Nichole R. & Buddy
Medication reminders, anxiety management, and support in public
“Working with The American Service Dog Foundation has been the most AMAZING thing that has happened to me.”
Find · Train · Place free of charge
Changing lives with the power of service dogs.
We rescue and train dogs with the right temperament, then place them with people with disabilities — at no cost to the recipient.
Two lives changed by one dog. A dog gets a purpose — a person gains their independence.
Step 1
Find
Dogs come from Ohio shelters and owner donations. We evaluate temperament and health first.
Step 2
Train
Selected dogs receive months of professional service dog training with Buckeye K9.
Step 3
Place
Qualified recipients are carefully matched with a fully trained dog — free of charge.
Placed at no cost to the recipient. See the full process
Our impact by the numbers
- 0
- Dogs Placed
- 0
- Shelter Dogs Rescued
- $0
- Cost to the recipient — every dog, every time
Starter figures shown as placeholders until verified placement totals are published.
Our mission
Our mission is to improve the lives of people with disabilities through the assistance of expertly trained service dogs.
A professionally trained service dog can cost tens of thousands of dollars — a price most families simply cannot pay. Founded in 2021 by Lori Morrell in Columbus, Ohio, The American Service Dog Foundation exists to remove that barrier entirely.
Not every dog is a rescue. Some dogs come from Ohio shelters, and some are donated by their owners. Every candidate must pass the same temperament, health, and training tests before being placed free of charge with a person with disabilities. Every placement is free. Your gift is what makes it possible.
Recipient stories
The people your gift reaches
Theo H. & his service dog
PTSD — calming presence and support during anxiety attacks
“Receiving a dog from The American Service Dog Foundation has been a transformative experience for me.”
Lisa M. & her service dog
Physical disability following a back injury — retrieval and mobility support
“It has genuinely transformed my life.”
Trust and transparency
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
- EIN 86-2962306
- Verify our status directly with the IRS.
- Free of charge
- Recipients never pay for a dog or its training.
- Founded 2021
- Based in Columbus, Ohio, placing dogs nationwide.
Become a monthly sustainer
Monthly gifts train dogs year-round
Training takes months. Predictable monthly support lets us commit to a dog the day we identify the right candidate.
Start my monthly gift$25
Provides a week of food for a dog in training
$50
Funds a training session
$100
Sponsors a dog's health check and vaccinations
$250
Covers a month of professional training
$500
Funds gear and a service vest for a placed dog
$1,000
Helps place a fully trained service dog, free of charge
Learn
New to service dogs? Start here.
Straight answers to the questions people ask most before applying or giving.
Make a service dog donation
Fund training and placement for a person with a disability. Tax-deductible and secure.
How to get a service dog
The full process — qualifying, applying, matching, and what happens after placement.
How much does a service dog cost?
Why professionally trained dogs cost $20,000–$50,000 — and how nonprofits cover it.
Service dogs in Ohio
Ohio shelters, Ohio trainers, and free placement for Ohioans with disabilities.
Your gift changes two lives.
Every donation helps fund professional service dog training and place a fully trained dog with a qualified recipient at no cost.
Tax-deductible · 501(c)(3) · EIN 86-2962306