Assistance Dogs International

If you are looking for an assistance dog in a geographic area outside of Texas or for a purpose outside of what Service Dogs, Inc. trains for, explore the training groups lists on this site.  This is also where you can learn about assistance dogs in general including standards and ethics.

“Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is a coalition of not for profit assistance dog organizations. The purpose of ADI is to improve the areas of training, placement, and utilization of assistance dogs, staff and volunteer education, as well as educating the public about assistance dogs, and advocating for the legal rights of people with disabilities partnered with assistance dogs.”

Interested in your dog becoming a Therapy Dog?

 

Divine Canines and  Austin Dog Alliance are organizations in Austin where you can get involved. If you live in another town, google “Therapy Dog (your town)” to get started.

Therapy dogs encourage patients to practice rehabilitation activities, such as walking or running with the animal or throwing objects for the animal to retrieve. Fine motor skills are developed by petting, grooming, or feeding the animal, and patients are more likely to interact whether giving the animal verbal and physical commands or talking about past pets. All of these activities can help develop cognitive skills and communication and make a major difference in the patient’s comfort, progress and recovery.

Standards for the training of the volunteers and their animals are crucial in order to promote a safe, positive experience. Trained volunteers will learn to work with other medical professionals, teachers, librarians and principals to set goals for the patient or student and keep records of progress. Animals that have been appropriately trained are well socialized to people, other animals, medical equipment and odors.

International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP)

This organization focuses on the people who use assistance dogs – the partners.

If your assistance dog question is hard to fit, take a look here.

“A non-profit, cross-disability organization representing people partnered with guide, hearing and service dogs.”

 

The Americans With Disabilities Act & Service Dogs

This article by the U.S. Department of Justice answers commonly asked questions.  Where can dogs go? What rights do Service Dogs have? What restrictions may Service Dogs encounter? What is a Service Dog and what must it perform to be qualified as such?  These and many other answers are in this article.

 

State Laws that Apply to Service Dogs (pdf file)

 

Find out your state’s law on assistance dogs in this pdf publication. It includes laws of other countries, too.

Researched and published by Assistance Dogs International.

 

Need low cost spay, neuter and vaccinations?

Emancipet – Austin, Killeen, Pflugerville, Houston & Mobile

PAWS – Pedernales Animal Welfare Society – Fredericksburg