Thank
you for your interest in JLAD (The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs). We will be
happy to send you the complete application for a veteran/first responder owner
trained dog if you and your dog meet all of the following criteria. 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 20 years of
age to apply for this program.
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 owner must
be able to perform all training requirements.
If the disability limits the owner’s ability to train their dog another
person may assist in the training.
3. Applicant must have a qualifying disability
that impacts their quality of life, independence, and activities of daily
living.
4.
The tasks(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 and the dog’s potential to meet
the owner’s specific needs.
6. Applicants must have a referral or
recommendation by your healthcare provider as submitted in Part C of the
application.
7. Applicant must have a qualifying disability
that impacts your quality of life, independence, and activities of daily
living.
8. Applicants must be willing and able to
provide for the dog’s physical, emotional, and financial needs.
9.
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.
10. Applicants living in a group/transition home
are not eligible for the JLAD owner trained program.
11.The
owner must have a contingency plan for the dog in the event that the owner is
not able to care for the dog. The care
for the dog is not the responsibility of JLAD.
Dog Criteria:
Any dog not meeting JLAD required standards
will not be accepted into the program.
To
be accepted into the program:
1. 1. The
dog must be at least 12 months of age and no more than 36 months of age to enroll
in the Owner Trained program.
2. 2. The
dog must pass the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) prior to acceptance into the
program. A copy of this certificate will need to be submitted during our
interview or mailed and receiver by us prior to the interview.
3. 3. The
dog's breed must be void of guarding and herding instincts such as found in
Shepherds, Rottweilers, Staffordshire Terriers, Huskies, Doberman, McNab,
Australian Cattle Dog, Cane Corso, to name a few.
4. 4. JLAD
will not train any task that arouse a dog's prey drive, or fear to elicit a
display of aggression for defense purposes.
5. 5. Mixed
breeds will require genetic testing to ensure guarding/herding instincts are
excluded.
6. 6. Adult
dogs must weigh a minimum of 45 pounds and not exceed 100 pounds.
7. 7. The
dog must be spayed or neutered prior to reaching 18 months of age.
8. 8. The
dog must remain current on all vaccinations. Copies of veterinary records must
be provided to JLAD.
9. 9. The
dog must pass all health clearances required of assistance dogs which are hips,
elbows, heart, and eyes between the ages of 12 and 18 months.
10.10. The
dog must meet all standard required to become a certified assistance dog
11.11. The
dog must perform a task that mitigates his handle’s disability in a significant
manner and must be specific to the handler’s disability.
12.12. The
dog must meet the same program standards as the dogs trained and placed by
JLAD.
To
graduate from the program the dog must have:
1. 1. Tolerance
to a high level of stress
2. 2. Sensitivity
without anxiety
3. 3. The
ability to perceive environmental and interpersonal cues
4. 4. The
ability to complete tasks in very difficult and emotional situations
5. 5. No
reactivity, possessiveness, guarding behaviors or increased anxiety
Program
Requirements:
After
acceptance into the program, a JLAD representative will schedule an in-home
visit for the purpose of understand all elements that will influence the
working environment of your dog.
All
dogs are trained in basic obedience cues, house manners, and how to behave in
public. Our dogs are also trained in
technical skills such as: retrieving, opening doors, turning lights on and off,
balance assistance, bracing, social interactions, and PTSD. JLAD may at any
time, including during program training, team training, or after certification
determine to discharge/decertify the dog because of temperament, health, or
behavioral or training issues. There is
a 50% probability that any given dog will make it into service work. In regards to this training:
1. 1. Training
must be completed within a consecutive two-year period or the team will be
dropped from the program.
2. 2. The
owner will attend weekly classes held in consecutive increments of six months. Teams must live within an hours' drive from
our facility in Salem, OR.
3. 3. More
than three absences during any six-month period is cause for dismissal from the
program.
4. 4. The
team must meet all standards set forth by Assistance Dogs International (ADI)
to be certified as an assistance dog.
5. JLAD will provide clients with a printed training manual.
6. A least intrusive, minimally aversive training methodology is use with all dogs in our program.
5. 7. JLAD
will perform monthly follow-ups with the team for the first 6 months, at 9
months, then yearly following program completion and certification.
