Therapetics Service Dogs

Therapetics service dogs are trained to perform a variety of tasks to increase independence, assist with daily tasks, and reduce reliance on other people. They only train and place Service Dogs for veterans and first responders diagnosed with PTSD and individuals living with physical disabilities that limit their mobility. The application process involves completing a full application with medical and personal recommendations, an interview by their Client Selection Committee, and evaluation by the Board of Directors.

If an applicant is approved for a service dog, they are then partnered with the appropriate Service Dog in Training when they become available. Applicants that receive a service dog must participate in 100 hours of team training in Tulsa, OK. After team training is complete and the pairing is considered successful, the handler and service dog are required to complete a Public Access Test before being considered an official service dog team. The current wait time for a service dog is between 2-3 years or more.

Pricing Summary

It takes about two years and approximately $10,000 to train each service dog in their program. Despite these costs, Therapetics places these dogs with individuals in need at no charge.

Therapetics Service Dogs of Oklahoma is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been successfully placing well-trained service dogs with Oklahomans in need since 1992. They are run 100% by unpaid volunteers, including trainers, staff, and a Board of Directors, and rely on contributions from individuals, businesses, churches, and civic groups. Their mission is to enrich the life of persons with disabilities through the placement of exceptionally well-trained service dogs.

They specialize in training Mobility and PTSD service dogs. Mobility Assistance Service Dogs are trained to perform tasks like opening doors, carrying bags, picking up dropped objects, or emptying the dryer to help with everyday chores made difficult by limited mobility. PTSD Service Dogs are trained to perform specific tasks such as turning on lights, creating physical barriers for safe space, and alerting to approaching individuals to reduce symptoms like hyper-vigilance and provide a sense of security.

Therapetics trains dogs in a variety of locations to provide them with a wide range of experiences. They also provide training and support to the client and service dog for the life of the partnership. While their primary focus is service dogs, “career change pups” not suited for service work may be placed as facility dogs, therapy dogs, court dogs, or in homes as pets.

Accomplishments

Therapetics Service Dogs of Oklahoma has been successfully placing well-trained service dogs since 1992 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. They are run 100% by unpaid volunteers.

How to Get Started!

To apply for a service dog, all applicants must complete a full application, including medical and personal recommendations. All applicants who meet basic requirements are interviewed by the Client Selection Committee. Following this preliminary meeting, the Board of Directors will evaluate the application and determine if they are able to provide a dog to meet the applicant’s needs. If approved, the applicant is then partnered with the appropriate Service Dog in Training when available. The application is lengthy, but progress can be saved and returned to at any time.