Wisconsin Academy for Graduate Service Dogs (WAGS): Promoting Independence and Quality of Life through Partnerships with Service Dogs.

WAGS’ mission is to promote functional independence and quality of life for people with disabilities, primarily mobility impairments, through partnerships with service dogs.

WAGS provides highly skilled and socialized Service Dogs, Family Service Dogs, Home Helpmates, and Therapy Dogs.  Our foundation is based upon integrity and respect for the individual and our dogs.  Click here for more information about Public Access: Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (ACAA) and TSA regulations, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Wisconsin State Statutes and Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act.  Wisconsin Act 353 deals with "recklessly or intentionally interfering with the use of, causing injury to, causing the death of, or the theft of a service dog and restitution for offenses relating to service, police, and fire animals and providing penalties".  ADA Brief: SERVICE ANIMALS:  A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove his service animal from the premises unless: (1) the animal is out of control and the animal's owner does not take effective action to control it (for example, a dog that barks repeatedly during a movie) or (2) the animal poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others.

A WAGS Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever can provide physical assistance, companionship, devotion, and unconditional love.  They are trained to be an unobtrusive helpmate in public (if public access is necessary), to retrieve dropped or out of reach items, tug open doors or remove items of clothing (gloves, jackets, etc), turn on and off lights and go get help within the home.

Would you like to invite your co-workers or colleagues to experience firsthand how much time, skill and energy goes into developing a service dog?  Do you want to see an actual service dog perform minor heroics? Do you simply love Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers? Great! WAGS offers demonstrations to the community throughout the year and may be available to accommodate your request.  Call WAGS today at (608) 250-9247!  Ask for Aaron to talk about how to arrange for one of the amazing WAGS dogs-in-training to visit your work place, civic group or social get-together.  Your next staff meeting, work retreat or gathering will be a singular experience that you and others will not soon forget!
 

WAGS is a non-profit corporation affiliated with United Way of Dane County and is a member of Assistance Dogs International.