6. 8. JLAD,
at its sole discretion, will decide when the team is ready to go through the
team training process and to take the Public Access Test (PAT).
7. 9. The
owner will be provided instruction in meeting the ADI Minimum Standards for
Assistance Dogs in Public. The owner must be able to demonstrate:
·
That
the dog can perform a task directly related to their disability
·
That
the client has knowledge of acceptable training techniques
·
That
the client has understanding of canine care and health
·
The
ability to maintain training, problem solve, and continue to train/add new
skills (as required) with their assistance dog
·
Knowledge
of federal, state, and local access laws, and appropriate behavior
·
Meet
recertification requirements every two years by successfully passing the PAT.
As a JLAD client this must be done through us in Salem, Oregon. Virtual
recertification arrangements can be requested and scheduled at least two months
prior to the PAT to which the client was invited. Failure to do so, and not attending the
scheduled PAT, is cause for revoking the certification of the team. All
equipment bearing the JLAD logo will need to be returned immediately.
Extenuating circumstances need to be submitted to our board of directors for
evaluation. If the PAT is not completed successfully, the owner and dog will be
required to participate in remedial training. The PAT must be successfully
completed within 30 days of the original testing unless there are extenuating
circumstance as determined by JLAD.
Failure to successfully complete the PAT within the allotted time will
result in the dog not be certified as an assistance dog. Tuition money will not
be refunded.
8. 10. Identification
of the dog as an assistance dog will be accomplished with a laminated ID card
with a photo and names of the team.
Whenever the dog is in public the dog must wear a coat, a harness, or
other similar piece of equipment or clothing that is clean and easy to read
which identifies the dog as an assistance dog.
9. 11.The dog must be friendly with public interaction
Special
skills are trained on an individual basis.
JLAD will NOT train behaviors that encourage guarding, protecting, or
searching for a threat. In addition,
we will not train any dogs for emotional support or medical alert.
To
be considered for our program, you must fill out an application. Upon acceptance of the application JLAD will
schedule an in-home visit, Skype, Facetime, or Zoom depending on your distance
from our headquarters. The purpose of
this visit is to meet with you, as many family members as possible, and 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.
JLAD will inform you as to when you can start training, as well as when
you are ready to take the Public Access Test (PAT). At this time you will be invited to the two-week Team Training which will be explained further during our first visit. You MUST attend a Team Training and pass a Public Access Test before JLAD will allow you to hold out your dog as an assistance dog. JLAD will 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 real-time, two-way communication by a staff member or trained volunteer. Three months following service dog placement, JLAD will follow up with the Veteran to evaluate their dog’s behavior, and as needed the client will participate in training lessons and evaluations given in their home. Veterans must live within a 150-mile radius from our center in order for us to make this in-home visit. Should a client live further away, JLAD requires that the client cover our travel cost for the extended distance, overnight stay in a hotel of the client’s recommendation, and all meals. Arrangements and payment for this visit must be received before the commencement of team training.
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 return to Salem, the client can request to take the PAT virtually. This request and scheduling will need to be accomplished two months prior to the test to which the client is invited, and must be completed within two weeks prior to the scheduled PAT in Salem.
If the client fails to maintain the training and prescribed behavior of their dog, and their dog becomes non-compliant, JLAD will not be responsible for the re-training of their dog, nor will JLAD be held responsible to replace such a dog. Yearly veterinary report will need to be submitter by the client for the dog.
Program Cost:
Tuition
fees are waived for Veterans and First Responders. However, the application fee is required:
1. Non-refundable Application fee: $155.00.
2. The program cost is waived for veterans/first
responders as a thank you for your service.
Application
Process
1.
Submit this completed form.
2.
(a) Upon acceptance of the breed, and if your dog is between one and three
years of age, you will be sent an application fee payment request.
(b) If the breed is declined, no further
action is necessary.
3.
When the application fee is received, the full application will be sent.
4.
We will either accept or decline your application via email after the IHV at
which time we will discuss which class would be best suited for you.
In
addition to the above criteria, it is understood that JLAD is not responsible
for respite care nor re-homing the dog for any reason.
No
applicant, client, or graduate is required to participate in fundraising or
public relations activities without their expressed and voluntary permission to
cover any program cost or after care follow-up visits.
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.
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.