Irish Dogs for the Disabled
Irish Dogs for the Disabled is an Irish charity founded in 2007 in Cork that trains and places physical-disability assistance dogs, including Europe's only dedicated child mobility programme and a newer Parkinson's service, operating with 6 staff and a 3-year waiting list.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersCork, Ireland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Irish Dogs for the Disabled does
Irish Dogs for the Disabled is an Irish registered charity founded in 2007 and headquartered in Cork that trains and places assistance dogs with individuals with physical disabilities. The organisation produces service animals through a multi-year training programme, with a per-dog cost of €15,000, and places approximately 35 qualified dogs per year, reaching over 200 beneficiaries cumulatively. It operates what is described as Europe's only dedicated child mobility assistance dog programme and has extended into Parkinson's assistance support.
The organisation runs on a charitable funding model with no government funding, an annual operating cost of approximately €600,000, and a 6-person core staff supplemented by a national network of 26 County Champions and over 200 alumni partnerships. Quality and governance are anchored by the Triple Lock Standard award from the Charities Institute Ireland and Assistance Dogs International accreditation. Demand materially exceeds supply, evidenced by a 3-year waiting list and a 4-fold increase in enquiries.
The current strategic agenda is capacity expansion: a new National Training Centre is in development with an approximate €1 million capital requirement, supported by recent high-profile grants including the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal 2025 and a partnership with the JP McManus Benevolent Fund. New programme lines such as Parkinson's assistance and ongoing recruitment of paediatric physiotherapists point to a broadening of clinical scope alongside the infrastructure build-out.
Irish Dogs for the Disabled firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Irish Dogs for the Disabled
- Legal name
- Irish Dogs for The Disabled
- Website
- https://dogsfordisabled.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Irish Dogs for the Disabled is an Irish charity founded in 2007 in Cork that trains and places physical-disability assistance dogs, including Europe's only dedicated child mobility programme and a newer Parkinson's service, operating with 6 staff and a 3-year waiting list.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Irish Dogs for the Disabled industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Assistance Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)
Keywords
Where Irish Dogs for the Disabled is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cork
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Irish Dogs for the Disabled business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Donations & Sponsorships: Primary revenue stream. Individual donations at various levels (€10-€5000+), monthly Circle of Friends subscriptions (€10-€100/month), corporate sponsorships including full dog sponsorship at €15,000. No government funding received.
- Puppy Sponsorship: Monthly sponsorship programme for individual puppies at €15/month for 1 year, providing regular updates, complimentary gifts, and annual calendar to sponsors.
- Legacy Gifts: Bequests and legacy gifts through wills - pecuniary gifts, residuary gifts, specific items, or codicils. Legally exempt from inheritance tax, reducing estate tax burden for donors.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including calendars (€12), Christmas cards (€7 pack of 8), hoodies (€36), umbrellas (€24), puppy naming rights (€500), puppy starter kits (€150), and other items.
- Fundraising Events: Community fundraising events including Women's Mini Marathon (€30 fundraising commitment), workplace events, school fundraising, and individual fundraising challenges.
- Corporate Partnerships: Charity of the Year partnerships, CSR programme involvement, corporate visits, and fully sponsored puppy programme (€15,000 per dog). Companies receive naming rights, corporate visits, and ongoing updates.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Dogs provided free - all assistance dog programmes |
| Subscription | Monthly | Circle of Friends Monthly Giving |
| Subscription | Monthly | Puppy Sponsorship |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Corporate CSR Sponsorship - Full Dog |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Irish Dogs for the Disabled product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Irish Dogs for the Disabled is an Irish registered charity that trains and places assistance dogs free of charge to people with physical disabilities. Its programs cover mobility assistance, task assistance, Parkinson's disease support, facility placements in care settings, and therapy dog services, with dogs matched and trained to the specific needs of individual recipients and partner organizations.
Product overview
Irish Dogs for the Disabled is a registered Irish charity established in 2007 that provides life-changing assistance dog partnerships to children and adults with physical disabilities, entirely free of charge. The organization operates as a single unified service rather than a platform architecture. Its core offerings include four specialized assistance dog programs: Mobility Assistance Dogs (for children with cerebral palsy/ataxia and adults with Parkinson's/MS), Task Assistance Dogs (for wheelchair users to assist with practical tasks), Parkinson's Assistance Dogs (for early-onset Parkinson's), and Facility/Therapy Dogs (paired with health professionals or provided as companion dogs). The charity funds its operations through donation programs including puppy sponsorship, corporate CSR sponsorship, monthly giving circles, and general fundraising, as all dogs are provided at no cost to beneficiaries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mobility Assistance Dogs
- Task Assistance Dogs
- Parkinson's Assistance Dogs
- Facility Dogs
- Therapy Dogs
Quantifiable outcome
- 200+ lives transformed through assistance dog placements
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Irish Dogs for the Disabled
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Irish Dogs for the Disabled technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Irish Dogs for the Disabled partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- C&R PrintminorKey sponsor responsible for high-quality annual calendars published by the charity.
