Paws Giving Independence - Illinois Service Dog Program

Welcome

Paws Giving Independence trains service dogs to assist people with a variety of different disabilities while providing support to encourage independence. PGI educates the public about the benefits of service dogs and encourages animal rescue by obtaining many of our animals from shelters and rescue groups.

Our services:

Service Dogs

Service dogs help by performing functions for a person that is limited by a disability. An applicant must be able to handle the dog independently in ALL public settings.

Skilled Facilitator Assisted Service Dog

Facilitator Assisted Service dogs help individuals with disabilities or other developmental delays and the parent/caregiver is certified to handle the dog. This type of dog is not certified to attend school with the individual. To qualify for a service dog a trained family member will handle the dog when it accompanies the applicant into public locations.

Facility Dog

Facility dogs are trained to perform animal assisted interventions at a facility: hospitals, medical facilities, nursing homes, and other facilities. In order to apply for a facility dog, you must work at the facility at lea

st 30 hours per week with direct client contact. Our dogs must live in the home of a staff member and not at the facility.

What people are saying

Oliver the Magnificent has been busy helping Mom (me) prepare for Christmas. He has been keeping me active and making it possible for me to participate in holiday activities more independently, which means the world to me. We’ve had several adventures from rock concerts to going to the Oddities Expo in Chicago. Recently he escorted me to my daughter’s winter dance recital and he also enjoyed seeing the little ones singing for their school Christmas concert.
Jamie Daniels
_{Amboy, IL}