About Us
Transforming Lives Through Partnership
Since 1998, CHAMP Assistance Dogs has been enriching lives, honoring dignity, and lifting spirits through specially trained assistance and therapy dogs that create meaningful connections throughout our community.
Mission
CHAMP enriches lives, honors dignity, and lifts spirits through the transformative power of specially trained assistance and therapy dogs.
Vision
CHAMP Assistance Dogs envisions a world where both humans and canines benefit from their partnership and create healthier, more accessible communities for all.
Impact You Can Feel. Outcomes You Can See.
Real Impact. Measurable Change.
80,000+
Individuals served through therapy dog visits in 2025
90+
Certified therapy dog teams actively serving hospitals, schools, and community programs, who have visited over 80 locations
80+
Community locations served
104
Service and facility dog placements since 1998
4,683
Reached through educational presentations at 57 venues
96%
Volunteer-powered workforce
Our Story
Rooted in St. Louis Since 1998
CHAMP Assistance Dogs was founded in 1998 with a simple but powerful vision: to strengthen independence and emotional well-being through the life-changing partnership between people and dogs. Our thirteen founding members had over 162 years of combined experience training animals and working with people with physical disabilities. What began as a small, community-driven effort in the greater St. Louis area has grown into a trusted not-for-profit serving thousands of individuals each year. Even as we have expanded our impact, we remain firmly rooted in St. Louis and dedicated to supporting the people and communities that have been part of our journey from the beginning.
Growth & Expansion
From the beginning, CHAMP has been committed to excellence in training and compassion in service. Raising carefully selected puppies and develop them into highly skilled assistance and facility dogs. As the organization expanded, so did its impact, including the growth of a robust Therapy Dog Program that now reaches tens of thousands of people annually in hospitals, schools, and various community settings. We also offer a robust Education Program that brings the world of service and therapy dogs to life for all ages.
Today
As one of only three facilities in Missouri accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI), CHAMP continues to evolve to meet the community’s needs by combining expert training, thoughtful partnerships, and essential outreach. While our programs have grown, our mission remains the same: enriching lives, honoring dignity, and lifting spirits through the transformative power of specially trained assistance and therapy dogs.
Join the CHAMP Community
Whether you’re looking for support, hoping to volunteer, interested in becoming a therapy dog team, or wanting to support our mission, there’s a place for you at CHAMP.