About Service Dogs of Va

Service Dogs of Virginia is a Charlottesville service-dog charity, not a business you hire to train your dog.

What it actually does

In its own words, it "is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Charlottesville, providing expertly trained service dogs to individuals across Virginia", and it "trains and places dogs for children and adults with disabilities – at no cost to our clients". The economics are published too: "It costs about $40,000 and two years to raise and train each dog."

The programs

Five are published: autism service dogs for children and for adults, facility dogs for "schools, hospitals, courthouses, or counseling centers", medical alert dogs that "use scent detection to identify changes in body chemistry", physical assistance dogs for adults "who use power wheelchairs or scooters", and PTSD service dogs for "Active-duty military", "Veterans" and "First responders".

Read this before applying

The organization publishes an explicit list of work it does not do, including guide work, hearing alert, seizure alert or response, psychiatric service dogs, personal protection, and "Owner-trained service dogs". It has also closed intake: "we regretfully need to close to new applications until January, 2028", with a waitlist in the meantime.

Not a trainer for hire

None of this is a training service you can book. It is a placement charity, not a trainer for hire.