Service Dogs Program
Born to love. Trained to serve.
Everyday life can be difficult and lonely for some people with disabilities. UDS Service Dogs are trained from pups for over two years by a team of dedicated volunteers and professionals to help people who have a mobility disability live fuller lives.
Trained to obey and assist, these loving dogs help with daily tasks such as opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, picking something up off the floor, balance, retrieving and delivering – even getting something out of the refrigerator. But beyond helping to perform basic tasks, these remarkable dogs become affectionate friends.
Dog lovers needed. Volunteer today!
If you love dogs and appreciate the life-altering contribution service dogs make in people's lives, we have lots of ways you can help, including:
- Puppy Homes
Give us 18 months of your time, patience and love to raise and help train a puppy. - Puppy Sitters
Provide a short respite for Puppy Home people by keeping their pups while they're away from home. - Puppy Pals
Assist a Puppy Home by playing with, exercising and training a puppy.
Fill out the Puppy Pal Questionaire » - Special Events Volunteers
Help out at service dog special events, shows and fundraisers. - High School Senior Projects
The perfect community service senior volunteer project for dog-loving high schoolers – raising a UDS Service Dog puppy! This rewarding project can actually be started in your junior year.
Application for the Service Dogs Program »
Counties served in Pennsylvania
Adams, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, York
NEW! Obedience Classes.
We're now offering expert training for your dog!
Want a happy, well-behaved dog? UDS now offers Basic Obedience Classes for your favorite canine! Learn proven methods and techniques for building a healthy relationship with your pooch. You'll work directly with the same trainers who prepare the UDS Service Dogs. Discover this great new UDS Service Dogs program for the community and help your dog be his best.
You and your dog will learn
- How to better communicate
- Basic obedience instructions - sit, down, come, heel, stay, etc.
- Socialization with other dogs and people
Class Schedule
Schedule: (Next session of classes to be posted soon)Location: 1905 Olde Homestead LaneLancaster
Contact: 717-397-1841
Tuition: $100.00 for 6 classes. One-on-one training is also available.
All proceeds benefit the UDS Service Dogs program.
For more information
To find out about upcoming classes or our program, contact the UDS Resource Center at 888-837-4235 or resourcecenter@udservices.org.
Service Dogs Facebook page »
Financial support... because priceless companionship comes with a price
The cost to train and place a service dog is enormous - upwards of $20,000 - but their value to a person with a disability can't be measured. UDS relies on dedicated volunteers and the generous contributions of caring people and businesses throughout the community to enable us to charge a more affordable placement fee. Even if you can't volunteer, your financial contributions will help us keep this program available and affordable.
Give a Gift
UDS needs yourfinancial support
Program Wish List
Here are some items we could use for the Service Dogs program. Donations are greatly appreciated.
- Tennis Balls
- Bouncy Balls
- Painter/Masking Tape
- Hats of Any Sort
- Sturdy Dog Toys
A perfect way for dog-loving businesses to lend a paw
For over 5 years, the HERSHEY Bears have teamed up with UDS to help people with disabilities through the UDS Service Dogs program. A special calendar featuring the HERSHEY Bears hockey team and UDS Service Dogs is sold at all Bears home games to benefit UDS. Could something like this be a perfect opportunity for your business to show it cares?
Let Your Voice
Be Heard
Medicaid regulations are requiring a policy change in how some consumer-directed attendant care services are paid for. The change will reduce the amount UDS is paid to provide services. This could make it financially impossible for UDS and other provider agencies to deliver services after
the proposed changes are
implemented. We need to make
Commonwealth staffers and
legislators understand
what this will do.