- UCD Medical SocietyminorKey charity beneficiary for 2023 UCD Med Day. Funded provision of two fully trained and accredited assistance dogs through extraordinary fundraising efforts.
- Trinity College Dublin & Central Remedial ClinicminorCurrent research partnership evaluating benefits of assistance dogs for children with physical disabilities. Researching work with children and their assistance dogs who help them walk/balance. Aims to add to body of research on assistance dogs.
- Dublin Neurological Institute / Prof Tim LynchminorResearch collaboration on benefits of assistance dogs on freezing gait, a symptom of Parkinson's Disease. Jointly developed stability dog programme for people with Parkinson's.
- Irish Prison Service - Shelton AbbeyminorBuddy Dog Programme since 2013. Four young adult dogs placed with handlers (prisoners) for 3-4 months following socialisation period. Handlers trained weekly by on-site trainers using positive reinforcement. Reduces charity costs and increases placement capacity.
- Irish Prison Service - The Dochas Centre (Women's Prison)minorProgramme since 2015 following Shelton Abbey success. Brood from breeding programme whelps and cares for puppies for first 8 weeks. Over 10 litters (60+ puppies) born and reared to date. Reduces charity costs.
- Brightpath HealthcareminorGenerous supporter during 2025.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Irish Dogs for the Disabled competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Central Remedial Clinic: Irish national provider of services for people with physical disabilities, and an active research partner of Irish Dogs for the Disabled. Comparable as an adjacent disability-services ecosystem participant and likely referral source.
Direct peers
- Support Dogs: UK charity training assistance dogs for epilepsy, autism, and physical disability, plus facility dogs for medical alert work. Comparable in its multi-programme structure and disability-services mission, though focused on different specialties.
- Dogs for Good: UK charity training assistance dogs for adults with physical disabilities, autism assistance dogs, and family dogs. Closely comparable to Irish Dogs for the Disabled in mission, free-to-beneficiary model, and multi-programme approach (mobility, task, facility dogs).
- Canine Partners: UK charity training assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities, particularly wheelchair users requiring task support. Comparable service mix (task dogs, mobility support) and free-to-recipient charity model.
- Canine Companions for Independence: Large US non-profit providing highly trained assistance dogs to children, adults, and veterans with disabilities free of charge. Comparable mission, free-to-recipient model, ADI accreditation, and multi-programme structure (mobility, hearing, facility dogs).
- Assistance Dogs Europe: European-level assistance dog training and advocacy organisation operating across multiple countries. Relevant peer given Irish Dogs for the Disabled's claim to be the only European provider of child mobility assistance dogs.
- Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind: Ireland's other major assistance dog charity, training guide and assistance dogs for visually impaired and broader disability populations. Directly comparable as a national Irish non-profit providing free assistance dog partnerships, sharing donor pools, regulatory environment, and training pipeline economics.
- Service Dogs Inc: US non-profit training mobility assistance dogs for individuals with physical disabilities and facility dogs for professionals. Directly comparable in mobility assistance dog focus and free-to-beneficiary delivery.
Broad incumbents
- Assistance Dogs International: Global coalition governing standards and accreditation for assistance dog organisations worldwide. Irish Dogs for the Disabled is itself ADI-accredited, positioning ADI as both regulator and broad peer across the entire international assistance dog sector.
Emerging players
- Autism Dogs CIC: UK-based charity providing autism assistance dogs. While the disability condition differs, the operating model (free-to-recipient, multi-year training pipeline, charity-funded) is highly comparable.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Irish Dogs for the Disabled social profiles
Digital presenceIrish Dogs for the Disabled compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Irish Dogs for the Disabled financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Irish Dogs for the Disabled leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Irish Dogs for the Disabled funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Irish Dogs for the Disabled M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Irish Dogs for the Disabled
What does Irish Dogs for the Disabled do?
Irish Dogs for the Disabled is an Irish registered charity that trains and places assistance dogs free of charge to people with physical disabilities. Its programs cover mobility assistance, task assistance, Parkinson's disease support, facility placements in care settings, and therapy dog services, with dogs matched and trained to the specific needs of individual recipients and partner organizations.
Is Irish Dogs for the Disabled a public or private company?
Irish Dogs for the Disabled is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Irish Dogs for the Disabled founded?
Irish Dogs for the Disabled was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Irish Dogs for the Disabled based?
Irish Dogs for the Disabled is headquartered in Cork, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Irish Dogs for the Disabled make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Donations & Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are puppy Sponsorship, legacy Gifts, merchandise Sales, fundraising Events and corporate Partnerships.
Who are Irish Dogs for the Disabled's main competitors?
Central Remedial Clinic is listed as an others. Direct peers are Support Dogs, Dogs for Good, Canine Partners, Canine Companions for Independence, Assistance Dogs Europe, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and Service Dogs Inc. Assistance Dogs International is listed as a broad incumbent. Autism Dogs CIC is listed as an emerging player.
Does Irish Dogs for the Disabled have an API?
No public API is recorded for Irish Dogs for the Disabled.
What industry is Irish Dogs for the Disabled in?
Irish Dogs for the Disabled's product category is Disability Assistance Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech), with a secondary code of BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support. Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8300.