| Second Chance Dogs | | | | traffic sounds and patterns that are necessary for |
| Are you looking for a dog to adopt? | | | | leading a blind and deaf person or be a little too |
| Are you thinking of a puppy, but then get turned off by | | | | energetic to be handled by a disabled person. |
| remembering all the work that goes into training a | | | | These problems under normal family circumstances |
| puppy? | | | | would hardly be noticed, but perfection is almost a |
| Or maybe you have never had a dog, know very little | | | | necessity when a dog is trained for service. |
| about training a dog, but think having one would be nice | | | | Then there are some dogs that never make it through |
| for the children or as a companion for yourself. | | | | the full course of training for one reason or another. |
| There is a little known group of dogs that are | | | | Just like a child may fail in one subject or another in |
| associated with the International Association of | | | | school, some dogs, because of the nature of their job |
| Assistance Dog Partners that are available for | | | | demands perfection may need to drop out of the |
| adoption. | | | | program. |
| These are dogs that have been fully trained to lead | | | | All these dogs are gentle, loving and well trained and |
| the blind, offer help to the deaf and be of assistance | | | | need loving homes. |
| to other people with disabilities. | | | | If you are in the market for a dog and even if you |
| These are dogs that are very special, they have been | | | | never thought you would want to go through the |
| potty trained, trained to come on command and trained | | | | process of training a dog, you may want to consider |
| to do so many things that a normal household would | | | | this option. |
| not have the time or the money to accomplish. | | | | These dogs are the "cream of the crop," very special |
| Their personalities are special too, as they were | | | | critters that will give you many years of love and |
| chosen over many puppies to work with people and | | | | devotion. |
| perform special tasks. | | | | The process of adoption is different for every service |
| Why are they available for adoption? | | | | dog, depending on each service organization. Some |
| Well, like people they get worn out, a little stressed | | | | organizations charge an adoption fee, some do not. All |
| having had to work under pressure of protecting or | | | | require that you fill out an application form and in some |
| helping their person. | | | | areas there maybe a waiting list for dogs. |
| As a result some become available for retirement, | | | | If you are interested in adopting one of these dogs |
| while most families would keep their original service | | | | listed below are their on-line web sites: |
| dogs and get a new one too. Some families can only | | | | Assistance Dogs International - adionline.org |
| afford the upkeep of one dog in the family. | | | | Canine Companions for Independence - |
| The retirement age for most service dogs is 8 years | | | | Caninecompanions.org |
| of age, which means they still have many years of life | | | | Eye Dog Foundation for the Blind - |
| left to bring you enjoyment. | | | | Eyedogfoundation.org |
| These are dogs that are very well adjusted to being | | | | Guide Dogs for the Blind - Leader Dogs for the Blind - |
| around people, generally pretty healthy and their training | | | | leaderdog.org |
| is the best. | | | | NEADS(Dogs for the Deaf and Disabled) - neads.org |
| Then there are some younger dogs, these for a | | | | The Seeing Eye - seeingeye.org |
| number of reasons did not "make the cut" as we say. | | | | Though some of these dogs are older that does not |
| Those that are taken out of service at an early age | | | | stop them from being great pets. |
| may have a minor medical problem, cannot adjust to | | | | |