International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP)

09/12/2025

They guide, listen, balance, lead and love. They provide friendship and independence, freedom and peace of mind. They live to serve their handler to the fullest extent of their capability, be it through retrieving dropped items, offering physical support to an unsteady handler or alerting a Deaf or hard of hearing handler to important events. We’re talking about Service and Assistance Dogs, and this month, September, is National Service Dog Month. It’s all about celebrating the magic these special dogs bring to their people’s lives.

09/03/2025

National Service Dog Month, is an annual awareness campaign held each September, and is the perfect time to reflect on the roles service animals play in our lives. They provide companionship, inspire confidence, and live to serve, protect, and assist their handlers. Service and assistance animals are helping their humans perform tasks, accomplish lifelong goals, embark on adventures, overcome debilitating mental illnesses and so much more each and every day, all across the world.
Here is some history about National Service Dog Month. Originally known as National Guide Dog Month, National Service Dog Month was first established in 2008 by actor, animal advocate, Dick Van Patten. Inspired by what he experienced during a life-changing visit to the Guide Dogs of the Desert facility in Palm Springs, Calif., Van Patten launched a fundraising drive to benefit guide and service dog training schools throughout the country.
What started as one fundraiser has transformed into an annual celebration honoring the extraordinary work service animals do each and every day to help the people in their care.
Please join us in a month long celebration of these highly skilled canine companions who deserve this recognition and so much more.

09/01/2025

September is National Service Dog Month; this month is devoted to raising awareness as well as showing gratitude for the amazing work service animals do each day for the people in their care, whether it is for the blind, Deaf, disabled veteran, diabetic alert, seizure, autistic, etc. This month honors these hard-working dogs for improving the lives of millions and increasing their security, safety, and quality of life.

08/31/2025

Working Dogs don't get vacation days, they work 365 days a year-They deserve to be honored for their unwavering dedication and love for their human partners.

08/26/2025

Happy National (Service) Dog Day!

08/16/2025

Worth resharing. The service dog song.

This is a love story between a deaf person and her hearing dog, narrated from the dog's point of view. This is the true story of Danielle Rose and her hearin...

08/09/2025

Happy International Assistance Dog Week!
Guide Dog puppy in training: According to Southeastern Guide Dogs, the mock harness plays a vital role in young guide puppies' early socialization and helps them begin getting used to wearing a harness for guide dog training. Let's show this pup in training some love, please share this post!

08/07/2025

"A poem and painting to celebrate the dogs who celebrate us" - Karen Lyons Kalmenson

Guideheart
I have eyes but I cannot see
Yet I know there is a world
It is all around me
I have ears but I cannot hear
But I know I am safe when
You are near
I sit in this chair, I cannot move
My legs or arms
With you by my side,
I will not be harmed
You are my soul, my body
My friend
Our trust is forever
The bond that shall not end

08/06/2025

Transportation poses significant challenges for assistance dog handlers. 56% of respondents globally experienced refusals in taxis or rideshares such as Uber and Lyft. Guide dog handlers reported even higher refusal rates at 63%. And very worryingly, 40% of assistance dog users said they avoided going out at all due to past refusals. Read the report: https://assistancedogsinternational.org/resources/paws-for-access-report/

08/06/2025

📢 Service dog handlers deserve greater understanding and stronger legal protection. Even with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in place to protect their right of access and service, clients and their experience difficulties using public spaces, including transport, restaurants and medical facilities.

The recent Paws For Access Report on Assistance Dog Rights, published jointly by ADI - Assistance Dogs International and International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), contains survey responses from more than 1,200 assistance/service dog handlers in 24 countries around the world. Among the most concerning findings are the emotional and behavioral toll on handlers. Four out of every 10 say they sometimes stay at home or avoid public places because of the hostility they encounter when out and about.

Let's promote the use of service dogs and advocate for change and greater visibility.

📜 Help your city officially proclaim September as National Service Dog Month: bit.ly/3GGVFjz

✋ Want to help with a state proclamation? Contact us at advocacy@canine.org.

📄 Read the Paws For Access Report on Assistance Dog Rights: bit.ly/45t21M7

During September’s National Service Dog Month, we celebrate the PROs - service dogs that help enhance independence for their human partners.

08/06/2025

02/24/2025

Today, February 24th is National Service Animals Day, a day to honor the service and sacrifice of all service animals and their handlers! The Purple Poppy is the international symbol for service animals and their handlers that provide for our safety, security and independence and celebrates the human/animal bond.