Dogs for Better Lives (Formerly: Dogs for the Deaf)

Award-winning Dogs for Better Lives is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Central Point, Oregon. Formerly known as Dogs for the Deaf, we have been providing Assistance Dogs to people across the United States since 1977.

Certified professional staff train and place assistance dogs with individuals who are deaf or who have hearing loss and with children who are on the autism spectrum. Professionals also use our dogs in their work with special needs students and others who benefit from the dogs’ calming presence.

Most of the Assistance Dogs produced by us are rescued dogs. We rely solely on private donors for our funding. Because of their generosity, our Assistance Dogs are placed at no cost after a $50 application fee and a $500 good faith (refundable) deposit.

In both 2016 and 2017, we have been named a Business Magazine’s Top 100 nonprofits in Oregon to work for, and Charity Navigator gave us their highest rating for our financial health and accountability.