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Please note… volunteers should live within a 1-hour distance from our training facility (2270 Erin Ct, Lancaster, PA 17601)
Volunteer with service dogs to brighten your day and help someone in need.
If you love dogs and appreciate the life-changing contribution service dogs in PA make in people’s lives, we offer a variety of service dog volunteer opportunities.
Want to know what it’s like to be a puppy raiser? Check out our video here –>
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Keep up to date on all the UDS Service Dogs happenings! Joining our email list will put you at the front of the line to learn about new puppies, events and more.
Meet Our Volunteer Coordinator!
Christie White recently took on the roll of Volunteer Coordinator for the UDS Service Dogs. In her role, Christie is the first point of contact for people interested in volunteering for the UDS Service Dogs Program. Upon receiving the initial volunteer application Christie will assist new volunteer applicants in navigating the required pieces to begin working with our dogs. Starting with our Virtual Orientation, assisting with required paperwork and providing details on Google Classroom offerings and in-person training courses. Christie will be your liaison as you begin your adventure in joining our family of volunteer angels.
Volunteer Opportunities
Each opportunity requires a different level of training as indicated below. Each level includes the requirements for all prior levels.
- Special Events (if not handling a dog – no experience necessary). Help out at service dog special events, shows and fundraisers.
- Puppy Pals (orientation and 4 classes). Assist with transportation for a dog or handle a dog during classes, outings, or special events where trainers are present.
- Kennel Care (review of kennel care specific materials). Provide exercise and routine basic care to our dogs in the kennel. Sign up for a time during the day or evening to walk, play with, brush, or bathe our dogs. Each time you help, enter your name in our monthly drawing for a chance to win a prize!
- Puppy Sitters (attend a Weekend Sitter Training and at least 1 training class every 2 months). Take home one of our kennel dogs for a weekend, or provide a short respite for puppy homes by keeping their pups while the puppy home family is away. (No public outings without public access training.)
- Public Access (individual training). These volunteers have been trained how to take a dog out in public without a trainer or trained handler in presence. This allows weekend sitters to take the dog on errands with them in the community.
- Puppy Homes (attend a Puppy Home Orientation, regular training classes). Give us approximately 2 months of your time, patience, and love to train a puppy before they enter one of our Pups In Prison programs. Give us approximately 6 months when a pup enters intermediate training at a year old.
Volunteering with UDS has been a wonderful experience! The trainers are extremely knowledgeable and always willing to help. I feel very supported as a volunteer handler with the program and appreciate how well these dogs are cared for.
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UDS SERVICE DOGS ARE ACCREDITED BY ASSISTANCE DOGS INTERNATIONAL, INC. (ADI)
ADI is a worldwide coalition of non-profit programs that train and place Assistance Dogs. ADI has become the leading authority in the Assistance Dog industry. Their objectives are to establish and promote standards of excellence in all areas of assistance dog acquisition, training and partnership, facilitate communication and learning among member programs, and educate the public to the benefits of Assistance Dogs and ADI membership. Assistance Dogs organizations that pass ADI’s accreditation process become ADI Accredited Member program, and are assessed every five years to ensure they meet the highest standards in the industry.