ECAD’s breeding program is specifically designed for the purpose of the dogs to be Assistant Dogs. There are rare and specific instances when our Service Dogs-in-Training may not be a good match for the type of service work that is needed by our clients. In the event that a dog has been “disqualified” from Assistance Dog work, we still want to provide it the love and care it deserves. These “Release Dogs” make great pets and companions for the right households. If you are interested in adopting a Release Dog please click the link below to access the application.

 Why would a dog be released?

• Medical reasons: Unsatisfactory hip x-ray or eye exam, allergies, etc.
• Behavioral reasons: high energy/activity level, incompatible with other animals, assertiveness, unable to handle stress, inappropriate barking, not suitable for homes with children, fearful in public, and/or unable to adjust to change, etc.

 How much does it cost to adopt an ECAD release dog?

• The price of a release dog is determined based on the age, amount of training received, and medical cost incurred by the organization. All dogs released from ECAD have been spayed/neutered, had their hips certified, received all their preventatives and vaccines, and have learned basic obedience skills. The fee helps ECAD to recover some the monies invested into a dog that will not be placed with a person living with a disability.

 If you are interested in adopting a Release Dog please click here to access the application.

ECAD’s mission of providing highly skilled Service Dogs to increase mobility and independence for people living with disabilities manifests itself in a variety of programs and services. Each one designed to meet the needs of a specific population: Veterans, persons living with disabilities, children as young as two with Autism and facilities. 

ECAD does not discriminate applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, age, or other non-merit factor.

Core Programs:

• Open Doors

  ECAD’s core program whereby Assistance Dogs are educated to prepare them for a career as a Service or Facility Dog.

  • What are Service Dogs?

    ECAD Service Dogs have helped over 300 disabled clients with over 50 different disabilities. Some of these disabilities include but are not limited to Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Sleep Apnea, Friedreich's Ataxia, Vertigo, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and Spinal Cord Injuries.

    Apply for a Service Dog | Learn More

  • Facility Dogs

    ECAD Facility Dogs, who can be found in hospitals, nursing homes, courthouses, etc., have helped thousands of distressed individuals.

    Apply for a Facility Dog | Learn More

• 

  Canine Magic

  Specially educated Service Dogs assist children with autism - some as young as two years old - to build emotional bonding, cognitive development, socialization, and safety. 

  Apply for a Service Dog | Learn More

• Project HEAL™

  Our Project HEAL program is designed to meet the needs of Veterans living with physical injuries, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Specifically educated Service Dogs help ward off panic attacks, provide a physical barrier in public places, and/or provide mobility and retrieval assistance.

  • Apply for a Service Dog | Learn More

Client’s Bill of Rights

ECAD (Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities) provides specialized training for individuals with disabilities, preparing them and ECAD dogs for certification as Service Dog Teams. Upon acceptance as a client of ECAD, certain obligations must be met. The client’s goal in applying is to become an ECAD certified Team. In order to maintain the high standards required by ECAD, these expectations can be achieved only if the client fulfills their responsibilities. Read More

Additional Service: 

Train the Trainer | Volunteer | Home for the Weekend

Facility Dogs are specially trained Service Dogs that work with a volunteer or professional who is trained by a program. The work of a facility dog can include visitations or professional therapy in one or more locations. Public access is permitted only when the dog and handler, who is a trained volunteer or professional, is directly working with a client with a disability. Our Facility Dogs, who can be found in hospitals, nursing homes, courthouses, etc., have helped thousands of distressed individuals.
Apply for a Facility Dog  |  Request for More Information

What is a Facility Service Dog? A Facility Dog is an Assistance Dog that is trained to work for an organization to assist many adults and/or children within the organization. These dogs, coupled with trained human handlers, enhance the quality of life for the people utilizing the services provided by the organization. They respond to specialty cues at the direction of their handler and must have a calm disposition and the ability to stay polite in different environments and situations.
	How do Facility Dogs Help?  Facility dogs can be a tremendous help for organizations in the healthcare, educational and other environments. Patients in clinics or children’s hospitals enjoy feeding, grooming, walking and playing with these well-trained dogs as well as performing therapeutic exercises with them. These activities encourage patients and can be a significant help to their rehabilitation. The educational system is another valuable setting for a facility dog.  Children love playing and/or cuddling with a skilled and well-behaved dog, and it can help bring comfort to stressful situations in school while facilitating a variety of learning activities. In courthouses, a Facility Dog is a professionally trained Assistance Dog, suitable for providing quiet companionship to vulnerable individuals in legal settings without causing any disruption of the proceedings. Read more about how Facility Dogs can lend a paw in this blog post.
Is a Facility Dog Right for My Organization? A Facility Dog might be just the right fit for your organization to provide wonderful benefits for your constituents. Here are some tips to help you know if your organization would be a good fit for a facility dog: You work with individuals with disabilities or who are recovering from traumatic events, or who may be going through a difficult transition or healing process. You are willing to participate in any training required by ECAD. You can demonstrate that your facility would be able to provide an environment friendly to a Facility Dog. You can provide a primary handler, a person who the dog would live with.
	The ECAD Difference & Process ECAD is an Assistance Dogs International certified trainer of dedicated Service Dogs that support their human counterparts in a wide variety of situations. ECAD has trained and placed hundreds of Assistance Dogs, including many to facilities just like yours. Contact us to learn more about the many benefits a Facility Dog can have for your organization or Apply for a Facility Dog Here! Curious what the process of getting a Service Dog looks like in general? Check out our infographic: Acquiring a Service Dog.