frequently asked questions

When was ADW founded?

ADW was founded in 1995 with one dog, one client and one trainer. That original trainer is now ADW 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 taught 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 often designed to support individual client needs.

How long does it take to train a dog?

18 to 24 months at ADW, about 25% faster than the national average.

How many dogs are in training annually?

30 or more.

How much does it cost to train a dog?

$15,000 over the 18 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.

Are payment plans available?

ADW provides fund raising support, a minimal amount of Client Scholarships an payment plans are possible.  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 need and the dogs available.

How does your 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?

The breadth of the ADW educational programs is unique and unmatched.  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 successfully with many different types of clients.

What’s the benefit of using students as trainers?

Student trainers keep the costs down as the these programs are fee based.  Student trainers also help to speed up the training period length, 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 that are taught to the students and the exposure they get to people with disabilities. 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 100 volunteers.

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 an ADW program sustaining gift. Contact the ADW office with any questions.