Empowering Lives Through the Human-Canine Partnership
Phoenix Assistance Dogs of Central PA trains assistance dogs and supports individuals with disabilities — building independence, confidence, and lasting bonds.
What We Do
PAD is a nonprofit organization based in Lititz, PA that trains assistance dogs for individuals with disabilities — including hearing dogs, seizure response, medical alert, and mobility assistance. Through positive reinforcement and a partnership-focused approach, we help people gain greater independence and quality of life.
Positive Reinforcement
All training uses reward-based methods that build trust and a strong working bond between handler and dog.
Partnership Focused
We support the owner-training path, tailored to each individual's needs, whether with their current dog or a program-started dog.
Community Driven
Our volunteer puppy raisers, donors, and supporters make it possible to change lives — one dog at a time.
Our Programs
From initial assessments to full certification, we guide you through every step of the assistance dog journey.
General Needs Assessment
An informational session to explore eligibility, disability needs, and ensure owner training is right for you.
Dog Candidate Search
For owner-trainers, PAD raises and trains puppies up to two years old for selection, while also sourcing suitable puppies and adult dogs through trusted breeders and rescues.
Training Membership & Support Program
PAD's monthly Owner Trainer Membership supports you and your dog from foundation skills through advanced public access work — with professional instruction, personalized coaching, and exclusive member benefits.
Monthly Group Training
Members practice skills in a structured environment while learning alongside other assistance dog teams — public access skills, problem solving, training games, and handler education.
Assistance Dog Certification
A voluntary certification program for owner-trained teams, featuring public access testing and official PAD identification, access letters, and collar tags. While certification is not required by law, it demonstrates a high standard of training, behavior, and public access readiness.
Want to learn more about our programs and fees?
View All ProgramsMake a Difference as a Volunteer
Our Puppy Raiser program welcomes dedicated volunteers to help raise and socialize future assistance dogs. No prior training experience needed — we'll guide you every step of the way.
- Raise a future service dog
- Weekly training classes included
- No experience required
- Flexible for working schedules
