Many people with disabilities could benefit from having an assistance dog to aid them in a variety of ways, including opening and closing doors, pulling wheelchairs, summoning help and providing companionship. However, so few trained assistance dogs are available that only one percent of Americans who need an assistance dog currently have them.

To address this need, the Goodwill Assistance Dog Academy was created to train and to provide assistance dogs free of charge to Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia residents who have physical disabilities. It costs approximately $25,000 per client to train assistance dogs. Call (423) 629-2501, ext. 2590, to learn how you or your business can contribute to this program.

The program provides free disability awareness education to adults and children. Please connect with GADA on Facebook and Twitter.

To add your name to the waiting list for an assistance dog, e-mail your completed application to goodwillchattgada@gmail.com or fax it to (423) 242-0594.