On this page you’ll find the information you need to help decide whether to apply to VWD.

Please read the eligibility criteria, exclusions and application process before submitting a Register of Interest.

We also recommend you check out the FAQ's for more answers to common questions.

In order for VWD to accept a Register Of Interest, a Veteran must meet all of the following basic criteria:

• The applicant must be currently serving, or has previously served, in one of the British Armed Forces, Reserves or the Merchant Navy, and resides in the UK.
• The applicant must be aged 18 or over.
• The applicant must have a mental health diagnosis.
• The applicant must have a current or previous active therapy or treatment plan.
• The applicant must be fully committed, including attendance of residential training in Devon and ongoing regular training in their home area.
• The application must be completed by the Veteran.

Before applying, please consider the following:

The Financial Responsibility:

Can you manage the ongoing costs of dog care, including:

• Regular feeding
• Grooming needs
• Daily exercise
• Routine veterinary care

Your Home Environment:

Is your household supportive of an assistance dog?

• Family members must be willing to accommodate the dog
• All residents should comply with VWD guidelines

The Training Commitment:

Are you prepared to:

• Fully engage in regular training sessions provided by VWD
• Consistently apply training techniques at home

Your Lifestyle Adaptation:

An assistance dog represents a significant lifestyle change.

• Are you ready for this long-term commitment?
• Can you adapt your daily routine to include dog care?

The Travel Requirements:

Our programme involves:

• Attending an initial Meet & Greet in Devon
• Participating in further residential training sessions
• Annual reassessments

Important:

Carefully consider these points before deciding to apply. Our goal is to ensure successful partnerships between Veterans and assistance dogs, which requires significant dedication of the Veteran and readiness for change.

There are circumstances where an application would be declined based on any of the following:

• Physical disabilities including dependency of walking aids.
• Children in the applicant's home under the age of 5 years old.
• Another person in the home with a mental health condition or learning difficulties.
• Hospitalisation of the applicant within the last 6 months due to a mental health condition.
• The applicant's home environment not being suitable for keeping an assistance dog. (We do not place dogs in homes where there is no direct ground floor access to a secure outside space).
• An existing dog/dogs in the household who are not part of the programme.
• Any conviction for: animal abuse; abuse towards humans; or a conviction resulting in being listed on the sex offenders register.

The following summarises the processes that are used to select candidates to participate in our programme:

• Submit a Register of Interest, which is then reviewed to determine if the basic applicant criteria is met.
• Attend a PALS Meet & Greet* Day to learn more about the programme.
• Complete a Full Application, and return with relevant supporting documentation.
• A home visit will be scheduled to assess the suitability of the prospective home environment for a dog.
• Candidates for placements or training are then determined by review.
• Candidates must be able/willing to travel to Devon for residential training.

(*Attendance of PALS Meet & Greet is a pre-requisite to a full application being accepted).