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ADUC Update

Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding, Assistance Dogs United will be discontinued in 2024. Open vouchers will still be honored. 

An Overview of the Assistance Dog United Campaign

History

In 1993, Dr. Bonnie Bergin thought of a service dog concept. In pursuit of that, she founded Canine Companions for Independence to train and place assistance dogs and created Bergin University of Canine Studies as an educational institute to teach people to become assistance dog trainers. Many said it couldn't be done, shouldn't be done, that it was a bad idea, and that it wouldn't work. Fortunately, Dr. Bergin persisted.

Mission Statement

With a board representative of its various constituencies, ADUC expertly and honorably carries out its mission to support assistance dog miracles.

Our Purpose

Today, ADUC provides support to the assistance dog industry through:

  • 1 Financial assistance in the form of vouchers to individuals with disabilities seeking to obtain an assistance dog from a viable program
  • 2 Program development and research grants enabling assistance dog programs to improve the industry's efforts

Fair Distribution of Donations

Fiscal accountability is a high priority, which is why we make sure to distribute all vouchers properly to disabled individuals with financial needs, and that the programs receiving grants are viable.

Vouchers for Assistance Dog User Applicants

Our funding for assistance dog placements is unique since 70% of the donations are earmarked as vouchers. We give these vouchers to the assistance dog user applicant, who can then choose whichever ADUC member provider program they wish to enroll in.

This unique disbursement method was designed to place some fiscal empowerment in the hands of the assistance dog user applicant. This ensures that the provider program is accountable to the applicant for quality service.

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Types of Assistance Dogs

Assistance dogs provide a significant and meaningful service to people with disabilities or disabling conditions. The different types of assistance dogs include but are not limited to:

  • Guide Dogs
  • Hearing Dogs
  • Service Dogs
  • Social or Therapy Dogs
  • Psychiatric Dogs
  • Seizure Response Dogs
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Benefits to Individuals With Disabilities

Service dogs compensate for physical limitations by pulling wheelchairs, turning light switches on and off, and picking up dropped or needed items. Guide dogs are trained to maneuver visually impaired individuals around obstacles and across streets. Hearing dogs alert the hearing impaired to sounds that might otherwise go undetected.

All types of assistance dogs provide emotional support for those in need. Individuals with assistance dogs attest that having the dog with them has decreased feelings of social isolation, which is a part of being different in this society.

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Reach Out Today

For more information about our services, please get in touch with us. We are looking forward to helping you.

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