Programs: Assistance dog program: dogs are bred, whelped, raised, and trained to assistance dog international standards at the sdi facility to become service dogs. Once trained, the dogs can assist with mobility and hearing related tasks such as retrieving items and alerting to sounds. A facility dog is trained and placed with an individual who is an employee of a facility that works with at risk populations. Typically, the dog is used as a therapeutic tool by the handler, helping to initiate a response from the residents, patients, or clients of the facility. These dogs have exceptional patience and temperament for working around all types of individuals. Courthouse facility dogs are placed with individuals who work with children and adults who have been mentally, physically, and/or sexually abused. The dogs are used as part of the forensic interview process to help gather information from the victim. If necessary, the dog will accompany the victim to court if testimony. Sdi monitors the relationship between the person and dog throughout the relationship. Assistance dogs are provided at no cost to the individual.
touch therapy: therapy of unique canine helpers (touch) program certifies volunteers and their own dogs to visit healthcare facilities throughout the st. Louis region where the patients, residents, families and care providers can benefit from a visit with a well-trained canine. The touch program is not breed specific. The dogs are accepted based on their temperament and their willingness to be touched and interact with people. 238 active volunteer teams that include a handler and their dog, visited 137,169 people in over 110 different facilities. Touch teams also donated 498 hours to 12 hospice programs in the area. All services are provided at no cost to the individuals or facilities.
paws for reading: the paws for reading program places dogs in a classroom or library setting in the st. Louis metropolitan area. The dogs act as an incentive for the children to read more and to improve their reading skills. Dogs are viewed as a non-threatening entity to promote reading, writing, and increased interaction and social skills in the child. As a result, children experience higher reading levels, higher levels of word recognition, and increased reading comprehension. This past fiscal year, 86 volunteer paws for reading teams reached 11,113 children in 30 local elementary classrooms and local public libraries. All services are provided at no cost to the individuals or facilities.
public outreach: in this program, representatives from support dogs speak about the services of the organization and people with disabilities to businesses, churches, civic organizations, rotary clubs, etc.
