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A: Individuals seeking to obtain an assistance dog should fill out and submit an application to NEADS. Further description of each kind of dog may be found under its title; i.e. service, hearing, social dog. These applications may be filed out on-line and submitted electronically or downloaded and sent by mail when completed along with a $25 fee. Q: I need an Assistance Dog but I can't afford $6,000. Does that mean I can't have a dog? A: It costs NEADS more than $6,000 to raise and train an assistance dog, so we ask each client to help in the fund raising of $6,000. However, no one is denied a dog based on lack of funding. Q: Can I tour the NEADS training facility? A: We are happy to provide tours of our facility, featuring a presentation by one of our assistance dog teams. Please fill out the tour request form to book a date for your group, or call 978 422-9064 . A:
Q: Is there an age requirement? A:Individuals applying for their own dog must be 12 or older. Individuals under the age of 12, must have a sponsor(i.e. parent) submit the application and name an individual that will share in the care of the dog. Q: How long does it take to obtain a dog? A: We match the personality and skill of the dog to the personality and need of his human partner, so we cannot provide a dog immediately. It generally takes a year (and sometimes up to two) to find and train the right dog for an applicant. Q: How long is the training program? A: It takes three to six months to train an assistance dog. The variation in time results from the dog’s individual differences and abilities. Following the dog’s training, our clients train with the dog matched with them for two weeks on NEADS’ campus. This important time bonds them together and allows them to graduate from the program working as a team. Q: Does NEADS own the Assistance Dogs it trains? A: The person who graduates from our program becomes the dog’s owner. NEADS does not retain any ownership interest.
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