Dogs of Canada. Mira Foundation Objective: To bring greater autonomy to handicapped people and to facilitate their social integration by providing them with dogs that are fully trained to meet the needs of each individual, including Guide Dogs.

Licorice is the spokes dog for Friends of Ferarri Canada — An organization that provides funding for non profit organizations. Seen here at the NSD Photo courtesy of: Bralex Perm. Reg'd. Labrador Retrievers

National Service Dogs Training Centre Inc. (NSD) NSD specializes in breeding, training and placing Labrador and Golden Retrievers with children under age 10 who have autism. NSD also provides service dogs for children with physical and visual challenges who are under age 18. Pacific Assistance Dog Society PADS’ mission is to raise and train dogs for people who are facing the daily challenges of life with a disability other than blindness, in order to provide a greater level of independence and an enhanced quality of life. Serving people in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Western Guide & Assistance Dog Society The Western Guide Dog Foundation has recently expanded their services to include Assistance Dogs as well as Guide Dogs. With this expansion, their name has also changed to Western Guide & Assistance Dog Society. Worldwide Welcome Waggin' — Home of International Puppy Raisers Members of this organization are people who raise puppies that will serve as Assistance Dogs, including Guide, Service, Hearing and Seizure Response Dogs. Includes an e-mail list for members to communicate.