Service Dogs - Canine Support Teams

CANINE SUPPORT TEAM SERVICE DOGS

We place service dogs with disabled clients who have various disabilities including, but not limited to: Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Limited Mobility, and more

Our Service Dogs

It is important to note that service dogs are not pets.

At this time we do not provide dogs for Diabetes or Seizure Alert.

Children under 16 years of age are considered on a case by case basis.

Our dogs are either born into the CST breeding program, rescued from various shelters, or donated by private breeders. They are accepted into the training program after passing rigorous health and temperament assessments.

CST adheres to the highest standards of training, behavior, and health for our service dogs. All of our trainers are committed to humane treatment of our dogs at every level of training.

For the first 14-16 months, the dogs are raised by volunteer Puppy Raisers who provide the foundation of training and socialization. After the Puppy Raiser completes the program, the dog then is moved into our Prison Pup Programs. At this point, the dog is paired with an Inmate Trainer who is tasked with training the dog for the next four to six months.

Getting Started

To begin the process of finding a service dog to assist you, please complete the service dog application. There is a $50 non-refundable application fee that is due upon submission. All fees for veterans are waived.

Once a potential match has been identified, the applicant is expected to contribute towards a portion of the cost of preparing the service dog during for the two years it is in the training program. The placement fee is $9,500 and is to be paid in full before the first day of Team Training. The program requires travel to CST for twelve days of Team Training (travel, lodging, meals, and activities are the responsibility of the applicant). The applicant is also expected to return annually for recertification (recertification is $100/year). The recertification fee waived for veterans.