THIS IS A VERY REPUTABLE ORGANIZATION THAT I HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH SINCE IT'S BEGINNINGS. AS BOTH A VOLUNTEER, BOARD MEMBER AND VETERINARY CARE PROVIDER. THESE DOGS ARE THOROUGHLY SCREENED FOR MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL ISSUES BEFORE PLACEMENT AS WELL AS BEING TRAINED FOR THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THEIR RECIPIENTS. NOT ALL DOGS ADMITTED TO THE PROGRAM END UP MEETING THE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS FOR SERVICE ANIMALS. ALL FUNDS RAISED ARE USED FOR THE CARE AND EQUIPMENT THESE DOGS AND OWNERS NEED. THE SITUATION REFERRED TO BY BLACKDOGMAMA OCCURRED AS THE RESULT OF AN UNUSUAL AND UNFORSEEN PROBLEM CREATED BY QUESTIONABLE ACTIONS BY A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE PROGRAM (WHO WAS DISMISSED). THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR DID NOT FEEL THAT THE DOG IN QUESTION COULD BE SAFELY OR RELIABLEY PLACED WITH A RECIPIENT.
I volunteered with CHIP for almost 10 years. I saw this organization make huge differences in people's lives by helping them become more independent thru the use of service dogs! The lady who founded & runs CHIP is herself "handicapped" and wanted to give other "handicapped" people the independence that her service dogs gave her! CHIP screens their recipients & their homes very well & has never accepted anyone with Autism as a client, although they have trained a therapy dog for a young man with Down's. They had a problem a few years ago with an employee who was very dishonest, but that "problem" was solved. Even though I now live out of state, I am frequently in contact with the lady who runs CHIP for advise on training problems for my own dogs and regularly donate to the organization with confidence that those donations will be used honestly & for the independence of a deserving individual!
I donated a dog to this organization to be trained as a service dog for a child. I was told the dog would go to a child with autism. The executive director kept the dog for herself. I honestly thought this was a credible organization and donated $300. I never received a receipt for the check until I wrote a letter to the Board over two years later. I would never believe that the money that is donated to this organization goes to the care and training of the dogs. I would like to see an audit of the books for this organization. I would never contribute $ or a dog to this organization.
Review from Guidestar