Keystone Human Services

Susquehanna Service Dogs

Application Process

Dog with Purple Scarf

The Application Process

  1. First the interested client sends in a preliminary application form. After reading this section you can submit a preliminary application online. A preliminary application can also be sent in by mail.
  2. When SSD receives the preliminary application, we contact the client and schedule an interview.
  3. All interviews take place in the Harrisburg area. If the client does not live within 30 miles of Harrisburg, the client must travel to our site for the interview.
  4. The client is contacted to arrange for a personal interview.
  5. At least 2 SSD representatives will interview the client. They will have a service or hearing dog to demonstrate the dog's abilities.
  6. The client must interact positively with the dog, explain how a dog might help give independence and demonstrate the ability to pay for the daily expenses for the dog. These include food, heart worm medicine, vet bills, and any replacement equipment.
  7. After the interview, if all parties believe that a dog will be beneficial, SSD provides the formal application packet to the client.
  8. The client gives the medical application and the personal reference forms to the appropriate individuals to return directly to SSD. He/She then completes all remaining parts of the form and returns them to SSD with the $25 application fee.
  9. When SSD has received all parts of the application, it will be reviewed and the client will be notified that their application is complete.
  10. At this time SSD will make arrangements to visit the client's home.
  11. SSD will contact the client when there are dogs that could be possible matches. SSD then arranges a meeting in Harrisburg for the client to work with several dogs.
  12. A match does not always happen on the first "meeting of the dogs".
  13. The client will be notified that they have matched with a dog and the general time we expect to hold the two and one half week team training. We hope to schedule three team training periods each year: February, June, and November.
  14. Approximately 4-6 weeks before the scheduled team training, the client will receive a specific schedule with locations and dates, release forms, and payment information.
  15. Team training with the client and his/her new dog will take place in Harrisburg. It will last 2-½ weeks. The client is encouraged to go home on the weekends. During this time, the applicant is responsible for his/her housing and meals. If the applicant needs an attendant and special transportation, he or she must provide this. SSD can offer assistance in these areas but cannot be financially responsible. At this time, unfortunately, we do not have overnight accessible facilities.

Criteria

Criteria which an individual with a physical disability must meet to qualify for a Service Dog:

  1. The candidate must in some way be able to meet the emotional, physical, and financial needs of the service dog, in a stable home environment.
  2. The candidate must be mature enough and possess sufficient cognitive functioning to actively participate in the training and learning process required during the final training phase of the service dog.
  3. The candidate must be actively pursuing the goal of independent living and seeking to improve the quality of his/her life through the aid of a service dog.
  4. There must be reasonable expectation that the candidate's medical situation will enable the candidate to work with the dog for several years. A Medical Review Board will assist in screening candidates.
  5. The candidate must be financially able to maintain his/her functional lifestyle during the transitional training phase with the service dog (approximately 10-14 days). Unfortunately, Susquehanna Service Dogs does not provide such things as attendant care, transportation, etc., during this period. The candidate must provide for these needs.
  6. Applicants will be considered without regard to race, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, or age.

All paper work and the $25 application fee must be completed and received before client/dog team training can begin. The placement fee is due after successful completion of the certification test, when the recipient signs the contract for the dog.

Click here to fill out a preliminary application.

Questions regarding this process may be submitted via E-mail to SSD at ssd @ keystonehumanservices.org.

Assistance Dogs International

Susquehanna Service Dogs is a fully accredited member of Assistance Dogs International.

This page last updated on:
October 3, 2007