About Smoky Mountain Service Dogs

Smoky Mountain Service Dogs is a nonprofit service dog organization at 8380 Fairview Rd in Lenoir City. It carries a 4.8-star Google rating from 34 reviews.

What it is

This is not a commercial trainer and does not train the public's dogs. Its published mission is "to enhance the physical and psychological quality of life for Veterans and First Responders by providing highly-trained mobility assistance service dogs and psychiatric (PTSD) service dogs at no cost to our clients". Its strapline is "Facilitating a Better Life for Veterans and First Responders through Canine Service".

Who is eligible

They state they primarily serve Veterans and First Responders with physical disabilities, and that "when canine inventory allows" they also serve those with psychological disabilities. Veteran applicants from any military branch are eligible, as are First Responders including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and rescuers. Applications go through an Apply Now section with its own FAQs.

Method and accreditation

Their published training position is explicit: "we believe that positive reinforcement is the best form of service dog training and we shall remain committed to training our service dogs in a way that encourages trust on all levels." The site states the organization has been awarded accreditation by Assistance Dogs International. They publish pages on their trainers, their facility, their dogs and service dog capabilities, and work with University of Tennessee student partners.

Who it suits

Veterans and first responders in East Tennessee who need a trained mobility or PTSD service dog and cannot fund one. Everyone else should look at the trainers on this page – this organization places dogs, it does not sell training.