C.H.A.M.P. Assistance Dogs, Inc.

C.H.A.M.P. Assistance Dogs, Inc. is a nonprofit organization in its tenth year of providing services - free of charge - to children and adults with disabilities.
We offer our community three main programs designed to improve the lives of people with disabilities:

1) Service Dog Program: CHAMP has successfully placed 34 service dogs with their disabled partners. Thirteen of these service dogs have been partnered with children. We have 18 additional puppies and dogs in various stages of training, and expect to soon place two additional dogs with their disabled partners. One of these placements will be with a child.

As part of our Service Dog Program, CHAMP coordinates a win-win partnership program with the Missouri Department of Corrections at the women's prison in Vandalia, MO. Service dogs-in-training live on-site with selected offenders and learn everything from basic house manners to advanced service dog skills. The offender-trainers also work with dogs from the rescue community, gaining experience with a variety of dogs while teaching good house manners and a few fun tricks to increase the dog's adoptability in the community.
In January of 2007, CHAMP became only the 16th service dog provider organization in the United States to attain the honor of full-accreditation from Assistance Dogs International (ADI), the largest and most highly respected professional coalition for assistance dog provider organizations.

2) Disability Education Program

CHAMP's integrative learning program combines toys, books, videos, wheelchairs, and other hands-on tools with a presentation utilizing program dogs to educate children about disabilities, inclusion, and how service animals can assist people with disabilities who choose to use them. This unique learning experience is offered free of charge to schools and other children's groups in the St. Louis area. Our Disability Education Program reaches approximately 5,500 children each year.

3) Therapy Dog Program

CHAMP trains and certifies therapy dog teams to visit children and adults at hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and other locations throughout the metro St. Louis area. According to the physical and occupational therapists in these facilities, these visits are tremendous motivational tools for both children and adults. CHAMP therapy dog teams reach over 5,000 people each year.