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.
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 dogs are trained in basic obedience commands, house manners, and how to behave in public. Dogs are also trained in technical skills such as: retrieving, opening doors, turning lights on and off, balance assistance, bracing, social interaction, and PTSD interrupt. In regard to this training, dogs:
1. must exhibit friendly public interaction
2. 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'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. Team Training must be attended, and you must pass a Public Access Test before JLAD will allow you to take your assistance dog home.
Upon service dog placement, JLAD will follow up with the client, using two-way real-time open communication that enables a dialogue between the program and the client. This communication will be on a monthly basis for the first six months to assure a smooth transition into this new, working partnership. Yearly follow-ups will begin twelve months after placement and will include the submission of the previous year’s veterinary records by the client, for their dog. If needed, refresher training or additional training for the dog due to a change of the client's functional level, can be provided. After six months of 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. Virtual recertification arrangements must be requested and scheduled at least two months prior to the PAT to which the client was invited. Failure to take the 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 approval.
JLAD is available to address dog behavior and veterinary problems that may arise. However, if the 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. If at any time JLAD deems that the dog is not cared for in the agreed upon manner, and/or the dog is not kept within the contract weight, JLAD reserves the right to remove service dog status from the dog. JLAD is available to support the client in dealing with legal problems pertaining to the use of the assistance dog as allowed by law as well as give emergency advice.
JLAD will train special skill on an individual basis. However, 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 two years.
Veterans must live within a 150-mile radius from our center in order for us to make the three month follow-up in-home visit. Should a client live further away, JLAD requires that the client cover our cost for the recommendation, and meals. Arrangements and payment for this visit must be received before the commencement of this trip.
JLAD’s policy ensures that, if a dog must be removed from its partnership, someone who is part of the veteran’s support system will be notified and preferably be present at the time of the dog's surrender to our program. The veteran's last known mental health provider will also be notified.
JLAD will train special skill on an individual basis. However, 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 two years.
Program Cost:
1. Non-refundable Application fee: $155.00
2. Veteran/First Responder Service Dog cost: Free of charge (thank you for your service)
Although it costs between $30,000-$35,000 to raise and train a service dog, a veteran can receive a service dog free of charge! The waiting period for a free of charge dog is considerably longer as we can only give away service dogs as our budget permits. Therefore, a veteran can choose to purchase a dog from us at the regular rate of $15,000.00, which will considerably shorten the waiting period. Should you want to exercise this option, please check the box below. Prices are subject to change each calendar year; however, prices will be honored for the year the application was received. If a veteran opting to pay for their assistance dog 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 fundraising 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.
For those opting to purchase a dog, the cost of a dog will be established upon acceptance into the program.
If a client declines placement of the dog when a match is made, JLAD will delay placement of a dog one time. Should a client decline placement for a second time, JLAD reserves the right to update the price of the dog to the current price.
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.