Frequently Asked Questions

Who Qualifies for a Service Dog?

Individuals with a documented disability may qualify to be considered for a service dog. Our dogs are trained to assist people with a variety of disabilities, including mobility impairments, seizure disorders, vision loss, and hearing loss.

Examples of tasks our service dogs perform include:

Providing balance and mobility support for individuals with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Independent to handle a dog in all settings alone
Responding after a seizure has occurred
Guiding individuals with partial vision loss
Alerting individuals to important sounds and environmental cues

Documentation from a physician may be required as part of the application process to verify the disability-related need for a service dog. All service dogs must be trained to perform tasks that directly assist with the individual’s disability.

What Is a Facility Dog?

Facility Dogs are highly trained dogs that work alongside a professional facilitator in healthcare, therapy, educational, visitation, or related settings.

These dogs can perform more than 40 specialized commands and are trained to support, motivate, and engage individuals with special needs in professional environments.

Who Qualifies for a Skilled Facilitator-Assisted Service Dog?

Skilled Facilitator-Assisted Service Dogs may be placed with individuals who have disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, developmental delays, or other qualifying conditions.

These dogs work in partnership with both the child and a trained facilitator. The dog accompanies the child and facilitator in daily activities and can provide support during transitions and community participation.

To be considered:

The person must be at least 7 years old.
The dog must directly assist with a disability-related need.
The dog is a working service animal, not a family pet.

Please note that these dogs are not certified for independent school access without the facilitator.

How Do I Apply for a Service Dog or Skilled Facilitator-Assisted Service Dog?

After an application is submitted, our board reviews each applicant to determine who would benefit most from the skills and training of our dogs.

If selected, applicants will:

Be notified of acceptance.
Be placed on a waiting list.
Complete a home visit.
Undergo a veterinarian verification for all household pets, confirming they are spayed/neutered and current on vaccinations.

There is no cost to receive one of our service dogs.

PGI reserves the right to approve or deny any application at its discretion.

What Does the Training Process Involve?

Recipients must attend weekly training sessions in Peoria, Illinois, and complete a minimum of 25 hours of training.

These classes allow participants to:

Work with multiple dogs
Learn handling techniques and commands
Develop the skills necessary to successfully manage a service dog

Applicants who cannot regularly attend training sessions should not apply.

After completing the required training hours, recipients remain on the placement list until an appropriate dog is matched. Before final placement, three home visits are conducted with the dog.

What Are My Responsibilities After Receiving a Service Dog?

Following graduation, service dog teams are required to:

Attend monthly training sessions for the first six months
Participate in annual follow-up training thereafter

These sessions help maintain skills and address changing needs over time.

Recipients are responsible for all ongoing veterinary expenses, including:

Vaccinations
Flea and tick prevention
Heartworm prevention
Routine veterinary care

Does Everyone Who Applies Receive a Dog?

No. Due to a limited number of available dogs, we carefully match recipients based on individual needs and the skills of our dogs.

Applications may be denied for reasons including, but not limited to:

An unsuccessful home visit
Poor veterinarian references
Animal control concerns
Inability to adequately match a dog’s skills to the applicant’s needs

PGI reserves the right to deny placement without providing a specific reason.

Can a Dog Be Removed From My Home?

Yes. Service dogs remain subject to program requirements.

A dog may be removed if program standards are not maintained, including:

Failure to attend required training
Failure to maintain veterinary care
Evidence of neglect, abuse, or mistreatment

Our primary responsibility is ensuring the safety and well-being of each dog.

What Happens If I No Longer Need My Service Dog?

If a service dog is no longer needed, we ask that the dog be returned to our program so it may be evaluated for future placement.

When a service dog retires due to age, we encourage recipients to keep the dog as a beloved family companion. If appropriate, we may begin training a successor service dog to meet ongoing needs.

What Are the Requirements to Become a Foster Home?

Foster families play a vital role in preparing future service dogs.

Requirements include:

A commitment of approximately 18 months
Attendance at weekly training classes
Participation in the recipient matching process
Completion of an application
Successful home visit and veterinary check

All household pets must be spayed/neutered and current on vaccinations and preventative care.

I Would Like to Volunteer but Cannot Foster a Dog. How Can I Help?

We welcome volunteers in many capacities, including:

Assisting at training classes
Supporting community outreach and public events
Helping with mailings and administrative tasks
Participating in fundraising activities

Families and individuals of all ages are encouraged to get involved.

