What does this mean?
It means that the SPCA retains actual ownership of the Service Dog we will place with you. We understand that the initial response to this is "What? Why?" Although the program is open to anyone, anywhere, of any income, our program has been developed specifically for those people who would never be able to afford a Service Dog no matter their need. We realize that your monthly income is all you have and also that it isn't enough. By doing this, the initial cost to you, as well as for the lifetime of the dog are considerably less.

We realize many will pass us by saying "Well, you get what you pay for." We cannot help that but we will not raise our prices to match those charged around the country because of the few who may feel that way. What we will do however, is allow you to speak with people who have receieved a dog from us, others who are currently going through our program, and because most of our staff are themselves disabled and have a Service Dogs of our own, you can interact right here with our dogs and see for yourself what we can also do for you. We do not attempt the "hard sell" here. We will lay out your options and then the choice is yours to make. We are confident in our dog's ability to provide you with a lifetime of benefit. Our prices are low simply because we cannot see the high cost of training a dog that so many others say is there. The quality of our dogs and their stories speak for themselves. Our goal is to see a Service Dog in the hands of each person who needs the things they can do and to provide this at a cost that everyone, no matter their income can in fact, afford.

Our program includes:
1If you use an SPCA recommended veterinarian, we will pay the 50% of the costs of any procedures the dog needs throughout its lifetime. This includes insurance deductibles. It does not include electives such as docking tails, cropping ears, removing dew claws, or anything that a standard pet insurance policy would not cover. We will pay 100% for annual vaccinations and a yearly physical exam.
Note: We require that you carry the "VPI Standard Plan" thru VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance Company) (http://www.petinsurance.com) which covers hundreds of accidents, illnesses and diseases including cancer, for all purebred and mixed breed dogs. Although anything can happen on a second's notice, and diseases like cancer can be devastating, we are primarily concerned about the accident coverage in case your dog should get hit by a car, poisoned, or hurt while working. As an example, the actual premium for Charlie's Service Dog, Lucy, on this plan, is $13.33 per month. This of course, will vary up or down depending on the age and breed of your dog.
2We will pay 100% of your IAADP membership dues for the first year, or $35, and we will take care of getting you enrolled. Being a member of the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners entitles you to hundreds of dollars worth of valuable things for your dog at no cost to you. Below is a partial list:

3If you should ever need to board the dog, we will take care of him for you here at the shelter or with a trained foster home, if one is available, for free. In other words, if you should have to go to the hospital for a surgery or treatments, you do not need to worry about if your dog is ok.
4If anything should happen that results in you being separated from your dog, for example, you are on a trip and somehow the dog gets away from you, because of the microchip we have placed in your dog, we will receive notification once the dog is found, and will make sure it gets back to you. By being a non-profit service dog organization, the chances are very good that we can have the dog transported back to us for free, where this could cost you 100's of dollars.
And finally -
5If you should die before the dog, you do not have to worry about what will happen to him. If a surviving family member wishes to keep your dog as a loved family pet, that's fine, we will be happy to retire him right there. Otherwise, he will come back to us. If he is young enough, he will be placed with another individual, if he is too old for that, we will see to it that he is retired in a home of comfort.

All Service Dogs have the following at the time of placement:

Full Medical Record

Rabies Vaccination Record

Spay/Neuter Certificate

SPCA Certification of Pubic Access Skills

Photo of the Service Dog with the client (for Identification and/or ownership dispute cases)

Microchip ID implanted & registered with PetTracs

Microchip ID Certificate

Emergency Vehicle Window Decal (Service Dog Onboard)

Service Dog Emergency Wallet Card (EMT or Emergency Service Provider Instructions)

Federal ADA Law Wallet card (Explains laws regarding Service Dog Public Access)

Service Dog ID Card (To be placed on backpack or vest when in public access areas)

Backpack or Vest with Service Dog Patches

Reflective Collar & 4 ft Leash

Metal Service Dog ID Tag (Collar)
One Folder containing:

Intro Letter

Client Placed / SPCA Owned Service Dogs Explanation sheet

Cesar Milan CD (from the Mastering Leadership Series)

IAADP CD (Partners in Independence)

Air Travel with an Assistance Dog Info Sheet

Frequently Asked Questions - Service Dogs

Handling Access Disputes Info Sheet

IAADP Membership Benefits Info Sheet

Interesting Information for people with disabilities Info Sheet

What Every Caregiver Needs To Know About Service Dogs Info Sheet

Disaster Relief and Preparedness Info Sheet

Financial Aid Veterinary Cost Assistance Info Sheet

VETERINARY CARE PARTNERSHIP (VCP) Program Info Sheet

Landlord Rights Info Sheet

How can I convince my landlord to let me keep my ESA in no pets housing? Info Sheet

Why do I have to use your veterinarians?
Two reasons: #1 - we trust them. #2 - they give us a discount any time they can which means an extra $$ savings for both you and us.

