Service Dogs of Virginia

Board Position type

N/A

Desired skills, perspectives, experiences, and characteristics of new board members

Service Dogs of Virginia (SDV) is looking for board members that would embrace our mission: to raise, train, and place dogs to assist people with disabilities who reside in Virginia. SDV is fully accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and uses ADI standards. Compliance with these standards helps ensure that people with disabilities who are seeking a partnership with an assistance dog receive:

• exceptional service from the accredited member program
• a professionally trained assistance dog to mitigate their disability
• a comprehensive education about the training and utilization of an assistance dog
• a thorough understanding of all aspects of public access with an assistance dog

SDV does not pass on the significant cost of training and placing dogs with client because clients already have considerable expenses related to their disability. Instead, we rely on individual donations, corporate sponsors, and philanthropic organizations to support our work.

Board members with experience in accounting/finance, medicine, the military, and philanthropy would be assets to SDV. The appreciation and love of dogs is also a plus.

Annual Time Commitment (including committee meetings, special events, work outside the board, etc.)

SDV has two established annual events, a training demonstration open house in August and a graduation ceremony in December to celebrate the canine/client pairs made during the year. Board members are expected to attend.

Participation in fundraising events would entail perhaps three commitments during a given year.

Committee meetings are currently special event driven, however, we are actively looking for land upon which to build a facility. A capital campaign will begin once the land is purchased and that campaign will require committees and meetings.

Is a minimum financial contribution required?

Yes

Board Financial Commitment

$1,000 per annum

Prior Board experience preferred?

Yes

Does the Board have term limits?

Yes

Board Term Limit

Each board member will commit to a two-year term and may serve three consecutive terms.

Additional Information

Service Dogs of Virginia trains dogs in the following areas:

Physical Assistance – These dogs are trained to assist people in wheelchairs with tasks such as opening doors, picking up items, getting the phone, and so much more.

Autism Service – These dogs are trained to assist autistic children and their families by preventing children from impulsively running off, facilitating easier transitions from one activity to the next, assisting with social interactions, improving communication, and more. Autism dogs can assist young adults on the autism spectrum with reaching goals such as going to college or entering the workforce.

Medical Alert – Diabetic alert: These dogs are trained to alert owners to low blood glucose thereby helping to prevent short-term health consequences such as passing out or having seizures, as well as long-term consequences such as early death, loss of limbs and blindness that result from uncontrolled blood sugar swings. Amazingly, a well-trained dog is more reliable than available technology for “brittle” diabetics.

Addisons Alert: Addison’s disease is an uncommon disorder that occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough of certain hormones. Sometimes the signs and symptoms of Addison’s disease may appear suddenly. Acute adrenal failure (addisonian crisis) can lead to life-threatening shock. Our dogs are trained to detect the odor of dropping cortisol levels in order to prevent addisonian crisis.

PTSD – These dogs are trained to interrupt common anxiety symptoms such as a nervous leg bounce, nightmares or body language that indicates social withdrawal. These gentle interventions can keep a person from spiraling into a dark place. Many vets, retired and active duty military, police, and first responders also have a physical disability and our dogs are trained to help with physical assistance tasks when needed. These dogs will not be trained behaviors that encourage guarding, protecting or searching for an enemy or threat.

Does The Organization have Directors & Officer's insurance?

Yes