The Wisconsin Academy For Graduate Service Dogs (Madison, Wisconsin 53703) promotes independence for people with physical disabilities by providing highly skilled service, therapy, and companion dogs. Its foundation is based upon integrity and respect, for individuals and for dogs.
WAGS raises and trains service dogs to increase the ability of individuals with disabilities to independently execute functional, daily living skills, increase attendance in daily life events, and improve outlook on life, with the aid and support of a highly trained service dog.
Types of WAGS dogs include:
Service Dogs: Dogs with public access partnered with individuals who have mobility limitations. These dogs perform multiple tasks to assist in daily living such as retrieving dropped and out of reach items, operating light switches, opening and closing doors, and tugging off clothing.
Family Service/Therapy Dogs: Dogs with public access that are placed with a family that has a child with a disability. In the case of a Family Service or Therapy Dog, a third party such as a parent or guardian is required to go through the client training with the child, and take on some of the responsibility of caring for the dog.
Companion Dogs: Dogs who have completed obedience training and may have some service dog skills but do not have public access. Companion Dogs are placed with adults, children, or families with special needs. These dogs assist their partner in the home and provide love and companionship. For some clients, this type of placement increases communication and range of motion.
Facility/Therapy Dogs: Dogs that are placed with a professional facilitator such as a nurse, teacher, caregiver, or therapist to provide therapy and assistance to people who they serve.
WAGS has facilitated the partnership of over 80 service dogs with people with disabilities of movement such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, neuromuscular disease, and cerebral palsy.
For these people, a WAGS dog can provide needed physical assistance by retrieving dropped and out of reach items, opening and closing doors, operating light switches, and tugging off articles of clothing. All four types of WAGS dogs offer companionship, devotion, and unconditional love.
WAGS is a non-profit corporation affiliated with United Way of Dane County and is a member of Assistance Dogs International.
