A Program of the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance
	Welcome to the Central PA Animal Alliance's Helping Hounds Program.  It is a new wing of the HOPE Program and is geared toward training dogs to become companion, therapy and/or certified psychiatric service dogs for veterans.  When the HOPE program was started in 2005, our goal was to help dogs in need by rehabilitating them and finding them loving homes.  Helping where the need is greatest has always been what our program has focused on and it is with that mission in mind that we started the Helping Hounds Program.  The need for help with the "invisible disabilities" associated with military service is great and we have all of the tools needed to begin to help meet those needs.  The program has a three-tier training structure to allow veterans to choose the level of training that best suits their needs and helps them to accomplish their goals.  We will help you work with a dog who is already part of your family or guide you through the process of adopting a dog through the HOPE Program.  The first level of training is the Canine Good Citizen course. This course is eight weeks long and will lay a solid foundation of obedience training while also helping you to build a stronger emotional bond with your dog.  At the end of the eight weeks, you and your dog will take the Canine Good Citizen test and receive your certificate upon passing which will allow you to move on to the next level should you wish to do so.  The second level of training is Therapy Dog Certification. This is an additional eight week course which will prepare you and your dog to visit hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and other medical facilities.  Upon completion of the course and passing the required skills test, your dog will become a certified therapy dog.  The final level of training is Service Dog Certification. This is an additional six month course which will train you and your dog to become a working team. With this certification, your dog will have the ability to accompany you everywhere you go. We will work closely with you to train you and your dog to be able to accomplish the things that are most important to you from everyday tasks to long-term goals.   In addition to the training at the prison and the training through weekly classes, we will also provide training and behavior support for the life of the dog.  We are committed to each dog and veteran team from start to finish and that is a commitment we take very seriously.  If you are interested in participating in this program, please complete the form below and return it for consideration.  If you would like more information on the program, please contact us.   Application for Participation in the Helping Hounds Program   To see instructional videos with the Helping Hounds trainer, click here.
	Hounds of Prison Education A Program of the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance