Service Dog Access| Four Paws and a Wake Up-NC

The North Carolina site offers a fee-based Owner-Assisted Service Dog Training Program ONLY!

Four Paws NC is ONLY offering Owner-Assisted Service Dog Training! It is a fee-based program for Veterans and others in the greater Wilmington NC region. Learn more about Owner-Assisted Service Dog Training.

Please note that Four Paws NC does not train seizure-alert dogs, autism support, guide dogs for the blind, hearing, diabetes-alert, Alzheimer's or dementia, emotional support, or psychiatric.

Contact Assistance Dogs International for information about other organizations that may be able to help.

Service Dog Access

A service animal is any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.

Service Dog

A service animal is any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. A service animal, is a dog or a miniature horse, and has legal access to public spaces the same as a wheelchair, walker, cane or crutch.

Emotional Support Animals

An emotional support animal (ESA), assistance animal, or support animal, is a companion animal that a medical professional says provides some benefit for a person disabled by a mental health condition or emotional disorder. Emotional support animals do not have legal access under the American with Disability Act.

Therapy Animal

A therapy pet provides affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, people with learning difficulties, and to those that may not have access to animals. Therapy animals do not have legal access under the American with Disability Act.