Program Overview
In recent years, we have come to recognize that as our nation’s veterans age, and as our wounded soldiers return home from the global war on terrorism, there would be a greater need for guide dogs and other specialized service animals. The VetDogs program was created so that America’s veterans would have their own K-9 corps and the chance to live with dignity and self-reliance once again. In addition to guide dogs, VetDogs will train and supply service dogs for veterans who have disabilities other than visual impairment.

An integral part of the Foundation’s program services, training for staff and volunteers now incorporates skills needed for other service dogs.

For a dog to become a Capable Canine or service dog, it must meet the health, safety, and training standards of our special needs program, and must be trained for and matched with to meet the needs of a person with disabilities other than blindness. For example, one of our first VetDogs placements was for a young soldier who lost his arm in Iraq and sustained other muscle injuries. His dog has been trained to provide balance, fetch and retrieve items, and carry a backpack when he attends college classes.

Veterans will be evaluated to determine their particular needs so that the dog may be trained to meet those needs. Students receive the service dog, necessary equipment, personalized instruction with a comprehensive training program, and aftercare services free of charge. The Guide Dog Foundation plans to be the standard by which the military and the Veterans Administration measure assistance dog providers. We have worked hard over the past three years to build cooperative relationships with the military, the VA, and other strategic partners to provide the best services we can to disabled veterans and the facilities and programs that serve them.

For veterans enrolled through the VetDogs program, training is available at a variety of locations across the U.S., including Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and the veteran’s home area. Our training team will assess your needs and work with you to determine where your needs will be best served while trying to accommodate your preferences. If you’re attending class in Smithtown, you should be aware that both veterans and nonveterans may be in attendance.

Upon graduation, handler and service dog return home to start their new life together. At this point, they have begun to master all of the techniques they need to be a successful team, a partnership for independence.