Applying for a Service or Emotional Support Dog
OUR CURRENT WAITING PERIOD TO RECEIVE A SERVICE DOG IS APPROXIMATELY 24 to 30 MONTHS
The following are the steps that everybody wanting a True Blue Service (or Emotional Support) Dog must follow:
The following are the steps that everybody wanting a True Blue Service (or Emotional Support) Dog must follow:
- Request an application. The application process costs $45 (non-refundable). When you complete the payment below, you will receive the application via email. If you prefer to receive the application via postal service, please indicate so. Note that email applications are sent within 48 hours and postal applications go out on Fridays.
- We only serve autism service dogs if you live within 80 miles of San Diego, CA.
- Once we receive your application, we will set-up a video conference with you using Skype or FaceTime. Based on the information provided, and the interview, we will be able to determine if we can provide you with a True Blue Service Dog and help you understand whether a service or emotional support dog would be best for you.
- If after the interview, all parties agree that a True Blue Service Dog would enhance your quality of life or your child's quality of life, we will send you a contract detailing exactly what the dog will do, and what your responsibilities will be during the life time of the dog. We stay in touch with the dog during its entire life. We also refresh its skills when needed. You can take as long as you need to make this decision. Once you are ready, you will send us the contract by mail with a check payable to True Blue Service Dogs Inc. in the amount of $450. This will place you in the waiting list for your particular disability, and you will receive a confirmation email.
- We take the match between dog and future owner seriously. Therefore, even though you are first on the list for your disability, you might not get the next dog because that dog might be better suited for another type of disability. It could also happen that we have a dog for your type of disability but your personalities do not match. We will move that dog to the next person in line while diligently look for the best companion for you. We hope you understand the flexible dynamic of our list because you are partnering with another sentient being for the next 10-12 years.
- This deposit is non-refundable. This is why we give you as much time as you need to think about this commitment.
- Once we complete the training of your dog, we either deliver the dog to you or you will spend two weeks with us in San Diego, CA where you will learn how to communicate and live with your True Blue Service Dog. Our foundation covers your traveling expenses. Note that we do not cover traveling expenses for a companion. If the dog goes to a child, we cover the traveling expenses for the child and one accompanying adult.
- Once you and the True Blue Service Dog return home, you are obliged by contract to continue communicating with us on a quarterly basis for the life of the dog and inform us of changes of address, planning the addition of other dogs not present at the time of the contract, veterinarian appointments, and overall health of the dog.
- Talk to us before purchasing the application if you have other dogs in the house.
- Do not purchase the application if you have a record of domestic violence, or driving under the influence.
- Do not purchase the application if you have been charged with animal cruelty, or are currently on parole or probation.
- Do not purchase the application if you suffer from night terrors. Night terrors, also known as sleep terrors, are episodes of screaming, intense fear and flailing while still asleep. They are often paired with sleepwalking.
- Do not purchase the application if you have frontal lobe seizures. Our dogs can only assist individuals with temporal lobe seizures.
- Do not purchase the application if you need a diabetes alert dog and you have other dogs in the house. Due to the importance of the bond between a diabetic alert dog and you, the future owner, it is our policy that there are no other dogs allowed to be living in the immediate household.