C.H.A.M.P. Assistance Dogs, Inc.

Description

C.H.A.M.P. is an acronym that stands for Canine Helpers Allow More Possibilities. Our core business is providing service dogs--free of charge--to individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.

CHAMP works with women offenders to train and care for future service dogs. The program allows women to give back to the community while obtaining valuable job related skills that can help with the reintegration into the community. Dogs, from the age of 5 months until they are placed for service, live and are trained at the women's prison in Vandalia, MO.

In addition to our service dog program, volunteers and their trained therapy dogs visit hospitals, nursing homes and rehab centers. In 2011, we visited with nearly 14,000 individuals through our therapy dog program.

Educational outreach programs work with students through our therapy dogs and teach disability awareness and explain how a service dog helps individuals with disabilities. Last year we worked with 8,300 students.