Is There an Age Requirement for Receiving a Dog?

Yes.

Skilled Facilitator-Assisted Service Dog applicants must be at least 7 years old.
Full-service dog handlers are recommended to be at least 16 years old to apply.
We often see the greatest success with handlers who are 25 years of age or older. All applications are evaluated individually.

Can You Certify My Personal Dog as a Service Dog?

No.

We only certify dogs that have completed our full training and evaluation program. Our insurance requirements and quality standards require that every certified PGI service dog complete the entire program.

We cannot adequately evaluate a dog for public access work through a limited number of visits, and we do not certify privately trained dogs.

My Apartment Does Not Allow Pets. Can You Certify My Dog as a Service Dog?

No.

Service animals are protected under disability laws and must be individually trained to perform tasks related to a person’s disability.

Misrepresenting a pet as a service animal may violate state laws and can result in legal penalties. These protections exist to support individuals with disabilities and should not be misused.

Can I Donate My Dog to the Program?

Generally, no.

Most dogs accepted into our program are between 10 months and 18 months of age and are carefully selected through temperament and suitability evaluations.

Because service dog training takes approximately one year or longer, older dogs are typically not accepted into the program.

What Happens to Dogs That Do Not Complete the Program?

Occasionally, a dog may be released from the program due to health concerns or because the dog’s temperament is not suited for public service work.

Approved adopters may be placed on a waiting list for these dogs.

Prior to placement, all prospective homes must complete:

A home visit
A veterinary reference check

Household pets must be spayed/neutered and current on veterinary care.

Will You Train My Dog?

No.

PGI only trains dogs that have been selected for and enrolled in our program. Every dog undergoes extensive temperament testing, evaluation, and training under certified trainers.

While basic obedience training benefits all dogs, service dog training requires a significantly different and more specialized process.

Can I Train My Own Dog to Become a PGI Service Dog?

No.

PGI works exclusively with approved volunteers, trainers, and dogs selected through our program.

Our dogs undergo rigorous evaluation and receive more than two years of structured training before certification.

What Is the Device That Looks Like a Muzzle?

The equipment you may see on some of our dogs is called a Gentle Leader® head collar.

It is not a muzzle.

A Gentle Leader fits comfortably around a dog’s nose and helps redirect attention while reducing pulling. It is a humane training tool commonly used to improve handling and communication.

How Long Is the Waiting List?

Current wait times are approximately one to two years, depending on an applicant’s needs and the availability of suitable dogs.

As a volunteer-based organization, our training timelines reflect the extensive preparation each dog receives. Most dogs spend approximately 18–24 months in training before placement.

We encourage interested applicants to apply as early as possible.

What Is Your Position on Fake Service Dogs?

Misrepresenting a pet as a service animal creates challenges for individuals who legitimately rely on service dogs for independence and safety.

Poorly behaved pets presented as service animals can damage public understanding of service dog access rights and create barriers for individuals with disabilities.

We strongly support ethical service dog practices and responsible public access standards.

Can Any Breed Become a Service Dog?

Potentially, yes.

Service dog success depends on temperament, health, trainability, and suitability for the required tasks—not breed alone.

Our program includes both purebred and mixed-breed dogs that have demonstrated exceptional abilities as service animals.

How Can I Help Spread Awareness About Your Program?

We regularly participate in public demonstrations, training outings, educational events, and community presentations.

Follow our social media channels and website for upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. If your organization, workplace, school, or faith community would like to schedule a presentation, please contact us.

What Does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Say About Service Animals?

Under Titles II and III of the ADA, a service animal is defined as:

A dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disabilities.

Businesses and public entities may ask only two questions:

Is the dog required because of a disability?
What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

They may not require documentation, certification, registration, or proof of training.

What Should I Do If a Business Refuses Access to My Service Dog?

We are sorry if you have experienced this situation.

Before entering public spaces, it is helpful to understand your rights under the ADA. Many businesses are unfamiliar with service animal regulations and may unintentionally provide incorrect information.

If you have a PGI service dog and encounter an access issue, please contact us. We will do our best to provide guidance and support.

What is our Non-Discrimination Policy?

PGI prohibits discrimination based on race, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), religious creed, color, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship status, military service or veteran status, gender identity and gender expression or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law or ordinance or regulation.

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