Service Dogs Of Virginia, Inc.

What Service Dogs Of Virginia, Inc. does

Service Dogs of Virginia (SDV) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000 in Charlottesville, Virginia, that raises and trains service and facility dogs and places them at no cost with individuals living with disabilities across Virginia. The organization operates five core programs: Autism Service Dogs for children ages 2–10 and adults 18+, Facility Dogs placed with professionals in schools, hospitals, counseling centers, and courthouses, Medical Alert Service Dogs trained through scent detection for Type 1 Diabetes, adrenal insufficiency, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Physical Assistance Service Dogs for power wheelchair and scooter users, and PTSD Service Dogs for active-duty military, veterans, and first responders. SDV is accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and participates in the ADI Breeding Cooperative alongside its own breeding program to ensure consistent access to dogs with suitable temperament and health. The training methodology centers on positive reinforcement and custom task training matched to each client's needs; each dog requires approximately two years and roughly $40,000 to raise and train before placement. Following placement, SDV maintains a structured aftercare protocol (two-week Transfer Camp, recurring check-ins at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and annually thereafter, plus annual Public Access Tests) that creates deep client retention, with a current waitlist of approximately two years signaling demand materially exceeds supply.

SDV operates on a donation-based revenue model, receiving no government funding and never charging clients. Revenue streams include individual and corporate donations, a tiered dog sponsorship program ($50–$1,000), premium naming sponsorships ($8,500+), corporate partnerships, merchandise sales, vehicle donations, estate planning gifts, and community rewards programs such as Kroger Community Rewards. Applications are accepted three times yearly (January, May, August) through a multi-stage process. Leadership is anchored by Founder/Executive Director Peggy Law, with Tina Floyd as Director of Development and Mary H. as Director of Operations; the organization is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors.

The organization is currently running a $6.6 million capital campaign ("Together We Build") to construct a permanent training facility intended to approximately double annual placements; as of the latest disclosure, SDV has raised over 70% of the goal ($4.7M) and has cumulatively placed 125+ service and facility dogs since inception.

Name

Service Dogs Of Virginia, Inc.

Legal name

Service Dogs of Virginia, Inc.

Website

https://servicedogsva.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Service Dogs of Virginia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that raises and trains service and facility dogs at no cost for individuals with disabilities across Virginia, operating five programs spanning autism, PTSD, medical alert, physical assistance, and facility placements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Service Dog Training and Placement

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Behavioral Medicine & Training-Integrated Veterinary Services (HLAMAAAI)

Keywords

• Service dog training
• Medical alert dogs
• Autism assistance dogs
• PTSD service dogs
• Facility dog programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlottesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The primary revenue source is donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations. The organization receives no government funding and never charges clients for service dogs.
2. Dog Sponsorship Programs: Donors can sponsor dogs in training at various levels ($50-$1,000) with corresponding gift items, or provide naming sponsorships at $8,500 or more for naming rights and quarterly updates.
3. Merchandise Sales: The organization sells branded merchandise including apparel, accessories, and gifts through its online shop.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners support the mission through cause marketing, employee campaigns, co-branded promotion, and recognition at events.
5. Community Rewards Programs: Partnership with Kroger Community Rewards allows shoppers to link their cards and designate donations to SDV (NPO number FV527).
6. Vehicle Donation Program: Vehicle donations through Vehicles for Charity benefit the organization.
7. Estate Planning Gifts: Legacy gifts through wills and estate planning support long-term sustainability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Service Dogs of Virginia is an ADI-accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit that breeds, raises, and trains service and facility dogs and places them at no cost with individuals and facilities across Virginia. The organization operates five core programs (Autism Service Dogs for children and adults, Facility Dogs, Medical Alert Dogs, Physical Assistance Dogs, and PTSD Service Dogs for military and first responders) supported by its own breeding program and ADI Breeding Cooperative access, with comprehensive aftercare including Transfer Camp, annual recertification, and ongoing client follow-up.

Product overview

Service Dogs of Virginia is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of service dog programs, all provided at no cost to recipients. The core programs include Autism Service Dogs (for children ages 2-10 and adults 18+), Facility Dogs (for schools, hospitals, courthouses, counseling centers), Medical Alert Service Dogs (for Type 1 Diabetes, adrenal insufficiency, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome), Physical Assistance Service Dogs (for power wheelchair/scooter users), and PTSD Service Dogs (for military and first responders). Supporting offerings include a Dog Sponsorship Program, Naming Sponsorships, Released Dog placements, SDV Merchandise Shop, and the Art Unleashed fundraising campaign supporting the Building Campaign for a permanent training facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Autism Service Dogs for Children

