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The American Service Dog FoundationThe American Service Dog Foundation
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How it works

From a shelter kennel to a working service dog — free of charge.

Every dog we place travels the same path: rescued, cared for, professionally trained, and carefully matched with a person whose life it will change.

A silver Labrador in a service dog vest lying calmly on the floor

1. Rescue

We work directly with Ohio animal shelters, who alert us to dogs that stand out: calm under pressure, food or toy motivated, curious about people, unbothered by noise and movement.

Candidates are temperament-tested by professionals before any commitment is made. Not every dog is right for service work, and we are honest about that — dogs who aren't a fit are supported into loving pet homes.

A hound wearing a red 'service dog in training' vest beside its handler

2. Health & foundations

Every selected dog receives a full veterinary work-up, vaccinations, spay or neuter, and any care they were missing in the shelter system.

Then foundation obedience begins — house manners, leash skills, focus, and the calm confidence that public access work demands.

A white service dog in a working harness standing beside a person using a power wheelchair

3. Professional training

Training is delivered by our professional trainer partner, Buckeye K9. Dogs learn task work tailored to the disability they will support — retrieving dropped items, opening doors, medication reminders, deep pressure therapy, interrupting anxiety and PTSD episodes, and bracing or mobility support.

Dogs are proofed in the real world: grocery stores, restaurants, medical offices, public transit, crowds, and elevators.

A man in a wheelchair greeting his yellow Labrador service dog in a red vest

4. Matching & placement

We match on need, energy, home environment, and chemistry — the match matters as much as the training.

Recipients complete hands-on team training with their dog so the partnership works from day one. Placement is free of charge, and we stay in touch for the life of the working team.

What a service dog really costs

Nationally, a fully trained service dog costs between $20,000 and $50,000. Most programs pass some or all of that to the recipient, or ask them to fundraise it themselves. We don't.

  • Veterinary care, vaccinations, spay/neuter$800 – $1,500
  • Food, gear, crate, and vest$1,200 – $2,000
  • Months of professional training$15,000 – $30,000
  • Team training & lifetime follow-up$2,000 – $4,000
  • Charged to the recipient$0
Fund a dog's trainingApply for a service dog

Typical timeline

  1. Weeks 1–2

    Shelter identification and temperament testing

  2. Weeks 2–4

    Veterinary care, decompression, foundation obedience

  3. Months 2–8

    Task training and public access proofing

  4. Months 8–12

    Matching, team training, and placement

  5. Ongoing

    Lifetime follow-up support for every team

Common questions

Your gift changes two lives.

Every donation helps rescue a shelter dog, fund professional service dog training, and place that dog with a qualified recipient at no cost.

Tax-deductible · 501(c)(3) · EIN 86-2962306

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Every gift trains a rescue dog to change a life.

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