Service dogs are highly trained to assist people with tasks they cannot perform due to disability or illness. The centers at which these dogs are trained often seek qualified individuals or families to foster puppies until they are mature enough to start specialized training.
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Types of Service Dogs
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There are many types of service dogs, many of which are trained by professional organizations. The most familiar service dogs are guide dogs that lead the blind. Others include ̶0;hearing ear̶1; dogs, seizure alert dogs and mobility dogs. Some service dogs help their owners address psychiatric needs. Service dogs are sometimes referred to as ̶0;assistance̶1; dogs.
Service Dog Organizations
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Many, if not most service dog organizations are privately owned, nonprofit organizations. They can be found in a variety of states, including Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York State, Assistance Dogs of America, Inc. in Ohio, and Texas Hearing & Service Dogs, among many others. People interested in fostering a service dog should be able to find an organization willing to work with them within a reasonable distance.
Requirements for Service Dog Fostering
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Foster parents must meet different requirements for many of the different organizations. According to Assistance Dogs, for example, while no previous dog training experience is required, applicants must live within 150 miles of their facility and they must be willing to complete the training regimen including visits to the organization̵7;s facility for scheduled events. By contrast, the Guiding Eyes for the Blind has puppy raisers ranging in area from Maine to North Carolina and as far west as Ohio; however, foster homes of dogs used for breeding must live within 60 to 90 minutes of the facility.
Applying to Foster a Service Dog
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Applications to foster a service dog may be found on the organizations̵7; websites or may be requested over the phone. Applicants should expect multi-part applications and one or more interviews to determine their suitability. References may be required, as well.
Difficulty of Fostering
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Many organizations will stress the difficulty of raising a puppy for their use. Most will require a minimum amount of training time per day and a certain amount of training outside the home. Prospective puppy raisers must also be aware of the difficulty of giving up a dog that they have raised for a year or longer. Although puppy raising or fostering is a valuable service to provide, it is not for someone who simply wants a cute puppy to play with.
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