British Columbia & Alberta Guide Dog Services
Accredited Member of Assistance Dogs International
Where is it?
- Head Office Delta, BC
- & Calgary, AB
Who is it for?
- People living in British Columbia and Alberta who are in need of a professionally trained Guide Dog and/or Autism Support Dog
- People living in British Columbia who are in need of a professionally trained PTSD Service Dog
Contact:
BC Head Office (Greater Vancouver):
Tel: 604.940.4504 Fax: 604.940.4506
Toll-free within North America: 1.877.940.4504
info@bcguidedog.com
Alberta Office (Calgary):
Tel: 403.258.0819
Toll-free in Alberta: 1.877.258.0819
info@albertaguidedog.com
How much does it cost?
- It takes two years and upwards of $35,000 to produce one certified dog, provided free of charge to the recipient
- For these reasons we rely heavily on our generous and loyal donors
How do I apply for a Guide Dog or Autism Support Dog?
December 2020 – We regret that we are currently unable to accept any new applications for guide dogs or autism support dogs. We will re-open the application process once we have fulfilled our wait list of existing applications. We have taken this step in order to better serve the clients who are awaiting training at this time. We thank you for your patience as and regret any disappointment. Please check back again in the future.
https://bcandalbertaguidedogs.com/about-us/faq/
National Service Dog Training Centre
Accredited Member of Assistance Dogs International
Where is it?
- Cambridge ON
Who is it for / What kind of Dogs?
- Certified Service Dog for Autism
- Certified Service Dog for PTSD
- Canine Assisted Intervention
- Companion Dogs
- Career Change Dogs
How much does it cost?
- Service Dogs are valued at $30,000 over their eight to ten-year working life
- However, each dog is provided free of charge to approved clients.
Contact:
- Tel: (519) 623-4188
- Email: info@nsd.on.ca
NSD’s Service Dog for PTSD Program was launched in 2011. The dogs are used to assist individuals suffering from long-term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). NSD is currently offering this service to Veterans and First Responders in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta . Special thanks to Wounded Warriors Canada for helping us put life changing service dogs into the hands of Canadians. Although NSD is the first Assistance Dogs International accredited service dog training school in Canada to launch a program of this kind, the model is widely used in the US, and there are many reports that Service Dogs speed recovery from PTSD and help reduce reliance on medication. As the pioneer of the Certified Service Dog for Autism Program, NSD has once again shown innovation with launching this program.
Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS)
Accredited Member of Assistance Dogs International
Where is it?
- Burnaby, BC – Main Campus
- Calgary, AB – Alberta Puppy Raising Program
- Enderby, BC – Okanagan Puppy-Raising Program
Minimum Requirements to be eligible for a Dog
- Service Dogs: 16 years of age & live in Western Canada
- Hearing Dogs: 18 years of age & live in Western Canada
- PTSD Service Dogs: First Responder or Veteran – 18 Years of Age, live in lower mainland of BC or Calgary, AB regions.
- Accredited Facility Dogs: Work in a not-for-profit, education or government workplace, 18 Years of Age & live in Canada.
Contact
- Telephone: 1.877.292.1765 (Toll Free)
Kingston 4Paws
Registered Charitable Organization
Where is it?
- Kingston, Ontario
Who is it for / What kind of Dogs?
- Service Dogs for people with Autism
- Service Dogs for PTSD or Mental Health Issues
- Siezure Response Service Dog
- Mobility Service Dogs
- Canine Assisted Intervention Dogs
- Companion Dogs
Costs
- K4PSD’s Trained Service Dogs are valued at $20,000 to $25,000
- We expect them to have an eight to ten year working life
- However, each dog is provided free of charge to approved individuals
Eligible Service Area
K4PSD is currently accepting application from individuals living in Southeastern Ontario, over the age of 18 or minors over the age of 10 residing in their parents/guardians home, with a diagnosis of PTSD or certain other mental health disorders. Some restrictions may apply.
http://kingstonservicedogs.ca/service-dogs-for-ptsd-and-other-mental-health-issues/
Our service area includes only the counties of Prescott and Russell, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Lanark, Renfrew, Leeds and Grenville, Hastings, Prince Edward, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington; and the municipality of Ottawa.
http://kingstonservicedogs.ca/service-dogs-for-ptsd-and-other-mental-health-issues/
Contact
- info@k4paws.ca
- Phone: 613-766-4441
Wounded Warriors Canada
A Registered Charity
Where is it?
- Whitby, Ontario
- Vancouver, BC
We are diligently working with our program partners in order to reduce our current waitlist and will pair the largest number of dogs in our history this year. Rest assured, that we will be reassessing our situation over the coming months and will post an update at some time in the fall of Fall 2018.
Given the effectiveness and positive impact PTSD Service Dogs have on our Veterans, First Responders and their families, we are committed to doing all we can with the support of our donors and service dog program providers to be in a position to in-take new applicants.
Contact
- info@woundedwarriors.ca
- Phone: 1-888-706-4808
- Fax: 1-905-430-9419
Citadel Canine Society
A Non-Profit Society
Unlike many other service dog training schools, the sole purpose and only mission is to train and then deliver PTSD service dogs.
http://www.citadelcanine.com/mission
Where is it?
- Vancouver, BC
- Training Programs Nation-wide
Who is it for?
- New military veterans,
- First responders (Police, Fire, EMT, Nursing & 9-1-1 personnel)
General Information
Although based in British Columbia, Citadel is a Canada-wide operation, with training activity from BC right across to Newfoundland-Labrador. Citadel is primarily operated by volunteers, and training is provided by highly qualified dog trainers at greatly reduced rates, or in some instances at no charge to our Society. All of our dogs and the candidate/handlers within the Citadel Canine program are trained to the new standards recently implemented by the Justice Institute, Government of BC.
http://www.citadelcanine.com/mission
I am a veteran: How do I get a service dog? Citadel Canine welcomes inquiries from veterans, and first responders (police, fire, ambulance, nursing and 9-1-1). We prefer that the veterans are referred to us by OSISS, VAC, or DND therapeutic case managers. All candidates also have to complete a confidential Data Sheet, review and sign off on an important “Check List” document, and must be receiving counseling from a recognized case manager, and/or a licensed health care professional. The counselor must be prepared to write a letter recommending the inclusion of a service dog within the candidate’s overall therapy program.
http://www.citadelcanine.com/faq
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to a tremendous surge in interest for service dogs within the new veterans and first responder communities, Citadel Canine is very busy with pending files. If you are looking for a service dog, please hold off on making any new inquiries until we are able to once again accept new applications. If you have a dog that you would like to have assessed for admission into the service dog program, pls send an e-mail to: “info@citadelcanine.com”
http://www.citadelcanine.com/faq
Have a dog you would like trained? We’re glad to hear you’ve found a great canine companion! Please get in contact and provide a brief description of your dog and where you are located. It is then much easier for us to work with first responders or new veterans who have a dog of their own that might be ready to be trained.
Contact
http://www.citadelcanine.com/contact-us
Paws Fur Thought
Where is it?
- Eastern Passage, NS, Canada
Who is it for?
- Atlantic Canadian Military and RCMP Veterans with Invisible injuries suffered in the line of duty
Contact
Read more
Best Service Dog Breeds and How To Choose One
Sam is an experienced writer, advocate for people with disabilities and mental health, dog lover, artist, philosopher, and generally complicated human being.