Our MissionDomino Service Dogs (DSD) is a Lakewood-based 501(c)(3) disability-led nonprofit dedicated to breaking down the financial and systemic barriers to service dog ownership. We empower individuals with physical or psychiatric disabilities to train their own life-saving service dogs using humane, positive reinforcement methods.
At Domino Service Dogs (DSD), our vision is a community where individuals with disabilities have full autonomy, independence, and equal access through the power of the human-canine bond. We envision a world where cost, stigma, and systemic barriers no longer prevent people from acquiring a life-changing service dog.
We believe that the journey of training your own service dog creates an irreplaceable bond built on mutual trust, clear communication, and shared respect. Our goal is to transform handlers into confident, skilled trainers of their own life-saving partners.
Accessibility & Inclusivity
High-quality service dog programs should be within reach for anyone who needs one. Through transparent guidance, community support, and humane, evidence-based training methods, we strive to make service dog ownership affordable, accessible, and sustainable.
Public Awareness & Legal Advocacy
We envision a society fully educated on disability rights, service dog etiquette, and public access laws. By training highly reliable working teams and advocating under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we help foster inclusive public spaces where service dog teams are welcomed with dignity.
Lifelong Support & Community
No owner-trainer should have to navigate their journey alone. We strive to maintain a compassionate, vibrant network of current handlers, alumni, and certified professionals who provide ongoing mentorship, peer encouragement, and lifelong resources.
200+ Teams Impacted: Supported over 200 service dog teams in training across Colorado since opening our doors.
100+ Certified Graduates: Successfully graduated over 100 service dog teams through our comprehensive multi-year curriculum.
35+ Active Teams in Training: Currently guiding dozens of active handler-dog teams through weekly classes, task training, and public access preparation.
$25,000–$35,000 Grant Support Secured Per Dog: DSD actively secures $25,000 to $35,000 in grant funding per dog to bridge the financial gap and offset the true cost of multi-year professional training.
$7,500 Out-of-Pocket Client Cap: Client tuition is capped at just $7,500 for the entire 2-year program—removing up to $35,000 in personal debt compared to traditional $25,000–$45,000 placement fees.
3,000+ Instructional Hours: Delivered thousands of hours of specialized, positive-reinforcement training instruction and client coaching.
Every nonprofit has a story. Ours begins with a daughter.
Domino Service Dogs was founded in honor of Caitlin Tyra Brady, whose courage, compassion, and deep love for dogs inspired an effort to ensure children and adults with disabilities have access to the life-changing partnership of a service dog.
When Caitlin was injured and required a wheelchair, her family encountered significant barriers—exorbitant costs running upward of $25,000 to $35,000, years-long waitlists, and limited access to quality local instruction. Refusing to let those obstacles stand in the way of independence, two years were spent learning to train Caitlin’s first service dog, a Great Pyrenees named Badger, who assisted with mobility tasks and pulling her wheelchair.
What began as a determination to honor a daughter's legacy has grown into a Colorado nonprofit dedicated to breaking down the barriers that prevent families from obtaining service dogs. Today, that legacy lives on through every child who gains confidence, every family that finds hope, and every service dog team that discovers greater independence.
The Domino EffectOne well-trained team changes more than one life—it changes a classroom, a workplace, a family, and an entire community. That is the Domino Effect: a continuous ripple of dignity, access, and uncompromised independence."
— Barbara Henry, CPDT-KA
Founder & Executive Director, Domino Service Dogs
Instead of placing pre-trained dogs from outside agencies, DSD operates a 2-year owner-trainer model that equips handlers with expert instruction and hands-on coaching. Over a multi-year curriculum, handlers learn to train their canine partners for specific physical, psychiatric, or developmental needs while mastering public access skills and legal rights.
Our structured program provides:
Custom Task Training: Specialized instruction tailored to each team's unique medical or physical needs.
Public Access Excellence: Coaching in real-world environments like grocery stores, workplaces, and public transit.
Legal Literacy & Advocacy: Comprehensive education on the ADA, Fair Housing Act, and public access rights.
The Caitlin Tyra Brady Training Fund: Scholarship assistance ensuring financial capability never determines access to a service dog.
Training the handler is just as vital as training the dog. Living with a disability can often bring social isolation, but our Lakewood facility serves as an inclusive community hub where handlers connect with peers who share similar journeys.
To date, Domino Service Dogs has supported over 200 owner-trained service dog teams across Colorado, restoring safety, dignity, and independence.
A Letter from Our Executive DirectorWelcome to Domino Service Dogs.
Whether you are here seeking a service dog partner, searching for a supportive community, or looking for a meaningful way to give back, we are so glad you found us.
Every nonprofit has a story, and ours begins with a daughter. Domino Service Dogs was founded in honor of Caitlin Tyra Brady, whose courage, compassion, and deep love for dogs sparked a movement. When Caitlin required a wheelchair, her family quickly realized how difficult it was to obtain a service dog. They faced years-long waitlists and astronomical costs—barriers that keep far too many children and adults with disabilities from getting the support they need.
Determined to overcome those obstacles, Caitlin’s family spent two years learning to train her first service dog, a Great Pyrenees named Badger. That single partnership revealed a profound truth: when you give someone the tools to train their own service dog, you don't just grant them independence—you give them confidence, dignity, and a lifelong skill set.
What began as one family's determination has grown into a thriving Lakewood community. DSD is a disability-led organization—run by individuals with disabilities for individuals with disabilities. We understand firsthand the daily challenges, the social isolation, and the transformative power of a service dog partner. Through our evidence-based owner-trainer model, we have helped more than 200 service dog teams across Colorado build life-changing, trusted partnerships.
As a proud Colorado nonprofit, we are deeply committed to serving our local community with integrity, accessibility, and excellence. We promise to:
Sustain Access Through Active Fundraising & Grant Writing: Dedicated to ensuring that financial hardship never stands in the way of independence, we actively seek foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations to fuel The Caitlin Tyra Brady Training Fund. These ongoing fundraising efforts directly provide tuition scholarships and subsidy support for low-income Coloradans with disabilities.
Uphold Evidence-Based Standards: Provide compassionate, humane, reward-based training instruction that honors both the handler and the dog.
Foster Community & Connection: Combat social isolation by providing a safe, inclusive hub in Lakewood where Coloradans with disabilities can find connection, advocacy, and peer support.
Deliver Lifelong Support: Stand by our teams long after graduation with ongoing guidance, evaluations, and alumni resources.
Thank you for visiting our site and being part of our story. Whether you join us as a student, a volunteer, or a supporter, you are helping us create a ripple effect of hope, safety, and independence across Colorado.
With gratitude,
Barbara Henry
Executive Director
Domino Service Dogs
