How to Apply
In this section you’ll find the information you need to determine if you are qualified to apply for a D4D dog, as well as the forms you need to submit an initial online application. Please review the eligibility criteria and the application process before filling out the short online form.
Introduction
Dogs for Diabetics (D4D) trains medical assistance dogs to alert insulin-dependent diabetics to impending low blood sugar (Hypoglycemia). The client is required to attend and pass approximately 100 hours of instructional classes, and keep extensive blood sugar and activity records. It can take up to 1 year after dog placement for the person/dog team to graduate. Thereafter, the team must periodically attend a regional support group, as well as participate in an annual recertification class to maintain their medical assistance dog status.
As a volunteer based organization, we look to our clients to remain involved with D4D in order to continue providing medical assistance dogs to other diabetics.
It takes time, energy and a strong commitment to succeed in our program.
Eligibility Criteria
In order for your short application to be accepted, you must meet all of the following basic criteria:
- The applicant must be insulin-dependent for a minimum of 12 months prior to submitting the online, short application.
- The applicant must be at least 12 years old on the day the online short application is completed.
- The applicant must live within a 3 hour drive of D4D’s Nylabone Training Center, in Concord, CA.
- The application must be completed by the diabetic. Applications are not accepted from second-parties: parents, spouse, siblings, etc.
- The applicant must have access to a computer for submittal of weekly activity and glucose records.
- The applicant must have attended at least one D4D event, such as ABC’s, Graduation or other activity.
If you meet these criteria, you are eligible to complete the online Short Application.
Summary of Application Process
The following summarizes the processes that are used to select candidates to participate in our program:
- Submit Online Short Application, which is then reviewed by D4D’s Applications Examiner, who will provide access to various follow up documents, if the basic Criteria is met.
- The Client Candidate will review, sign and return the Dog Placement Expectation Agreement after the Online Application is reviewed and found to be complete.
- A Long Application, with additional required paperwork will need to be completed, signed and returned.
- The Client Candidate will be invited for a personal interview, at the D4D Nylabone Training Center, with two or more members of the D4D Application Review Committee.
- A Home Inspection Visit will be scheduled to assess the suitability of the prospective home environment for the dog.
- Final Client selection will be made by the D4D Applications Review Committee.
Go to Online Application Form to complete Step 1.
After your Online Application Form has been reviewed and approved, Password access to the Long Form application and other follow up documents will be provided in order to allow you to continue the application process, as described in steps 2 through 6.
Go to Controlled Access Application Documents.
Steps 2 through 6, after receipt of the Long Application can take from 4 to 6 months.
D4D was the vision of its Founder, Mark Ruefenacht, after recieving the spontanous help of a guide dog puppy that he was training. A Forensic Scientist, Guide Dog Volunteer and Type I Diabetic, he brought a unique set of skills together to study this phenomena. After 5 years of research, he proved the idea that a dog could be trained to detect the onset of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). His dog, Armstrong, was donated to him from Guide Dogs for the Blind of San Rafael, for the express purpose of proving this effort. Armstrong has now served Mark for over 8 years. 
