Dog Applicants

WCC is excited to reopen applications for Service Dogs! We thank everyone for their patience and understanding.  While we have made a huge dent on our wait-list, our average wait time still aligns with the industry’s average of about two years. 

Please note: 

• WCC does not train dogs to alert to medical conditions such as: diabetes, seizures, and/or epilepsy.
• WCC does not train Guide Dogs for low/no vision assistance or hearing alerts dogs.
• WCC does not train personal pet dogs to be Service Dogs. 

To be eligible for any of our placements, the household must not have more than 1 dog and the dog must be at least 1 year of age at time of placement. Other conditions of pets already within the household will be discussed during the interview process. WCC places Yellow/Black Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers. These dogs are NOT hypoallergenic. 

We encourage you to visit the Assistance Dogs International (ADI) website to look for partner organizations that can meet your needs. For assistance navigating the ADI website, or for further information about the application process, please reach us at wccdog@warriorcanineconnection.org or call us at (301) 260-1111 extension 5.  

General Eligibility and Non-Discrimination Policy:

After reviewing the following information, if you feel you meet these eligibility requirements, we invite you to fill out an inquiry form. Please note that the inquiry form is not the full application. There is a review process of all applications. Completing the application does not guarantee acceptance into the program. 

To be eligible to receive an Assistance Dog from WCC, the applicant must satisfy the eligibility requirements stated here and in the program materials. WCC is committed to providing its services and administering its programs in a nondiscriminatory manner, and in accordance with applicable law. All applicants and program participants are treated equally, and we do not discriminate on an individual’s race, sex, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, gender expression, genetic characteristics, or any other basis prohibited by law. WCC is further committed to treating all Veterans with dignity and respect, at all times. 

There is no fee for the dog or for the training. Applicants are not required to participate in fundraising or public relations activities without their expressed and voluntary permission. 

Dogs are matched with Veterans based on the dog’s skills, strengths, temperament, and energy level, as well as the applicant’s needs, experience, personality, and lifestyle. There may be an indefinite wait for the right dog to become available for a particular applicant. 

Per our accreditation with Assistance Dogs International, existing WCC clients who have applied for a successor dog are given priority on the waiting list, provided they are in good standing and continue to meet applicable eligibility requirements. 

Service Dog Applicant Eligibility:

• Applicants must be a Veteran, or in the later stages of the process of medical evaluation for separation from the military. This includes the Reserves and National Guard. However, IRR is allowed.  
• Have the support of your healthcare provider for obtaining an assistance dog. Please also note that Service Dogs are not intended as a substitute or replacement for medical interventions otherwise recommended by a healthcare provider. 
• Have a qualifying disability that impacts your quality of life, independence and ability to engage in activities of daily living. Qualifying disabilities include physical injury, PTSD, and/or TBI. 
• Applicants must be actively engaged with Mental Health treatment of some form. A behavioral health history will be required as part of the application package. You must provide WCC with permission to allow our client services team to communicate directly with your providers, as needed. 
• Applicants must be able to describe relevant history, such as effective and ineffective coping strategies, psychological triggers, which traditional evidence-based interventions you have tried in the past and how they worked or did not work, and how you believe that an assistance dog would help increase your independence and engagement in daily activities. 
• Applicants who apply for a Service Dog to assist with physical disability must have completed their in-patient rehabilitation program and/or be at least one (1) year post-injury/on-set of disability. 
• If applying for a Service Dog, you must be successfully engaged in your individualized treatment program for a minimum of six months. 
• Be willing and able to provide for the dog’s physical, emotional and financial needs. 
• Strive to have a positive, “can do” attitude and effectively implement emotional regulation tools/techniques as needed. 
• Have a stable home environment, the support of all other household and family members, and be comfortable allowing us to help evaluate the suitability of your home environment. 
• Have a desire for more independence. 
• Have an open mind and willingness to learn. 
• Be able to attend an intensive 8-day minimum Team Training Camp at WCC’s Healing Headquarters in Maryland, as well as cover your airfare, accommodations, and transportation. In some cases, WCC may be able to assist Service Dog applicants with certain accommodation and transportation costs. 

Military Family Support Dog (MFSD) Applicant Eligibility:  

MFSD’s are a unique placement to WCC. These dogs are in-home companions trained to help mitigate the specific triggers within a family. A family can be 2 or more individuals living within a home together. MFSDs do not have public access, meaning they cannot wear a vest and are not protected by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) like Service Dogs are. MFSDs will not gain public access during their lifetime.  

• Must be an active-duty Service Member, Veteran, or Gold Star Family member whose family would benefit from a dog. 
• Have a referral or recommendation, and the support of your healthcare provider for obtaining a MFSD. 
• Be able to describe your need for a MFSD to help facilitate family relationships. 
• Be willing and able to provide for the dog’s physical, emotional and financial* needs. 
• Strive to have a positive, “can do” attitude and effectively implement emotional regulation tools/techniques as needed. 
• Have a stable home environment and support of all other household members. 
• Have an open mind and willingness to learn. 
• Be able to attend an intensive 5-day minimum Team Training Camp at WCC’s Healing Headquarters in Maryland, as well as cover your airfare, accommodations, and transportation. 

Facility Dog Applicant Eligibility:  

Facility Dogs have public access within the perimeters of their job description. They are not allowed in other public areas and are not protected by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). A dog is not allowed to be a Facility Dog and a Service Dog. Facility Dogs live within the home of a primary handler that brings the dog to work each day. They are not allowed to live in the facility in which they work.  

• Work in a treatment or healthcare facility that provides care for active-duty Service Members, Veterans, or Military Family Members 
• Work in a facility that primarily serves adults or families. 
• Have full support of the clinical team and leadership at your facility. 
• Be able to describe how a Facility Dog would provide support for the population that you serve. 
• Be willing and able to provide for the dog’s physical, emotional and financial needs. 
• Have a positive, “can do” attitude. 
• Have a stable home environment and support of all other household members.  
• Have an open mind and willingness to learn. 
• Be able to attend an intensive 5-Day minimum, Team Training Camp at WCC’s Healing Headquarters in Maryland, as well as cover your airfare, accommodations, and transportation. 

If you feel you meet these eligibility requirements and would like an application, or if you have additional questions, please email the Client Services Team.

*The following are estimated yearly costs for a service dog. The actual cost will vary depending on location.