Services

Canines with a Cause's has 2 programs to which efforts are directed equally:

• Mobility Assistance Dog Training Program: dedicated to acquiring, training and placing service dogs with qualified applicants
• Educational & Awareness Program: dedicated to help create awareness around the younger members of our community regarding disabilities, assistance dogs and the value these dogs bring to those who receive them.

If you are thinking of applying for a service dog, please check our section on how to apply.

If you are interested in scheduling a presentation in your school or community group click here.

To link to other Canadian Service Dogs organizations, click here.

Canines with a Cause provides assistance dogs from our program for children over the age of 16 and adults in the Ottawa-Carleton area to assist with Mobility Related Disabilities.

These specially trained dogs can be trained to assist different individuals depending on their needs with a number of tasks.

Some of the tasks are: picking up items accidentally dropped (such as keys, coins, bank cards, wallet, papers); get certain items by the name (phone, leash, shoes); bring items out of reach with the aid of a laser pointer; bringing items from one person in the household to their handler and viceversa; help with pulling socks off, zippers, sleeves; opening/closing doors, drawers; turning lowered light switches on/off; triggering the automatic access button, elevator buttons with the help of a laser pointer; triggering a house alarm to assist if person needs help and such.

Mobility assistance dogs are also wonderful at breaking social barriers as people tend to 'see' the service dog more than the wheelchair or disability. They are also a great source for ice breakers when at times conversations may be intimidating.

The strong bond and companionship can be quite powerful as both handler and dog become a team and they are together wherever they go.

With all this said, Assistance Dogs are not meant for everybody. They require a great deal of responsibility. They are highly trained, intelligent canines but they are still dogs. Like us, they have their good days and not so good days. They must be well cared for daily. They need to be well exercised, and need toileting several times daily regardless of the weather. Assistance Dogs require time, effort and attention on a daily basis for food and water, affection, grooming, training, play, and work in the capacity they were trained to do.

Interested in Applying for a CWAC Mobility Assistance Dog?

Please answer the following questions before going any further:

1. Do you live in the Greater Ottawa area?
2. Do you have Canadian Citizenship?
3. Are you medically diagnosed with a mobility-related disability?
4. Do you believe you can benefit from our services ?
5. Are you aware that teaming up with an Assistance Dog requires a great deal of responsibility an effort from your part to keep up with the existing training and general care and well-being of the dog (food, vet expenses,etc.)?
6. Are you willing and ready to schedule a 2-week of intensive team training when the time comes?

If you have answered yes to the questions above, you may qualify for a CWAC Mobility Assistance Dog.

Please note that although Canines with a Cause has a minimum age requirement of 16 years of age, we very much take in consideration the maturity of the individual as well as his/her expectations (realistic versus none).

Even thought, the average cost of a CWAC Mobility Assistance Dog from acquiring, training, placing and certifying is approximately $14,000 CAN, these costs are covered exclusively by our organization's fundraising efforts, private and corporate sponsorships, and assistance from other organizations, businesses and volunteers.

Canines with a Cause will do follow-ups with the team at least every 6 months.

Canines with a Cause maintains ownership of any and all placed Assistance Dogs coming from our organization. When the time comes when the Assistance Dog needs to retire, Canines with a Cause will ensure he/she goes to a nice home. Often, the dog is adopted by the applicant's family members.

If you are interested in applying for a CWAC Mobility Assistance Dog, please contact us for more information.

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CWAC offers a wonderful Educational / Awareness program to schools and groups around the Ottawa community through presentations and live demonstrations.

These presentations are oriented to help create awareness on disabilities and to gain a better understanding of the important role Assistance Dogs play in our society.

Clancy pressing the "button"

Children's presentations are very dynamic. The children love to participate and ask questions or share stories. CWAC provides them with an educational activity booklet as well as an informative CWAC brochure to take home.

Depending on the age group, they last from 20 minutes to 45 minutes.

They are offered to Ottawa community Schools for a suggested donation of $80 per classroom or $2 per child if several classrooms are organized together.

If the suggested donation is not feasible, we welcome the possibility of the school organizing a fundraiser for Canines with a Cause. Contact us for details.

For school presentations reaching 300 students or higher, we recommend to have 2 presentations done back to back. The younger half group of students for one, and the older half group of students in the other.

At the end of the presentation, the children are allowed to come and meet the dog/s in a controlled way, one at the time.

NOTE: The CWAC Team will consider to come to your school to present to the whole school preferably. If that's not possible, then a minimum of 2 classrooms attending per presentation is required.

To request a presentation, please contact us at (613) 882-5923.

Group presentations for adults are also available. They are offered to Ottawa community groups, businesses, organizations, and such for a suggested donation of $5 per adult for a minimum group of 20 people.

To request a presentation, please contact us at (613) 882-5923.

CWAC is experiencing a bight level of interest on these Educational & Awareness presentations. Please allow for advance notice of 2 weeks to 2 months in some cases before scheduling a presentation.

Clancy retrieving the phone

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