Service Dog Application Form

Thank you for your interest in an Autism Anchoring Dog! We recognize the time you have devoted to researching the best service dog option for your child and appreciate your decision to apply to AAD. Here you will find our service dog application form.

We are very selective in our screening process when considering a giant breed dog for our program. We carefully research pedigree, going back several generations during the selection process. We seek breeders who have placed an emphasis on health and longevity. Soundness in temperament and structure are paramount, as we wish these dogs to be durable and provide many years of reliable service to the family and child. As such, not every dog will make it through our training program. We also seek to provide the best possible match of our dogs to the prospective family, taking into consideration a number of factors relating to their individual needs.

As demand is high and the availability of suitable dogs is limited, the application process is involved and will take some time. Interviews will be done as dogs become available for potential placement. Children need to be around 3-4 years of age in order to be considered for a dog, but we encourage families to apply earlier to begin the placement process for an anchoring dog. Typical wait times vary, but are generally around 9-12 months. However, it may be less if we have a suitable dog in training that we feel is ideal for an applicant.

How to apply:

1. Download our application. It is available as either a Microsoft Word .doc (which can be filled out and attached to an email) or as an Adobe .pdf (viewable with free software, available here) which can then be printed out and sent through regular mail:

AAD Application Form (.docx)

AAD Application Form (.pdf)

2. Please sign the form (including the Applicant Terms of Agreement portion), and send via email to:

applications@autismanchoringdogs.org

Alternatively, you can mail the printed form to:

Autism Anchoring Dogs
Attn: Applicant Handler Review
5908 SW 45th Ave.
Portland, OR 97221

Upon receiving your application, someone from Autism Anchoring Dogs will contact you. If you are accepted into our program, we will start the interview process to learn more about your family and your unique set of needs. All of this helps us to find the best possible match for one of our anchoring dogs. We wish this placement to be a forever home for the dog as they bond strongly to their family.

If you have any questions about the application process or would like to let us know that you are considering applying for an anchoring service dog, please contact us.