What does the SPCA get for doing all of this?
Primarily, just the fact that we retain ownership of the dog. Each of our dogs are very special to us. No matter how happy or wary we may feel about placing them into the home of any individual, we are always concerned for their welfare after they have left us. We have an extensive amount of time and effort, not to mention a personal bond with every dog we train to become Service Dogs. As such, we want to remain a part of that dog's life. If, for instance, you should die before the dog, if someone in your family would like to keep him, we would actually prefer to let him go ahead and retire with the family he has known for years and that loves him. But, if no one in your family actually wanted him, as happens all to often, where would he go? To a shelter to be placed up for adoption? Or euthanized? Or just given away to someone else, who after they decide they don't really want him either, is dumped along side a country back road to suffer and starve? The sad fact is that this can be the reality for many Service Dogs who have given their own life in support of another's. We do not want to ever see things like that happen to one of ours. In anything other than an extreme circumstance, we would never take the dog away from you just because we still own it. That truly is not the purpose behind us retaining ownership. We just want to know that our dog is okay, forever. And, to that end, we are willing to pay a great deal of your expenses in having the dog with you.
What would justify an "extreme circumstance"?
Not caring for the dog properly. By that we mean not keeping vaccinations up to date, not having annual physical check-ups, (things we pay for anyway if you use our vet) Not keeping up with his basic health needs like a quality food, and enough of it, regular worming, flea and tick, grooming, etc, Not maintaining a quality living environment for the dog, such as keeping him outdoors because someone in the home suddenly decides they're allergic, or using the dog for a purpose other than what was intended when we placed him with you, such as using him as a guard dog rather than as a Service Dog.
The upkeep of any dog or any type of pet is not something that can be taken lightly. To do it properly requires a commitment of time, money, and effort on the owner's part. You are taking on the responsibility for another life at a time in your own life when you are looking for something to make your life easier. The dog we will place with you will indeed do that for you, we guarantee it. We want to be sure however, that you do the same for the dog, and as long as we retain ownership of the dog, we will be there to help you anyway we can.
If however, you seriously do not like the idea or the benefits of us retaining ownership, you may purchase the dog outright at any time for $1000 in addition to the initial cost.

Our dogs are tested and certified by the standards set down by the Delta Society and the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners for Public Access.

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To Donate Now to the SPCA Service Dog Training / Placement Program, CLICK HERE.
What would my donation to this program buy?

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- New Kids On The Block -

|| Dogs in Training: ||
These dogs are receiving Basic Obedience along with Public Access Skills training
and will be ready to be matched with a disabled person for Advanced Tasks training
in whatever areas the person may need their dog to do.
Photos coming Soon
Pearl - Female Black Lab Puppy, Chip - Chocolate Lab Puppy,
Nugget - Yellow Lab Puppy, Colton - Black Lab Puppy
Note: Colton was donated with the reservation that he go to a Disabled Veteran.
Expected "Ready" Date:
August 1st, 2010.

We are not qualified to train Seeing Eye (Guide) Dogs

|| Shelter Dogs Now Available for Advanced Training ||
These are dogs that are Basic Trained & waiting to be placed with a disabled individual now.
None at this time
Next expected date: August 1st, 2010

|| Recently Placed Dogs: ||
Fundraisers for Service Dogs are special events held by our organization to assist local disabled individuals
to be able to pay for their Service Dog.
Please check the Upcoming Events to know when we will be your area and make it a point to stop by!

REGGIE
West Plains, Missouri

ODIE
Huntsville, Arkansas

|| Dogs currently needing a foster home: ||
None at this time.

LOOKING FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE FOR SPECIAL DOGS!
Foster Homes are needed for Service Dogs in Training immediately
to give them a temporary home and continue with their training until they are matched with a disabled person who needs them.
Please call the shelter if you would be interested in fostering a dog.
(870)453-7249

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