Joys of Living Assistance Dogs

Joys of Living Assistance Dogs, (JLAD) is expanding and needing help funding rubber mats for our newest dog training rooms. JLAD is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising and training assistance dogs and placing them in positions of service.

Our mission is providing skilled, devoted companions to support and assist veterans, first responders, and others with disabilities, creating cohesive teams focused on building a life of greater freedom and independence.

JLAD trains service dogs are trained in the Salem OR area by volunteer socializers and Adults in custody (AIC) in three Oregon State Correctional Institutes. We started training with AICs in Eastern Oregon Correctional Institute seven years ago and the program has been so successful the Department of Corrections has wanted to expand the program in other prisons. This has helped JLAD increase the number of dogs training and being placed. JLAD no has over 50 in training and in April this year we are placing 13 dogs with new recipients.

This expansion has come with challenges. The challenge we face now is providing new safe training rooms in the Correctional institutes for the dogs. They are being trained on concrete which are hard on the dogs. We are looking for help in getting Rubber Mats in the training rooms. These will help make sure we don’t have injuries during training and play.

Thank you for your help in making safe training rooms so we can place more service dogs with veterans, first responders and others.