FAQs

Below you will find the answers to the questions we are asked most about when applying for an assistance dog

• Why can’t I register my interest for your assistance dog services at the moment?

  Assistance Dogs NI  (ADNI) do not have a main funder at present, this has been the case since January 2021. As ADNI provide their Assistance Dogs free of charge to individuals we need significant funding to do so.  The Charity had to take the hard decision to close all our waiting lists nine months into our first year of the funding we had secured from the Big Lottery.

  While we want to be able to create life changing partnerships for as many people as possible however, without significant funding we are unable to do this. ADNI will always prioritise the provision of successor Assistance Dogs and we will seek funding in order to do so.

• Why can’t you place more assistance dogs per year?

  Assistance Dogs NI  do not have a main funder at present, this has been the case since January 2021. As ADNI provide their Assistance Dogs free of charge to individuals we need significant funding to do so. While we want to be able to create life changing partnerships for as many people as possible however without significant funding we are unable to do this.

   

• When will I be able to register my interest for an assistance dog?

  When  Assistance Dogs NI secures adequate funding we will open our waiting lists. We are working tirelessly to secure funding. ADNI receives no core government funding .As previously mentioned we do not have a current funder since the Big Lottery funding which ended on the 31st December 2020.  When we are in a position to open our waiting lists it will be announced on our Facebook page and website.

• I’m interested in an Autism Assistance Dog – what can I do now?

  Unfortunately, our waiting lists remain closed. The only support ADNI can provide at present is through our Canine Intervention Programmes . At present we have 27 school dogs working full-time in schools throughout NI , we have a further 5 pups in training in schools. We are the best kept secret in NI at present. If families contact us we will provide information about the Canine Intervention Programme which also offers families the opportunity to buy in canine intervention visits at home.

   

• You currently don’t train assistance dogs to support my condition. Are you planning to do so in the future?

  We have many requests for new services.  Dogs are good for us and can support people in many ways.  We do pilot new projects however, we cannot guarantee when will be piloting a service to help with your particular needs, it is helpful for us to understand demand for new services and to also have your contact details in case we were able to offer a pilot project to you.

• Can you take my details and contact me when I can register my interest for your assistance dog services?

  No, unfortunately due to our limited resources we are unable to contact individuals when we start taking enquiries again.  Please check our  Facebook and website  regularly to see when the list reopens.

• Can you train my pet dog to help me?

  We get many requests about whether we are able to train people’s pet dogs as assistance dogs. Assistance Dogs NI  only train pups   that we have sourced and who have subsequently  completed our own puppy socialising scheme.

  There are a number of other organisations that can train a person’s own pet dog specifically for their individual needs, and as a registered Assistance Dog organisation can then register the dog/client partnership.  Check Assistance Dogs UK website to see who offers’ this service in NI.

   

• Can I get an assistance dog jacket for my pet dog?

  No. Assistance Dogs NI is only able to provide  assistance dog jackets to dogs trained by the charity.

• I’ve trained my own dog, how do I register it as an assistance dog?

  Assistance Dogs NI does not have an assessment process in place for dogs that have not been trained by the charity, and therefore is not able to ‘register’ pet dogs. There is no central register of assistance in the UK, so no formal registration system exists.

• What can I do to help?

  Support us.  We rely entirely on donations, grants, fundraisers and the income we generate from our two Social Enterprises (1) Our charity shop in Limavady-donations always welcome (2) Our canine intervention programme  to continue our work.

  Without donations we simply could not do what we do.  Make a donation, on our website home page, or find out about ways you can support us.

  Make a donation