Veterans/First Responders 
ApplICATION for service dog program

PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY AS SOME OF OUR POLICIES HAVE CHANGED!

Victory Service Dogs, Inc.
  1. Victory Service Dogs, Inc. (VSD) is a client-based training program for veterans and first responder retirees who have been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), TBIs (Traumatic Brain Injuries), MST (Military Sexual Trauma) and/or physical disabilities. Veterans/First Responder retirees that have been diagnosed with PTSD as well as anxiety or depression, and who are actively engaged in, or have recently completed therapy, are welcome to apply.
  2. VSD identifies service dog candidates through our trusted breeder list. VSD’s trainers will assess all dogs prior to acceptance to determine if they have the potential to be a service animal. 
Responsibilities of the Client
  1. Clients are responsible for the cost of caring for the dog (food, vet care, etc.).
  2. Clients must be the primary handler/trainer and are required to attend 1 training session per week with a professional VSD trainer. On average, the training program takes 12 - 24 months to complete. You are also required to keep a training log and hit minimum of 500 training hours per year. This is a long process and not one you can or should race through.
  3. The most successful candidates are highly committed to consistently meeting the training schedule. Please consider whether this will fit into your lifestyle. Clients with several unexcused absences or the inability to keep up their dog's training at home may fail out of the program. 
  4. Once a client’s service dog has passed all of the tests required by the ADA, they will also need to re-certify every year by taking a renewal test. 
Victory Service Dogs Inc. does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, HIV/AIDS status, or physical or mental disability for the purpose of service, employment, membership, volunteering, or leadership.
Service Dogs
​According to Assistance Dogs International a service dog is defined as “a dog that works for individuals with disabilities other than blindness or deafness. Service dogs are trained to perform a wide variety of tasks including but not limited to; pulling a wheelchair, bracing, retrieving, alerting to a medical crisis, and providing assistance in a medical crisis.”
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Please read the FAQ page for additional information.
Requirements Before Interview
In order to be considered for the program, the following items will need to have been completed and/or received by VSD prior to the interview being scheduled.
  • ENTIRE ​​Completed Enrollment Application including: Proof of Veteranship (DD214), Transition Orders, or First Responder ID badge, Medical provider letter and standard profile photograph.
  • ​​NONREFUNDABLE $75 Application Fee ​

Dog Disclaimer
  • To ensure that the dogs brought into the Victory Service Dogs program are of the highest quality, dogs that do not fit the VSD requirements will NOT be accepted. 
  • Proof of rabies vaccination is required. 
  • The best dogs usually show high intelligence, have a friendly disposition, a calm demeanor, and a strong work drive. The breeds recommended by the ADI for our service training are; Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Standard Poodles (and occasionally Golden Doodles, Labradoodles and Sheepadoodles). We currently ONLY ACCEPT Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and Standard Poodles younger than 1 year old. The above mentioned poodle mixes may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
  • All dogs are subject to Assessment and Temperament testing before acceptance into the VSD program. Any dogs with aggressive behavior or a history of biting will NOT be admitted into the program. This is to protect you as our client, the general public, and our reputation as an organization.
  • PLEASE NOTE: Clients may only have 2 dogs total (including service dog) living in their home. You may not add any other dogs to your residence once you've begun training and your dog passes certification as a service dog. Only once your service dog retires may you add another dog into your home. This is a non-negotiable rule and if it is broken, you may not continue with Victory Service Dogs. 
Application materials are confidential. Your written application and supplemental materials are considered the property of Victory Service Dogs, Inc. 
PAYMENT
You MUST pay your nonrefundable $75 application fee through our PayPal by clicking the Applicant Fee Payment button below OR attach a physical check to your application when you mail it in.  

You DO NOT have to log into PayPal to pay the Application Fee, PayPal has the option to insert a Credit/Debit card number instead. This ensures that Victory Service Dogs will have a record of your payment.

​You will receive a confirmation of your payment to Victory Service Dogs within 2 business days. 
APPLICATION
Applicants will receive a notification by phone and/or email regarding their eligibility after the entire application packet is received and reviewed be Victory Service Dogs staff.

Please note: If you have paid and submitted an application but had circumstances change or you decide not to enter our program, we will keep record of your application for one year. After one year, your paperwork will be shredded. If you wish to reapply at a later time, you must submit a new application and pay another $75 fee. 
CANCELLATION POLICY
If you are unable to attend your scheduled interview, please call the office within 48 hours to cancel. If we do not receive notice of your cancellation within 48 hours, you will need to pay a $50 rescheduling fee.