Facility Dogs are obedience trained dogs used for pet therapy and other therapeutic activities in a specific facility benefiting people with special needs. They are available to special education teachers, health care professionals and therapists who wish to use a dog to facilitate their work. These dogs are expected to live in the home of their handler and not in the facility. The facility dog team does not have public access outside of the facility in which they work.
To apply for a Facility Dog, please fill out an inquiry questionnaire on our website. A Loving Paws representative will contact you and, if appropriate, will send you an application packet either via email or postal mail (your preference). There is a $25
non-refundable application processing fee due at the time of application submission. Checks can be made payable to Loving Paws Assistance Dogs. Applicants who qualify will be interviewed and notified when a dog is available. Your total cost is the $25 application fee and a $1,000 team training fee due upon admission into class. Loving Paws does not provide Guide Dogs for the Blind, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, Seizure Alert Dogs, Diabetic Alert Dogs, Psychiatric Support Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Protection Dogs or dogs to keep children in the yard. You can find information about many other organizations that are accredited through Assistance Dogs International at www.adionline.org.
Team Training
Loving Paws accepts qualified applicants from throughout the United States. Facility Dog applicants are matched with dogs that complement their personalities and needs. Each applicant receives two to three weeks of specialized training with the dogs, which includes mastering skills in dog training, dog care, leadership, public etiquette, and safety. We offer one Team Training class per year, in either Oregon or California, typically during the summer.
There is a $1,000 class fee for Team Training. Our assistance dogs are always provided free of charge, thanks to our generous volunteers and supporters.
Applicants are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses as well as class costs such as field trips and meals. Annual home visits from LPAD staff ensure the team is safe and working well.
How do the students learn to control the dogs?
Loving Paws provides a Team Training class for the applicant. Team Training consists of lectures, training exercises, working with dogs in the classroom and in public, and several written and practical tests. The applicant must successfully complete the Team Training class before a dog will be placed.
What happens after the dog is placed?
An instructor makes regularly-scheduled home visits to evaluate the team’s progress and resolve any problems. Graduates can call or e-mail Loving Paws for advice or help at any time.
Why does this concept work?
It works because these special dogs want to be loved. They enjoy their work and are willing to be on call 24 hours a day whether it’s going for help or just providing companionship. These dogs will provide unconditional love and companionship as long as they live, and that may well be the most important of all the tasks they do.
Owning an Assistance Dog
While the benefits of owning an Assistance Dog are great, the responsibilities are many. This dog is not a toy that you can put in a closet when you’re tired of working with it. He is not a robot who will do things perfectly every time. The dog will live in your home with you.
You must be willing and able to care for an assistance dog. They can add $50 or more per month to your family budget with the cost of vet care (routine and traumatic), food, grooming, toys, and equipment. They also require a lot of time, attention, and exercise. You will be the one responsible for the care of the dog at all times.
We urge all applicants to think carefully before applying for a dog. If you wouldn’t adopt a 3-year-old child, you shouldn’t get an assistance dog. |
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