Our Services
HEARING & SERVICE DOGS
HEARING DOGS
HEARING DOGS
A door knock, a ringing telephone, a smoke alarm, and an alarm clock are sounds a person with a hearing impairment may be missing. Our service training program prepares dogs to respond to and serve people with special needs. Experienced trainers work with individuals and their dogs, and this unique program even offers in-home training for both the dog and owner.
SERVICE DOGS
A Service Dog is a dog that has been specially trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. Mobility Dogs offer a range of simple tasks that can be daunting to a person with a physical challenge, such as rising from a chair, picking up a phone, and retrieving a fallen object. Service Dogs can benefit people with disabilities associated with varied diagnoses, including (but not limited to) spinal cord/head trauma, visual or hearing deficits, arthritis, ataxia/poor balance, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal bifida, and psychiatric disabilities.
The Federal Americans with Disabilities Act allows people with disabilities to task train their own dogs. However, you may need the assistance of a dog trainer for task training if you wanted public access rights. Title III, 28CFR Sec 36.104 & 36.302.
(see Service Dog Laws Brochure). State laws can vary from state to state.
Research the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners to find help with specific “tasks” to train an assistance dog (listed by disability) www.iaadp.org.
Remember, public access dogs must have impeccable training. If you are outside the Vero Beach area and are looking for an organization closer to you, consider the Assistance Dogs International website. www.assistancedogsinternational.org.
If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We hope this information is helpful.
SERVICE DOGS FOR VETERANS
Our Service Dogs for Veterans who live in Indian River and St Lucie Counties in Florida “task trains” dogs to assist their veterans with hearing and mobility challenges, as well as the effects of Post Traumatic Stress (PTS).
A Service Dog is a dog that has been specially trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Florida law both define a service animal as any dog that is trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a physical or psychological disability.
Service Dogs for Veterans are specially trained to assist the veteran with the specific set of challenges they may face. Service dogs can benefit people with disabilities associated with varied diagnoses, including (but not limited to) spinal cord/head trauma, visual or hearing deficits, arthritis, ataxia/poor balance and psychiatric disabilities.
PTSD Tasks can include waking from a nightmare, creating a “safe zone” in a crowd, turning lights on in a dark room, creating a distraction or finding an exit to leave a stressful situation, calling for help on a special K-9 emergency phone, providing deep pressure for calming effect and reducing hyper-vigilance through task work.
For information on our Service Dog Training program,
contact us by phone (772) 567-8969 or by email:office@dogsforlifevb.org
FACILITY DOGS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
PET ASSISTED THERAPY
SERVICE DOGS FOR VETERANS
Dogs For Life, Inc. has partnered with the Indian River County Sheriff’s office to train and certify School Resource Dogs, to be used to comfort children under distress and that need unconditional love. Service & Hearing Dogs that are certified in DFL’s programs are offering pet assisted therapy for employees and Police Officers at the Vero Beach Police Department.
Community & Professional
RECOGNITION
