Support Dogs, Inc. is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
agency that provides
assistance dog
An assistance dog is a dog that receives specialized training to aid an individual with a disability in navigating everyday life. Assistance dogs can be trained by an organization, or by their handler.
Terminology
'Assistance dog' is the inte ...
s to people with
physical disabilities
A physical disability is a limitation on a person's physical functioning, mobility, dexterity or stamina. Other physical disabilities include impairments which limit other facets of daily living, such as respiratory disorders, blindness, epilepsy ...
, and hearing dogs to those who are deaf or hard of hearing. It was founded in
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...
, in 1981 by Sandy Maze, and is now based in
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...
.
Overview
Service dog
An assistance dog is a dog that receives specialized training to aid an individual with a disability in navigating everyday life. Assistance dogs can be trained by an organization, or by their handler.
Terminology
'Assistance dog' is the inte ...
s are trained to perform tasks their owners cannot, such as retrieve dropped and distant objects, open doors, pull wheelchairs, and help the client get undressed. In addition, the dogs provide companionship and support. The dogs are trained by volunteers, including highly screened female prisoners in an
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
maximum security
prison
A prison, also known as a jail, gaol, penitentiary, detention center, correction center, correctional facility, or remand center, is a facility where Prisoner, people are Imprisonment, imprisoned under the authority of the State (polity), state ...
.
Embezzlement victim
In 2005, Support Dogs discovered it had been a victim of embezzlement when ex-director Robert Hansen was accused of stealing over $400,000 from the
organization
An organization or organisation (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English; American and British English spelling differences#-ise, -ize (-isation, -ization), see spelling differences) is an legal entity, entity—such as ...
over a period of five years. On September 9, 2005, Robert Hansen was convicted and sentenced to 24 months in
prison
A prison, also known as a jail, gaol, penitentiary, detention center, correction center, correctional facility, or remand center, is a facility where Prisoner, people are Imprisonment, imprisoned under the authority of the State (polity), state ...
and 36 months on supervised release.
2006 Support dogs newsletter
Accessed 12 January 2007
See also
*Canine Companions for Independence
Canine Companions for Independence is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that trains and provides assistance dogs. As of 2018, it has placed over 6,000 assistance dogs with recipients at no charge.
Foundations
Canine Companions for In ...
References
External links
Support Dogs Website
Assistance dogs
Dog welfare organizations
Animal charities based in the United States
Disability organizations based in the United States
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