Circle Tail, Inc.

I believe Circle Tail is a wonderful organization, but I wish it placed more emphasis on training service dogs. It seems more focused on finding homes for rescued animals (which is WONDERFUL, that's not a complaint!!!), pet boarding, pet dog training, and on raising funds for new, improved facilities than it does on training and placing service dogs and hearing dogs with individuals who are disabled. I also disagree with its method of boarding dogs. During the day the boarded dogs have free run of safe, secure, large pens that actually are larger than the lawns of some houses; but, this occurs in all "fair weather", without regard to high temperatures. At night, all dogs are kept in airline-crate kennels. They do not have nearly as much space when compared to what is offered by many comparably-priced boarding facilities (some of which have this type of kennel within a larger, "run" area indoors. This may simply be my personal preference, though; I know the dogs are well-cared for, do have plenty of water at all times, are fed appropriately, and I've never met a dissatisfied boarding client. I give it 4/5 stars because I believe if a program advertises itself as service dog training program, as Circle Tail does, it ought to put more effort into that aspect of its operations. Most of the service dogs placed by this school within the last several years seem to be placed either with prior graduates ("successor service dogs") or as in-home service dogs. It is, however, an Assistance Dogs International (ADI)-Accredited Service Dog training program that has extremely high standards and an excellent training staff. The founder of the program is a very skilled, extremely ethical trainer whose love for dogs -- and the people with whom she interacts --is obvious from the moment one meets her. It's definitely a well-run organization and I will continue to support it for as long as it exists. It is difficult even giving it 4 rather than 5 stars, because it is a very good program.