International Assistance Dog Week (IADW) 2019

Aug 6, 2019 12:15 PM ET

Created to recognize all the hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability related limitations, International Assistance Dog Week (IADW) is a time devoted to:

  • Recognize and honor assistance dogs
  • Raise awareness and educate the public about assistance dogs
  • Honor puppy raisers and trainers
  • Recognize heroic deeds performed by assistance dogs in our communities

In recognition of #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek, America's Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are proud to call our members.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer's workplace giving program (Don't have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity's name below to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

Canine Partners for Life (CPL) trains and places certified service dogs with persons who have physical disabilities, mobility impairments, and seizure and cardiac disorders, to increase their independence and quality of life. By assisting its human partner with many physical tasks and providing constant companionship, a service dog can make the miracle of greater independence possible. CPL provides professionally trained service dogs and lifetime support services. Each dog is trained to meet the specific needs of each individual recipient. CPL places full service dogs with persons 12 years and older. Click here to learn more about their work.

Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind breeds, trains, and places guide dogs with blind and visually impaired individuals throughout the Eastern US through Hometown Training. This allows a certified instructor to train with the blind person where they live and work. This is at no cost to the blind person. Eric and Sharon Loori, who founded Freedom Guide Dogs in 1992, have been training guide dogs since 1977. Click here to learn more about their work.