Shelter to Service offers a free, personalized matching service to connect each applicant with an animal who will complement their lifestyle and help them achieve their goals.
“[Shelter to Service] is by far the most powerful intervention we’ve tried with this Veteran in the six years I’ve been working with him. This is exactly what we’d hoped for.”
– David, Veterans’ Mental Health Professional
Psychiatric Service Dogs
Facility Animals
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Psychiatric Service Dogs
Service dog candidates are carefully assessed and selected to meet each handler’s needs. While our team takes applicant’s preferences into consideration, such as breed, size, energy level, etc., Shelter to Service prioritizes matching candidates that best fit the participant’s described lifestyle when screening dogs for qualities including focus, confidence, affiliation to handlers, calmness, and response to reward-based training.
Eligibility for Psychiatric Service Dog Placement
- Applicants must live in a stable, personal residence.
- Applicants must demonstrate willingness and ability to provide proper care and a safe home environment for a dog for their natural lifespan.
- Applicants must submit a copy of their photo ID.
- Applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from their licensed mental healthcare provider, written within the last year.
- Applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from a family member.
- Applicants must be willing and able to travel to our Walnut Creek campus to attend a three day orientation (one hour per day for three consecutive days).
- Applicants must be willing and able to travel to our Walnut Creek campus to attend one hour long training classes, twice per week, for a minimum of three months.
- Applicants are responsible for training and handling their dog in adherence to our guided program in order to meet the expectations required for graduation.
Facility Animals
Facility animals are specially trained dogs and cats that work alongside a facilitator in healthcare, visitation, or educational settings. A Shelter to Service facility dog is skilled in service dog commands and can be used to enhance therapies, encourage participation, and reduce anxiety for clients in professional environments.
Eligibility for Facility Animal Placement
- Applicants must live in a stable, personal residence.
- Applicants must demonstrate willingness and ability to provide proper care and a safe home environment for a dog or cat for their natural lifespan.
- Applicants must submit a copy of their photo ID.
- Applicants must submit a letter of approval from a facility supervisor.
- Applicants must be willing and able to travel to our Walnut Creek campus to attend a three day orientation (one hour per day for three consecutive days).
- Applicants must be willing and able to travel to our Walnut Creek campus to attend one hour long training classes, twice per week, for a minimum of three months.
- Applicants are responsible for training and handling their dog in adherence to our guided program in order to meet the expectations required for graduation.
Additional Veterans’ Benefits
Veteran adopters are provided with a supply of preventative medications, Purina® pet food, and additional supplies from Pet Food Express. Due to these added benefits, there are a few additional requirements for admission into the program.
Eligibility for Veterans’ Services
As Veterans qualify for additional support in the Shelter to Service program, including free Purina pet food and veterinary wellness care, there are a few additional requirements for admission into the program.
- Veterans must provide evidence of service through an acceptable form of military identification. The following documents are accepted:
- Military I.D. card
- VA health identification card
- Discharge paperwork with matching photo identification
- Department of Defense Form 214 (DD-214)
- Veterans must submit a letter of recommendation from a licensed VA or private mental healthcare provider, written within the last year. Please note that our program manager will be following up with the provider to confirm ongoing support.
Meet Some Current Teams
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Your gift will connect service dog candidates with individuals with mental or emotional health conditions and will help place facility animal candidates in facility settings to assist staff and clients meet their goals. Your generosity makes it possible for us to provide animal placement and professional training at little to no cost.
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