National Service Dogs is a 2-star charity with Low demonstrated impact. It is financially transparent and has a B results reporting grade, which is average. Its overhead spending is 32%, which is within Ci’s reasonable range. Its reserve funds can cover program costs for four months, which is also within Ci’s reasonable range.

Founded in 1996, National Service Dogs (NSD) provides trained service and companion dogs primarily to individuals with disabilities or mental health issues across Ontario. NSD reports that children with autism have a high tendency to bolt and have no concept of danger. According to Statistics Canada, 27% of Canadians aged 15 and over had at least one disability in 2022. Many of these individuals struggle to find peace, independence, security, purpose, and social acceptance.

The charity spent $797k on its programs in 2024. NSD runs five programs: Certified Service Dogs for PTSD, Certified Service Dogs for Autism, Canine Assisted Intervention, Skilled Companion Dogs and VIP Dogs. Through all of NSD’s programs, volunteers provided 298,421 hours of service in 2024. In 2024, it served 159 clients. The charity did not provide a spending breakdown for its programs.

Certified Service Dogs for PTSD aims to help veterans and first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder by promoting activity, reducing extreme alertness, and providing reality affirmation. In 2024, nine dogs were placed with clients in this program.

Certified Service Dogs for Autism aims to help autistic children and their families by increasing safety levels, improving socialization, and reducing behavioural outbursts. In 2024, four dogs were placed with clients in this program.

Canine Assisted Intervention dogs are matched with treatment professionals to work as partners in therapy. This program aims to address health and wellness by reducing stress and promoting healing. In 2024, four dogs were placed with clients in this program.

Skilled Companion Dogs aims to help children and youth with various disabilities by providing comfort and stability. In 2024, four dogs were placed with clients in this program.

VIP Dogs are adopted into homes for companionship without the specific training required for working service dogs. Charity Intelligence found little information on this program.

National Service Dogs’ audited financial statements follow line-item costing, which is not a financial reporting best practice. This means Ci referred to the charity’s T3010 filings with the CRA Charities Directorate to allocate program, administrative, and fundraising costs.

NSD received $1.1m in donations and special event fundraising in 2024, which is 91% of total revenue. It spent $797k on its program in 2024, which is 68% of revenue. In 2024, it recorded a deficit of $49k.

NSD spent $110k on fundraising costs, which is 10% of donations. It spent $256k on administrative costs, which is 22% of revenue. NSD has total overhead spending of 32%. For every dollar donated to NSD, 68 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

NSD has $296k in reserve funds (cash and investments). Its reserve funds can cover 37% or four months of its annual program costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

This report is an update that has been sent to National Service Dogs for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 8, 2025, by Leah DeFrancesco.