Welcome to Service Animal Organizations New York
This is not an exhaustive list of service dog organizations in New York; just something to get you going if you’re looking for a general place to start. There are other ways to train a service dog.
You could train the dog yourself, or get help from a dog trainer. Or, you could use any of those options in combination. Here are some service dog organizations in New York, in no particular order.
Canine Companions For Independence
Canine Companions For Independence
was founded in 1975. Their dogs and all follow-up services are provided at no cost to clients.
This organization is best suited for:
- Adults with physical or auditory disabilities
- Children with physical or cognitive disabilities aged 5+
- Adults with physical or cognitive disabilities who require the assistance of a facilitator such as a parent, caregiver, or spouse
- Veterans with a physical or auditory disability or post-traumatic stress disorder* (PTSD)
- Professionals working professionally in a health care, visitation, criminal justice, or education setting
*Service dogs for veterans with PTSD are provided in specific geographic regions.
Address:
Miller Family Campus
286 Middle Island Road
Medford, NY 11763
(631) 561-0200 Voice
(631) 561-0230 Fax
(800) 572-BARK (2275) Toll-free
Freedom Guide Dogs For The Blind
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Upstate New York, which breeds, raises, trains and places guide dogs with the blind and visually impaired through a distinctive program called hometown training.
Hometown training
While the total cost to prepare and train one service dog from puppy to being able to work costs around $25,000, Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind provides guide dogs at no cost.
Freedom Guide Dogs
1210 Hardscrabble Road
Cassville, NY 13318
Phone: 315.822.5132
Fax: 315.293.2465
Guiding Eyes For The Blind
Guiding Eyes for the Blind provides guide dogs to people with vision loss. They are passionate about connecting exceptional dogs with individuals for greater independence. All services are free of charge.
Apply for a guide dog: Contact the Admissions Department at 1-800-942-0149, ext. 2222 or admissions@guidingeyes.org
Guide Dog Foundation For The Blind, Inc.
Guide Dog Foundation For The Blind’s mission is to improve the quality of life for people who are blind, have low vision, or have other special needs.
In order to apply for a guide dog, applicants must be legally blind and can demonstrate the need for a guide dog to help them remain safe and effective in their everyday travel. We also look for clients that can independently travel practical and purposeful routes with their current mobility device.
Get a guide dog
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc.
371 East Jericho Turnpike
Smithtown, NY 11787-2976
1-631-930-9000
Toll-free:1-800-548-4337 (within the US)
Fax: 1-631-930-9009
info@guidedog.org
The Seeing Eye, Inc.
The Seeing Eye’s mission is to enhance the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of people who are blind, through the use of specially trained Seeing Eye® dogs.
Students pay $150 for their first dog and $50 for each successor dog. Veterans of the military pay $1. Payments can be made in installments after students leave the school. A fraction of the total cost to create a match between a person and a dog, this fee reflects the student’s commitment to enhanced independence.
The Seeing Eye
PO Box 375
Morristown, NJ 07963-0375
By Phone:
(973) 539-4425
Putnam Service Dogs
Putnam Service dogs train service dogs for people with physical disabilities other than blindness. Check out their website and apply for a dog.
P.O. Box 573
Brewster, NY 10509
info@putnamservicedogs.org
917-449-5359
Assistance Dogs International Accredited Organizations Serving New York
The following are a list of organizations that serve New York. Look for one that suits your needs.
Accreditation is a pillar of Assistance Dogs International. ADI accredits not-for-profit programs that place assistance dogs to ensure that they adhere to the highest standards in all aspects of their operations, including ethical treatment and training of dogs, ethical treatment of clients, solid service dog training and follow-up care. Only the not-for-profit programs that have been accredited can be a member of ADI. ADI does not provide membership to individuals or for-profit programs.
Assistance Dogs International
America’s VetDogs
The service dog programs of America’s VetDogs were created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to:
- United States veterans
- Active-duty service members,
- First responders with disabilities
VetDogs trains and places service dogs for those with:
- Physical disabilities
- Guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision
- Service dogs to help mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder
- Facility dogs as part of the rehabilitation process in military and VA hospitals
Puppies Behind Bars
Puppies Behind Bars is a unique organization where prison inmates raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and first responders. They also raise dogs as explosive-detection canines for law enforcement.
They provide:
- Service dogs for veterans
- Service dogs for first responders
- Explosive-detection canine program
Little Angels Service Dogs
Little Angels Service Dogs specialize in:
- Autism Assistance Dogs
- Hearing Assistance Dogs
- Mobility Assistance Dogs
- Psychiatric Service Dogs
- Seizure alert dogs
- Diabetic alert dogs
Paws With A Cause
PAWS Service Dogs are custom-trained to assist people with physical disabilities affecting one or more limbs.
PAWS has trained Service Dogs to help people with:
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Rheumatoidal Degeneration
- ALS
- Cerebral Palsy
- Spinal cord injuries
- Many other conditions affecting a person’s mobility or strength
- Seizure disorders
- Hearing loss
- Service dogs for children with autism
Canine Partners For Life
Canine Partners For Life train a wide variety of different types of dogs.
- Seizure alert dogs
- Cardiac alert dogs
- Diabetes alert dogs
- Home companion dogs
- Courthouse companion dogs
- Residential companion dogs
Paws 4 People
Paws 4 People specializes in training customized Assistance Dogs for two general groups:
- Children and adolescents with physical, neurological, psychiatric, and/or emotional disabilities
- Veterans and Service Members with Chronic/Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma, and Moral Injury
Organizations Located In New York
- America’s VetDogs – the Veteran’s K-9 Corps, Inc.
- Canine Companions
- Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc.
- Puppies Behind Bars
Organizations Serving New York But Located Elsewhere
- Assistance Canine Training Services (ACTS)
- Assistance Dogs of the West
- Bergin University of Canine Studies
- Canine Partners For Life
- Canines for Service, Inc.
- Dogs for Better Lives
- Duo Dogs, Inc. (formerly Support Dogs, Inc.)
- ECAD, Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities
- Freedom Service Dogs of America
- Guide Dogs for the Blind
- Guide Dogs of America/Tender Loving Canines
- Guide Dogs of Texas
- K9’s 4 Mobility, Inc
- K9’s For Warriors
- KSDS Assistance Dogs, Inc.
- Leader Dogs for the Blind
- Little Angels Service Dogs
- Mutts with a Mission
- NEADS World Class Service Dogs
- For a full list, head to Assistance Dogs International
