Mission: To train and certify service dogs for individuals with disabilities.

Programs: For fiscal year ended june 30,2017 service dogs for america has placed 8 service dogs with veterans and non-veterans. We secured a grant allowing which assisted us in placing service dogs with veterans at no cost to the veteran. Service dogs for america has placed services dogs in several us states this fiscal year. As evidenced by the number of dogs placed, one of the newest and most successful programs service dogs for america currently has is the ptsd service dog program. Five of the service dogs placed in this fiscal year were teamed with combat-connected disabled veterans. Service dogs for america continues to be the only assistance dogs international accredited service dog organization placing ptsd service dogs with civilian clients as well as veterans. Service dogs for america is the only assistance dogs international accredited organization without a waiting list for client placements. That means as soon as soon as a client is approved for placement, their team training can begin as soon as they can travel to our campus for team training! The industry has an average waiting list of two to five years! There has been a fair amount of interest in the diabetic alert (emergency medical response dog) program from potential clients. It has also been a wonderful volunteer opportunity as we have many individuals in a 50 mile radius who collect and donate saliva samples for the program -which are used for "scenting" training for the dogs. Our inmate canine assistance programs (icap) continues to flourish. We started our flagship icap program in jamestown (james river correctional center) in 2008.In june 2015, we expanded into the bismarck region by adding a prison puppy program at missouri river correctional center (mrcc). In april 2016, we partnered with the north dakota state penitentiary to offer icap at their facility in bismarck. With these program, our certified trainers instruct inmates on our dog training techniques and the inmates work, daily, training the canines on tasks and behaviors from basic 5 commands (sit, stay, down, heel, come) all the way through advanced service dog behaviors (alert, open door, etc). The ultimate goals of this program are to offer inmates a useful job skill which will assist them in their transition back into society. Service dogs for america also collaborates with a dog rescue organizations in the region to obtain appropriate dogs for the program. The dogs are temperament-tested by the staff at service dogs for america. If the trainer feels the dog has the characteristics of a good service dog, sda would take the dog into our program. If the dog doesn't meet the criteria for a service dog, the rescue organization will get the dog back and will be able to adopt out a well-trained dog. We feel it will be a beneficial endeavor for all involved, as lack of obedience is a main reason a lot of shelter pets are abandoned or returned. Sda has started laying the groundwork for a courthouse dogs (victims' advocacy) program since late last fall. This program would allow dogs to provide comfort and assistance to victims in every aspect of court proceedings (interviews, testimony, questioning, etc. ). The program planning is in its infancy, but should be in full swing by 2018.Great plains assistance dogs foundation dba service dogs for america has received full reaccreditation from assistance dogs international. This is a five year accreditation. Sda proudly offers their services as a best practices organization. Service dogs for america has lowered their overhead to just over 8% during the last fiscal year. The administration and board of directors work voraciously to ensure donors' dollars are cautiously and well spent. Every dollar donated to service dogs for america does great things!