Who owns the Next Step Service Dog?

For dogs owned by Next Step: When you and the dog have successfully met our training requirements, have been certified by Next Step Service Dogs and have graduated from our program, the dog is the property of Next Step Service Dogs. When you and your NSSD service dog have passed your Public Access Test and met all other requirements the NSSD Service Dog will go home to live with you. At that point, you will be responsible for all of the usual costs associated with owning a dog. Transfer of ownership will be one year after certification provided all NSSD requirements are met.

For clients who own their dog while in the Next Step training program: You retain ownership and all liability for your dog.