HEARING DOG APPLICATION
Hearing Dog/SCD Placement Process
The process of placing a suitable Hearing Dog/SCD with you in a manner that will give you and the dog the best chance for long-term success requires time and care. It is not a quick and simple process. Dogs On the Go Assistance Dogs wants you to have a successful long-term relationship with your Hearing Dog/SCD. We therefore need to carefully follow a specified placement process in order to give you the best chance of success.
STEP 1: Application Process
• Along with a completed application, all applicants must include:
• A copy of your medically based audiogram
• A character reference from a non-family member.
• If your application meets our basic requirements, an interview conducted either in person or virtually will be scheduled. All household members must be present for this interview.
STEP 2: Provisional Approval
• Next the entire application will be carefully reviewed and a decision made regarding Provisional Approval for a hearing assist dog or skilled companion dog. An email or letter will be sent to the applicant to inform them of the decision.
• If you are provisionally approved to receive a dog, a refundable Good Faith Deposit will be required at this time. Persons on Social Security or Social Security Disability will have a $250 deposit. Persons not on Social Security or Social Security Disability will have a $500 deposit. Upon receipt of the Good Faith Deposit, you will be placed on the waiting list to receive a dog.
STEP 3: Placement Trial Period
• When a dog is ready for a placement trial period, we select the best applicant for that particular dog, considering the person’s life, family situation, etc. The section of potential candidate dogs for a trial period after Provisional Approval will be based on our professional knowledge and training and will be entirely our determination and within our professional discretion.
• The placement trial period for a Hearing Dog is four to five days long and three to four days long for a SCD.
• You will need to be available from 9am to 5pm to work with the trainer and dog during all days of the placement.
• ALL your family members must be available to work with the trainer and dog for at least one hour per each day of the placement (this could occur in the evening to accommodate work schedules.)
• If you have children, you must arrange for childcare during the placement EXCEPT for the one hour a day the trainer will spend teaching your school age children how to interact with the dog.
• During the placement of a hearing dog with public access rights, expect to make several trips out into the community to get accustomed to managing an assistance dog in public.
• One trip for hearing dogs will be to a pet store to purchase all necessary supplies such as bowls, food, treats, toys, etc.
• Another trip will be to introduce your hearing assist dog or SCD to your local veterinarian and purchase necessary supplies (heartworm and flea/tick medications.)
• If we determine the placement trial period to be successful, you will be allowed to continue to the Training Year with the dog.
• If we determine the placement trial period to be unsuccessful, we have the discretion to place you back on the dog waiting list or deny your application.
STEP 4: Training Year
• The first year after placement is a training year and will be both fun and challenging. Dog On the Go staff are available for support and guidance to help make you and your hearing dog or skilled companion dog a successful team. Upon the successful completion of the full training year, you will receive a Final Approval and the Good Faith Deposit will be returned to you.
• If we determine the Training Year to be unsuccessful, we have the discretion to have the dog returned to the program, place you back on the dog waiting list, or deny your application.
Until you have successfully completed the Training Year, you are not guaranteed to have a permanent Hearing Dog placement. During the periods of Provisional Approval, Placement Trial Period and Training Year, we will continue to evaluate the potential permanent placement and we reserve the right to withdraw the placement at any time if we conclude in our professional discretion that the placement process should not proceed further.
Please review the following and sign and date below:
Attestation of Understanding and Agreement to Terms:
I have read the entire application and terms specified above, and I understand the terms specified above, and I am in agreement with all terms.
I understand that by submitting this application that I am not guaranteed to receive a Hearing Dog Placement and that until I receive a Final Approval by Dogs On the Go Assistance Dogs, that my application can be denied at any time. I further understand that during the period of the Placement Trial Period and Training Year, Dogs On the Go Assistance Dogs may withdraw the placement at any time, and I agree to immediately return the prospective Hearing Dog or skilled companion dog to Dogs On the Go Assistance Dogs. I agree that Dogs On the Go Assistance Dogs will have complete discretion in its professional judgment to terminate the Hearing Dog Placement Process for any lawful reason if it is deemed appropriate, and Dogs On the Go Assistance Dogs will not be required to provide its basis for its determinations. I further represent that I have answered all questions on this applications truthfully to the best of my ability and I understand that any false statements made on this application can be basis to deny my application and end the placement process.
Print Name:__________________________________________________________ Date:_________________________________
(My Printed Name will act as my signature)
Thank you for your interest in Dogs On the Go Assistance Dogs!
Please send your completed application, audiogram, and letter of reference to: info@dogsonthego.us
If you have questions regarding the application process or assistance completing the application, please email Dogs On the Go at: info@dogsonthego.us