1st Responder Canine Service dog
What is a Service Dog?
An ADA service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability.
An ADA service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability.
APPLICATIONS CLOSED AT THIS TIME
Waiting List is Full
Placement Procedure and Criteria
Preliminary Application Procedure
➔ What you need to know
Before submitting inquiry or application, please review the following requirements:
● 1St Responder Canine Service Dogs are given to qualified First Responder applicants.
● If applying for a Service Dog, the application must be completed by the individual in need of a Service Dog (unless that
individual is not capable of completing the application on their own). Applications submitted by family members or friends
will not be accepted.
● Applicant must be able to travel to Stafford, Virginia for a minimum of two weeks for training.
● During training applicant must demonstrate proficiency in handling Service Dog and caring for health, safety, and well-being.
● If applying for a PTSD Service Dog, applicant must:
○ Have an official PTSD diagnosis from medical professional.
○ Be actively engaged in therapy for minimum of 1 year.
● If applying for a Service Dog, applicant must present medical need for a Service Dog. Applicant should understand that 1St
Responder Canine may not be able to train specific tasks to meet their needs.
● Applicant must be available and willing to communicate with 1St Responder Canine Staff during application and placement
process, as well as post-placement.
● Applicant may be asked to submit proof of finances sufficient for caring for a Service Dog.
➔ Phone call with Director of Training to determine eligibility.
● Director of Training will discuss with applicant needs and lifestyle to determine if the Service Dog from 1St Responder
Canine would be a good fit for the individual.
○ Direct of Training will analyze tasks desired of a Service Dog and if we can meet the applicant's needs.
● Applicant will be given application packet to fill out and return or be referred to another organization that may be more
suited to meet their needs.
➔ Placement Application and Medical History Form
● Applicant will be sent an application to complete and submit back to 1St Responder Canine.
● Applicant will need to have their medical provider fill out Medical History Form and submit it back to 1st Responder Canine.
● Once full application is complete and submitted, Staff will review application to determine eligibility. If approved, applicant
will be scheduled for an in person interview or video call.
● In conjunction with 1St Responder Canine application, applicants are encouraged to submit applications and inquiries with
other Service Dog organizations due to wait times. For more information, please seek advice from Director of Training.
➔ Interview Process
● Applicant will be scheduled for an in person or video call interview with Director of Training and/or other FRK9 Staff.
● Placement team bases decisions regarding Service Dog placement per the following criteria:
○ Is a Service Dog necessary for the applicant to mitigate a disability?
○ Can a Service Dog perform enough specific tasks to benefit the applicant?
○ Can applicant properly handle and care for a Service Dog?
● Applicant will be notified as to whether their request for a Service Dog has been approved. Applicant will be placed onto a
waiting list until a Service Dog becomes available that meets the needs of the individual and matches their personality.
○ Please note this is the longest part of application process.
○ Please note that approval of application does not guarantee the applicant will receive a Service Dog.
➔ Notification of Placement and Training Procedure
● Applicant will be notified of scheduled Team Training (Applicant & Service Dog) to take place in Stafford, Virginia.
● Director of Training will send out a welcome packet and details regarding Team Training and the placement process.
● Team Training is a minimum of 2 weeks and the applicant must successfully complete Team Training before leaving with
their Service Dog. It is highly recommended that the applicant purchases travel insurance in case dates need to be adjusted.
○ Arrival and completion of Team Training does not guarantee the Service Dog will leave with the applicant. 1st Responder
Canine reserves the right to stop placement at any time.
Placement Interruptions
● 1St Responder Canine is involved with the Service Dog Team for the lifetime of the dog. 1st Responder Canine reserves the
right to stop the placement at any time before, during or after placement. Reasons to end placement may include but are
not limited to:
○ Team is unable to pass a Public Access test.
○ Applicant is unable to handle the Service Dog to 1St Responder Canine requirements.
○ Service Dog is not meeting applicant's needs.
○ Applicant is unable to care for the Service Dog.
○ Applicant is not using the Service Dog as intended.
○ Service Dog's health, safety, and/or well being is at jeopardized due to placement.
➔ Post Placement Expectation
● Applicant will be expected to communicate with 1St Responder Canine Staff regarding dog's behavior and work habits.
● Teams are required to return for recertification regularly and additional training if necessary. Teams will be required to
re-certify within 12 months of graduation and every 24 months after the first year.
● Applicant must sign a release for their health providers, giving 1St Responder Canine access to communicate yearly for
purposes of follow up and improvements as a result of the Service Dog.
● Applicant must submit yearly wellness exam on the Service Dog from a licensed Veterinarian.
Before submitting inquiry or application, please review the following requirements:
● 1St Responder Canine Service Dogs are given to qualified First Responder applicants.
