American Service Animal Society

Veterans attend weekly one-hour training classes at the Gilbert, AZ facility for approximately one year. Attendance is mandatory. Training includes homework assignments. Dogs must be at least six months old, spayed/neutered, and have a mild temperament. The program culminates in certification as a service dog under the ADA. Lifetime support is provided after certification.

Pricing Summary

All service dog training and lifetime support are provided at no cost to qualified disabled veterans. No fees are charged to participants.

Policies

Attendance is mandatory to achieve certification. Participants must commit to weekly classes and homework. Training is only available to qualified disabled veterans who meet all eligibility requirements, including dog age, spay/neuter status, and temperament.

American Service Animal Society (Dogs4Vets) is a nonprofit organization that provides free, lifetime service dog training to disabled veterans. They help veterans train their own dogs—whether a personal pet or a rescue—to become certified service animals that assist with PTSD, mobility issues, and other disabilities. Training occurs at their facility in Gilbert, AZ, with weekly one-hour classes over approximately one year, plus homework assignments. The program is exclusively for veterans who qualify, and dogs must be at least six months old, spayed/neutered, and have a mild temperament with no aggression. Trainers are often veterans or family members of veterans, bringing deep empathy and lived experience to the training process.

The organization also offers lifetime support after certification and advocates for the use of rescue dogs. They are not a general dog training business; their services are exclusively tailored to disabled veterans and are provided at no cost to the veteran.

While they do not offer training to the general public, their model is highly specialized and proven, with strong testimonials from veterans who have regained independence and quality of life through their service dogs.

Accomplishments

Founded in 2005, Dogs4Vets has trained approximately 100 Arizona veterans each year and is one of the largest service dog programs of its kind in the nation. Veterans relocate from across the country to participate in the program.

How to Get Started!

Interested veterans must complete an online application, agree to program terms, and meet eligibility criteria including having a qualifying medical condition and a suitable dog. Applications are reviewed, and accepted participants are scheduled for weekly training at the Gilbert facility.