assistance dog programs
Assistance dogs are highly trained in specific
tasks to help individuals with disabilities achieve
greater independence. Guide dogs help a
visually impaired person to navigate their life,
thereby providing increased mobility and
independence. Hearing dogs specialize in
alerting deaf or hard-of-hearing partners to key
sounds - an alarm, a doorbell, a smoke detector
or a crying child.
Service dogs assist mobility-impaired individuals
with such specific tasks as opening doors,
handling monetary transactions at stores, retrieving dropped items, switching lights on and off and bringing the
phone in an emergency.
Medical alert dogs are trained to warn a diabetic of a potentially fatal drop in blood sugar, to anticipate a
partner’s epileptic seizure or to prevent or soothe a debilitating panic attack. Specially trained autism dogs
partner with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder to help prevent fleeing, to increase social
interaction and to engage difficult to reach children.
With the partnership of a highly specialized dog, thousands of people with disabilities and their families are
offered increased independence and confidence, along with the gift of unconditional love.
The Planet Dog Foundation is proud of its support for the following exemplary organizations: