Thank you for your interest in The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs (JLAD).
When we receive this signed document, we will send you the complete application for a Civilian JLAD service dog. Our mission:
To provide skilled, devoted companions to support and assist veterans, first responders, and others with disabilities, creating cohesive teams focused on building a life of greater freedom and independence.
JLAD conducts its business and acceptance process in a manner that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, veteran status, genetic information, military assistance, or other protected status.
Applicant Criteria:
1. The applicant must be at least 14 years of age to apply for this program. However, to be eligible for placement of a dog a client must be 16 years of age. The guarding for the minor will need to submit their name in the appropriate box below.
2. JLAD dogs assist people with primary mobility impairment such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, paraplegia, tetraplegia, arthritis, amputation, stroke, or traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, and PTSD. JLAD does not train dogs to assist individuals with seizure disorders, blood sugar disorders, those with significant vision loss, and companion or emotional support dogs. The client must be able to perform all handling requirements. If the disability limits the client’s ability to participate in Team Training, an assistant may help with writing tasks.
3. Applicant must have a qualifying disability that impacts their quality of life, independence, and activities of daily living.
4. The task(s) to be trained must be directly related to the client’s disability.
5. JLAD will determine acceptance of applicant based on the task-based needs of the applicant.
6. Applicants must have a referral or recommendation by their healthcare provider.
7. Applicants must be willing and able to provide for the dog’s physical, emotional, and financial needs.
8. Applicants must have a stable home environment, support of all other household and family members, be financially stable, open minded, and have a willingness to learn.
9. Applicants living in group/transition homes are not eligible for a JLAD service dog.
Program Criteria
All of our dogs are trained in basic obedience commands, house manners, and how to behave in public using a least intrusive, minimally aversive methodology. Our dogs are also trained in technical skills such as: retrieving, opening doors, turning lights on and off, balance assistance, bracing, social interaction, and PTSD. In regard to this training, our dogs:
- must exhibit friendly public interaction
- meet all existing Assistance Dogs International (ADI) standards regarding temperament and behavior, as well as exhibit:
· tolerance to a high level of stress
· sensitivity without anxiety
· the ability to perceive environmental and interpersonal cues
· the ability to complete tasks in very difficult and emotional situations
· no reactivity, possessiveness, guarding behaviors or increased anxiety.
3. meet all existing ADI obedience, accessibility and training standards including training with visual, verbal, or environmental cues to do three visually identifiable tasks that directly mitigate the recipient the recipient's disability.
Upon acceptance of the application JLAD will schedule an in-home visit, ZOOM, or FaceTime, depending or your distance from our headquarters. The purpose of this visit is to meet with you, as many family members as possible, any others living in your home, and family pets. This meeting helps JLAD understand all elements that will influence the working environment of a service dog. Upon acceptance into our program, we will start the process of looking for a suitable match. Timing and placement of your assistance dog depends on the availability of a suitable dog.
Once a dog that JLAD deems a suitable match becomes available, you will be notified. We will provide you more information about the dog and when the next Team Training will be held. Team Training varies depending on the program and will be explained further during the first visit. You MUST attend a Team Training and pass a Public Access Test before JLAD will allow you to take your assistance dog home. JLAD fill follow up with the client monthly for the first six months and yearly after that to assure a smooth transition into this new working partnership. Follow-ups will be accomplished using a real-time, two-way communication by a staff member or trained volunteer. A yearly veterinary report will need to be submitter by the client for the dog. Six months after the client's partnership with a dog, the partnership will be reevaluated, and if appropriate, full ownership of the dog will be transferred to the client.
Recertification is required every two years. Recipients and their dogs will need to return to JLAD for this process. If for some reason a client cannot come to Salem for this process, a virtual test can be administered. This must be requested and scheduled two month prior to the required PAT, and must be completed within two weeks prior to the scheduled PAT.
If a client fails to maintain the training and prescribed behavior of the their dog, and the dog becomes non-compliant, JLAD will not be responsible for the re-training of the dog, nor will JLAD be held responsible to replace such a dog.
Special skills are trained on an individual basis. JLAD will NOT train behaviors that encourage guarding, protecting, or searching for a threat. In addition, our dogs are not trained for emotional support or medical alert. Dog availability may take approximately three years.JLAD's policy ensures that if a dog must be removed from its partnership, someone who is part of the client's support system will be notified and preferably be present at the time of the dog's surrender to our program.
Program Cost:
1. Non-refundable Application fee: $155.00
2. JLAD Service Dog cost: $15,000.00
· The price for a dog is subject to change but it will be secured once you are accepted into our program.
It costs between $30,000-$35,000 to raise and train a service dog. We however only charge $15,000.00. Payment arrangements must be made upon acceptance of the application and must be paid in full before the beginning of Team Training.
If an applicant decides to withdraw their application at any time prior to Team Training, JLAD will retain $2000.00 of the money collected and reimburse the balance. If the applicant, through no fault of JLAD, fails to complete Team Training, the dog remains the property of JLAD, and the $15,000.00 will be retained by JLAD.
No applicant, client, or graduate is required to participate in fund raising for JLAD, nor be involved in public relations activities without their expressed and voluntary permission.
The application process must be completed within three months of submitting this form. Any incomplete applications will be deleted from our system at that time, and the application process will need to be restarted.
The cost of a dog will be established upon acceptance into the program. Once a dog is paid for in full, should the client decline a dog when a dog is ready, JLAD reserves the right to update the price of the dog to the latest price increase.
If you have further questions, please contact us at: 503-551-4572 or info@joydogs.org.
By typing my name below, I acknowledge having read the terms of this document and accept the conditions set forth by JLAD.