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 125 life-changing partnerships created since 2000
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VA Beach Commonwealth Attorney's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Facility dog Zuhey works alongside Commonwealth's Attorney staff to provide emotional support and help foster trust and connection for victims and witnesses during difficult court proceedings.
• Virginia Tech Cook Counseling CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2021Facility dog Josie works alongside Rami at Virginia Tech's Cook Counseling Center providing mental health support through group therapy (99 hours), individual therapy (779 sessions with 113 unique students), and outreach programming (181 hours).
• Assistance Dogs International (ADI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020ADI is the accrediting body for Service Dogs of Virginia. SDV participates in ADI's Breeding Cooperative to access proven working dog bloodlines for their breeding program. ADI accreditation allows veterans who receive dogs from SDV to potentially qualify for VA assistance with veterinary care, equipment, and travel expenses.
• Assistance Dogs International Breeding CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020SDV participates in the breeding cooperative through their accrediting body ADI and also maintains their own breeding program to ensure consistent access to qualified puppies with appropriate temperament and health for service work.
• RegionTencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Facility dog Ole works at RegionTen in Nelson County providing essential support to individuals accessing mental health, intellectual disability, crisis, and substance use services.
• ReadyKidscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Facility dogs William and Chaya work alongside counselors at ReadyKids, a children's advocacy organization, helping young clients feel at ease, build confidence, and engage more fully in therapy sessions.
• KrogerminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Kroger Community Rewards program allows shoppers to link their Plus Cards and designate donations to Service Dogs of Virginia (NPO number FV527) with a portion of purchases benefiting the organization.
• Candid (GuideStar)minorOthers · 1 January 2020Service Dogs of Virginia maintains a GuideStar profile (Tax ID: 54-1962908) demonstrating organizational transparency and accountability standards.
• Vehicles for CharityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Third-party vehicle donation program that processes vehicle donations and directs proceeds to Service Dogs of Virginia.
• 2RW ConsultantsminorOthers · 1 January 2020Statue sponsor for Art Unleashed fundraiser event supporting the building campaign.
• The Barn at 678minorOthers · 1 January 2020Statue sponsor for Art Unleashed fundraiser event supporting the building campaign.
• C'Ville AquaticsminorOthers · 1 January 2020Statue sponsor for Art Unleashed fundraiser event supporting the building campaign.
• Erie InsuranceminorOthers · 1 January 2020Statue sponsor for Art Unleashed fundraiser event supporting the building campaign.
• Homebase Credit UnionminorOthers · 1 January 2020Statue sponsor for Art Unleashed fundraiser event supporting the building campaign.
• Ivy Group LtdminorOthers · 1 January 2020Statue sponsor for Art Unleashed fundraiser event supporting the building campaign.
• Muse VineyardsminorOthers · 1 January 2020Statue sponsor for Art Unleashed fundraiser event supporting the building campaign.
• Rockpile Construction CompanyminorOthers · 1 January 2020Statue sponsor for Art Unleashed fundraiser event supporting the building campaign.
• Signature Spa and Albemarle DermatologyminorOthers · 1 January 2020Statue sponsor for Art Unleashed fundraiser event supporting the building campaign.
• Virginia Donelson StudiosminorOthers · 1 January 2020Statue sponsor for Art Unleashed fundraiser event supporting the building campaign.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services): ADI-accredited nonprofit that trains service dogs for people with physical disabilities, hearing loss, and PTSD, and also places facility dogs. Comparable to SDV across multiple program lines (mobility, PTSD, facility), no-cost placement model, and ADI accreditation.
• Summit Assistance Dogs: ADI-accredited Washington-state nonprofit training service dogs for mobility assistance and placing facility dogs with professionals. Comparable to SDV in Physical Assistance and Facility Dog programs and ADI-accredited, no-cost placement model.
• Dogs for Better Lives (formerly Dogs for the Deaf): ADI-accredited nonprofit that trains service dogs for hearing assistance, facility work, and skilled companion programs. Comparable to SDV in ADI-accredited service/facility dog training and no-cost placement, with overlapping facility dog deployment.
• K9s For Warriors: The largest U.S. nonprofit dedicated to training and placing service dogs with military veterans suffering from PTSD and other service-related injuries. Directly comparable to SDV's PTSD Service Dog program in target population and no-cost placement, though more narrowly focused on veterans.
• Freedom Service Dogs: ADI-accredited Colorado-based nonprofit training service dogs for veterans with PTSD, individuals with physical disabilities, and at-risk youth through facility dog placements. Comparable to SDV in no-cost placement, custom training, and PTSD/facility program offerings.
• Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities (ECAD): ADI-accredited nonprofit training service dogs for mobility assistance, PTSD, and autism support, with a no-cost placement model. Comparable across multiple SDV program lines including Physical Assistance and autism support, and shares the custom-training workflow.
• Canine Companions for Independence: One of the largest ADI-accredited service dog nonprofits in the U.S., training and placing service dogs for individuals with physical, hearing, and other disabilities at no cost to recipients. Directly comparable to SDV in mission, training model, ADI accreditation, and no-cost placement, but operates across multiple regional centers nationally.
• paws4people: ADI-accredited nonprofit training and placing service dogs for individuals with physical disabilities, PTSD, autism, and medical alert needs. Directly overlaps with SDV's Medical Alert and PTSD programs and shares the no-cost placement, custom-trained model.
• Canine Partners of the Rockies: ADI-accredited Colorado nonprofit that trains service dogs for individuals with mobility limitations and also partners with facilities. Comparable to SDV's Physical Assistance program and ADI accreditation, with a similar no-cost model.

Broad incumbents

• Guide Dogs for the Blind: Large, established ADI-accredited nonprofit primarily focused on guide dogs for the blind/visually impaired, with broader service dog programs. Comparable to SDV as a fellow ADI-accredited, donation-funded service dog nonprofit, though its primary specialization (guide dogs) and national scale make it a broader incumbent rather than a direct head-to-head competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/servicedogsofvirginia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/service-dogs-of-virginia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Service Dogs Of Virginia, Inc.