Wilderwood is a nonprofit organization. As such our clients participate in fundraising efforts for our organization. Our clients do have a fundraising goal., so while your dog is being trained you will be actively engaged in fundraising activities.
Hundreds of funding options are available, here are some ideas:
Wilderwood breaks the process into easily manageable tasks and goals.
“When we made the decision, we just did it. We would have paid double if we needed to. It wasn’t that hard. We did a raffle and a weekend fundraising event at an ATV Park. It was a blast!” ~ Chris
“The community just came together for us. I was so touched by their support. They gave above and beyond.” ~ Wendy
“We did it! Little by little, one small fundraiser after another. Once the ball gets rolling it’s kinda fun." ~ Laura
The first step to applying is to fill out our short on-line form and submit.
Once the on-line application is reviewed by Wilderwood, you will receive a follow-up phone call for an interview.
Once the interview is complete, you will fill out the Wilderwood Service Dog contract and mail this to us.
Finally, once your application is accepted, Wilderwood will begin training your specialized service dog and you will begin working through ongoing materials and activities provided by Wilderwood.
Wilderwood trains its dogs from puppy hood. We train each dog specific to each client. For this reason the waiting list is an average of 2-3 years. Most OTHER organizations' waiting lists are 2-5 years!
The individual must be under the care of a licensed MD or Psychiatrist and receiving current treatment for a recognized neurological diagnosis. Some examples are (but not limited to):
The family will travel to TN for seven days and attend a training camp.
Each family will be responsible for their travel expenses for the 7 days you will be in Tennessee for graduation training.
Wilderwood is located in Maryville, Tennessee. We are:
3 hours east of Nashville, TN
5 hours west of Charlotte, NC
3 hours south of Lexington, KY
3 hours northwest of Atlanta, GA
For more information on our board and train program email Wilderwood regarding your personal pet and goals.
Wilderwood uses a combination of rescue dogs, owner surrendered dogs and AKC registered dogs. 70% of our dogs are rescue or owners surrenders. 30% of our dogs are AKC registered. We use a variety of breeds and size of dogs to meet the individual needs of our clients.
Provided there are caregivers involved Wilderwood will place a service dog from ages five and up.
Provided there is adequate room and the financial means to continue the care of the dog, our dogs can be placed in almost any living situation. Fenced backyards are a HUGE plus and convenience, but are not required.
Our dogs are certified working service animals. They are protected under the ADA and are allowed in any and all public venues, including schools.