Veterans/First Responders
ApplICATION for service dog program
Please read this information carefully prior to submitting application.
Victory Service Dogs, Inc.
- 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.
- VSD identifies service dog candidates through trusted breeders and local rescue organizations. VSD’s trainers will assess all dogs prior to acceptance to determine if they have the potential to be a service animal.
- Clients are responsible for the cost of caring for the dog (food, vet care, etc.).
- 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 11.6 months to complete.
- The most successful candidates are highly committed to consistently meeting the training schedule. Please consider whether this will fit into your lifestyle. Clients with three unexcused absences in the span of one month will need to undergo re-evaluation in the program at the organization’s discretion.
- Once a client’s service dog has passed all of the tests required by the ADA, they will also need to re-certify every three years 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.”
Please read the FAQ page for additional information.
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.”
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.
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.
- Completed Enrollment Application
- NONREFUNDABLE $50 Application Fee
- Proof of Veteranship (DD214), Transition Orders, or proof of First Responder membership.
- Medical recommendation from doctor or mental health professional stating need for service dog.
- This letter requires the client’s full name, the doctor or mental health professional’s clinic name, address, signature, contact information.
- 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, German Shepherds, Standard Poodles and Golden Doodles.
- 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.
Application materials are confidential. Your written application and supplemental materials are considered the property of Victory Service Dogs, Inc. This application CANNOT be left unfinished and returned to in the future due to security risks. The application MUST be completed in one sitting. We estimate our application to take up to 1 hour to complete
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PAYMENT
You MUST pay your nonrefundable $50 application fee through our PayPal by clicking the Applicant Fee Payment button below. 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. |
NOTIFICATION
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, Inc. staff. |
