CHAMP ASSISTANCE DOGS

ASSISTANCE DOG PROGRAMCHAMP trains and places assistance dogs to enhance life skills and increase the independence of individuals (children, adults, and veterans) with physical and/or cognitive disabilities. It costs CHAMP up to $40,000 to train and place an assistance dog. However, CHAMPs assistance dogs were placed free of charge. In the fiscal that ended September 30, 2025, CHAMP place one home service dog, and three facility dogs. CHAMP placed the facility dogs at a child advocacy center, a camp for children and adults with disabilities, and the very first National Soccer League Facility Dog was placed at STL City SC.CHAMP facility dogs work with professional caregivers who serve as their handler. Facility Dogs help motivate a client or patient while helping them achieve their goals. In a child advocacy center or a courtroom, a facility dog is available to comfort a child as they face a frightening or stressful procedure in the criminal justice system.During the year, a portion of the training of CHAMPs assistance dogs was done through CHAMPS partnership with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Greenville, IL. Through this partnership, women offenders in a prison camp help to train CHAMPs assistance dogs. This win-win program helps the women experience positive interactions and increase their self-confidence as they practice teamwork and gain job-related skills. The experience provides a sense of accomplishment as the women give back to the community and experience success.

THERAPY DOG PROGRAM CHAMP Therapy Dog Teams visit children and adults in hospitals, assisted living centers, hospice centers, medical facilities, and schools. Interactions with a CHAMP Therapy Dog Team can relieve stress, lower heart rates, provide comfort during a stressful procedure or simply bring a comforting presence to students preparing for final exams. The CHAMP Therapy Dog Program is a free service that serves CHAMPs community. Throughout the year, CHAMP Therapy Dog teams visited approximately 83,000 children and adults. That was a 34% increase in visits over the previous year.