Service animals, also known as assistance animals, are animals which are trained exclusively to assist people with disabilities. Traditionally thought of as "seeing-eye dogs" or "service dogs," the genre is no longer confined to dogs.
Recommended Resources
4 Paws For Ability is a non-profit organization placing mobility, hearing, seizure, autism, and emotional assistance dogs with children and adults with disabilities.
http://www.4pawsforability.org/
Canine Assistants is a non-profit organization which trains dogs to turn on lights, open doors, pull chairs, and retrieve dropped objects.
http://www.canineassistants.org/
Discovery Dogs is a non-profit organization with a mandate to promote greater independence to disabled individuals by providing assistance dogs.
http://www.discoverydogs.org/
Dogs for the Deaf is a non-profit organization which provides trained canines for the hearing impaired. Web site features information about placement, the application process, etc.
http://www.dogsforthedeaf.org/
Guide Dogs for the Blind is a non-profit organization providing guide dogs and training in their use to visually impaired people throughout the United States of America and Canada.
http://www.guidedogs.com/
Helping Paws is a non-profit organization which provides therapy and companion dogs to improve the quality of life for a wide variety of individuals.
http://www.helpingpaws.ca
IHDI, International Hearing Dog, is a non-profit organization which trains and places hearing dogs with hearing impaired individuals.
http://www.ihdi.org
The New Horizons Service Dogs is a non-profit organization that partners trained dogs with disabled handlers, specifically the blind, deaf, and wheelchair-bound.
http://www.newhorizonsservicedogs.org/
PALS (People and Animal Learning Services) Therapy is a non-profit organization offering therapeutic riding programs for children and adults with disabilities.
http://www.palstherapy.org/
Paws with a Cause is a non-profit organization which trains hearing dogs and service dogs for people with disabilities for lifetime support.
http://www.pawswithacause.org/
Power Paws Assistance Dogs is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering people with disabilities for greater independence through the use of skilled service dog.
http://www.azpowerpaws.org/
The Seeing Eye is a non-profit organization seeking to enhance the independence of blind persons in the United States and Canada through the use of seeing eye dogs.
http://www.seeingeye.org/
Therapet is a non-profit organization which uses animals in healing and rehabilitation of disabled and chronically ill individuals.
http://www.therapet.org/
Therapy Animals is a non-profit organization bringing animal resources to human needs; specifically in the areas of physical, occupational, speech therapies.
http://www.therapyanimals.org/
Therapy Dogs International is a non-profit organization which provides qualified handlers and therapy dogs for visits; complete with training program information.
http://www.tdi-dog.org/
TherapyPets is a non-profit organization which promotes animal assisted therapy; with testimonials from both disabled recipients and volunteer trainers.
http://www.therapypets.org/
