National Service Dogs

HISTORY

In 1996, a desperate plea for help from the mother of a 3-year-old child with autism, Brodie, led to the development of the first and only service dog program focused on children with autism in Canada. In 1997 Brodie was matched with a quiet, sensitive black lab named Shade. The incredible success of this founding team brought popular attention from the media and the Geneva Centre for Autism, Toronto, Ontario.

As a result, the registered charity National Service Dogs (NSD) was born. Requests for service dogs from families that have children with autism from across the country overwhelmed founding members, Chris and Heather Fowler and Danielle Forbes. They have worked as professional service dog trainers and believe passionately in the practical and therapeutic value of matching special dogs with special children.

To learn more about National Service Dogs, visit their website at www.nsd.on.ca.

Another organization that provides highly trained service and therapy dogs to children with autism and their families is Autism Dog Services. This non-profit organization is located in southern Ontario.

To learn more about Autism Dog Services, visit their website at www.autismdogservices.ca.