● If applying for a Service Dog, the application must be completed by the individual in need of a Service Dog (unless that
individual is not capable of completing the application on their own). Applications submitted by family members or friends
will not be accepted.
● Applicant must be able to travel to Stafford, Virginia for a minimum of two weeks for training.
● During training applicant must demonstrate proficiency in handling Service Dog and caring for health, safety, and well-being.
● If applying for a PTSD Service Dog, applicant must:
○ Have an official PTSD diagnosis from medical professional.
○ Be actively engaged in therapy for minimum of 1 year.
● If applying for a Service Dog, applicant must present medical need for a Service Dog. Applicant should understand that 1St
Responder Canine may not be able to train specific tasks to meet their needs.
● Applicant must be available and willing to communicate with 1St Responder Canine Staff during application and placement
process, as well as post-placement.
● Applicant may be asked to submit proof of finances sufficient for caring for a Service Dog.
➔ Phone call with Director of Training to determine eligibility.
● Director of Training will discuss with applicant needs and lifestyle to determine if the Service Dog from 1St Responder
Canine would be a good fit for the individual.
○ Direct of Training will analyze tasks desired of a Service Dog and if we can meet the applicant's needs.
● Applicant will be given application packet to fill out and return or be referred to another organization that may be more
suited to meet their needs.
➔ Placement Application and Medical History Form
● Applicant will be sent an application to complete and submit back to 1St Responder Canine.
● Applicant will need to have their medical provider fill out Medical History Form and submit it back to 1st Responder Canine.
● Once full application is complete and submitted, Staff will review application to determine eligibility. If approved, applicant
will be scheduled for an in person interview or video call.
● In conjunction with 1St Responder Canine application, applicants are encouraged to submit applications and inquiries with
other Service Dog organizations due to wait times. For more information, please seek advice from Director of Training.
➔ Interview Process
● Applicant will be scheduled for an in person or video call interview with Director of Training and/or other FRK9 Staff.
● Placement team bases decisions regarding Service Dog placement per the following criteria:
○ Is a Service Dog necessary for the applicant to mitigate a disability?
○ Can a Service Dog perform enough specific tasks to benefit the applicant?
○ Can applicant properly handle and care for a Service Dog?
● Applicant will be notified as to whether their request for a Service Dog has been approved. Applicant will be placed onto a
waiting list until a Service Dog becomes available that meets the needs of the individual and matches their personality.
○ Please note this is the longest part of application process.
○ Please note that approval of application does not guarantee the applicant will receive a Service Dog.
➔ Notification of Placement and Training Procedure
● Applicant will be notified of scheduled Team Training (Applicant & Service Dog) to take place in Stafford, Virginia.
● Director of Training will send out a welcome packet and details regarding Team Training and the placement process.
● Team Training is a minimum of 2 weeks and the applicant must successfully complete Team Training before leaving with
their Service Dog. It is highly recommended that the applicant purchases travel insurance in case dates need to be adjusted.
○ Arrival and completion of Team Training does not guarantee the Service Dog will leave with the applicant. 1st Responder
Canine reserves the right to stop placement at any time.
Placement Interruptions
● 1St Responder Canine is involved with the Service Dog Team for the lifetime of the dog. 1st Responder Canine reserves the
right to stop the placement at any time before, during or after placement. Reasons to end placement may include but are
not limited to:
○ Team is unable to pass a Public Access test.
○ Applicant is unable to handle the Service Dog to 1St Responder Canine requirements.
○ Service Dog is not meeting applicant's needs.
○ Applicant is unable to care for the Service Dog.
○ Applicant is not using the Service Dog as intended.
○ Service Dog's health, safety, and/or well being is at jeopardized due to placement.
➔ Post Placement Expectation
● Applicant will be expected to communicate with 1St Responder Canine Staff regarding dog's behavior and work habits.
● Teams are required to return for recertification regularly and additional training if necessary. Teams will be required to
re-certify within 12 months of graduation and every 24 months after the first year.
● Applicant must sign a release for their health providers, giving 1St Responder Canine access to communicate yearly for
purposes of follow up and improvements as a result of the Service Dog.
● Applicant must submit yearly wellness exam on the Service Dog from a licensed Veterinarian.
Disclaimers
❖ All applicants will be considered regardless of race, gender, religion, creed, sexual orientation, and ethnic origin.
❖ Approved successor dogs have priority over first time applicants.
❖ Wait times will vary depending on specific needs and dog availability.
❖ 1St Responder Canine reserves the right to end application, training, or placement process at any time.
❖ All applicants will be considered regardless of race, gender, religion, creed, sexual orientation, and ethnic origin.
❖ Approved successor dogs have priority over first time applicants.
❖ Wait times will vary depending on specific needs and dog availability.
❖ 1St Responder Canine reserves the right to end application, training, or placement process at any time.
