frequently asked questions

When was ADW founded?      

ADW was founded in 1995 with one dog, one client and one trainer. That original trainer is ADW Founder/Program Director, Jill Felice.  Felice studied with Dr. Bonnie Bergin at the Assistance Dog Institute, operating out of the Northern California Juvenile Detention Center.  There, Felice learned to teach troubled youth how to be junior Assistance Dog Trainers.

Where do the dogs come from?

The dogs come from breeders, rescues or donations, and ADW does occasionally breed exemplary canine graduates of the program. Most often, Labradors and Golden Retrievers are used because of their innate interest in retrieving, good work ethic and cheerful dispositions. Other breeds have been successfully trained for service work at ADW such as Labradoodles, Papillons, King Charles Cavaliers, Bernese Mountain and some very special shelter/rescue mixes.

How many commands do the dogs learn?

Each dog learns a minimum of 90, then special commands are designed to support individual client needs when a client/dog match is made.

How long does it take to train an assistance dog?

18 to 24 months at ADW, during which dogs receive in excess of 1500 hours of training time.

How many dogs are in training annually?

30 or more

How much does it cost to train a dog?

$15,000 over the 18 - 24 month period

How does that compare to the national average?

The national average among the other service dog organizations nationwide is between $25,000 and $30,000.

What kinds of dogs does ADW train?

• General Assistance Dogs
• Seizure Dogs
• Autism Dogs
• Psychiatric Support Dogs
• Medical Alert Dogs
• Social Therapy Dogs
• Facility Dogs

Are payment plans available for client services?

ADW provides fund raising suggestions and support, and payment plans are possible.  A minimal amount of Client Scholarships are sometimes available.  Clients can discuss these options during the application process.

How long is the waiting period for a client?

Six months to two years depending upon the specific client needs and the dogs available.  Clients on the wait list interview regularly with dogs in the porgram to help find the best match possible.

How does the ADW waiting period compare to other agencies?

The average national client waiting period to receive a dog is five years.

Is ADW’s student-based training program the only one in the country?

No, but the breadth of the ADW educational programs is unique and unmatched.  Most service dog agencies use professional trainers alone.  Some other service dog agencies work with one particular student audience.  The variety of ADW student trainer audiences allows ADW dogs to generalize early in their lives, which lets them work more successfully with many different types of clients.  ADW dogs learn to respond to commands regardless of the voice requesting.

What’s the benefit of using students as trainers?

Student trainers keep the costs down as education programs are fee based.  Student trainers also help to enrich the training period, since students work with their dogs on a very consistent basis throughout the school year, adding hours of training time for each dog.  The many different types of student trainers expose the dogs to many different communication styles and capabilities.  Additional benefits are the life skills taught to the students, exposure to people with varied abilities and communication skills. Student trainers also widen the circle of ADW community involvement.

How many people work at ADW?

Five full-time and fifteen part-time staff, as well as over 150 volunteers.  90 cents of each dollar donated to ADW goes to program services.

Where can I send my tax-deductible donation?

Assistance Dogs of the West
PO Box 31027
Santa Fe , NM 87594
PHONE: 505-986-9748 Fax: 505.989.9640
Click here to make a donation online

What if I don’t have cash to give?

There are many other types of non-cash gifts which can be considered as a contribution: securities, personal property, equipment, real estate, life insurance, fine art, etc. In-kind gifts of products and services also help to reduce ADW costs. 

We would be happy to work with you and your financial advisor to help you make a contribution that meets your charitable needs. Planned giving is also a way to leave ADW a program sustaining gift.  Please contact the ADW office with any questions.