Strengthening the Bond: Certify Canine's Mission
At Certify Canine, we believe in the extraordinary human animal bond. These incredible canine companions aren't just pets; they're partners in freedom, offering crucial support through animal assisted therapy and independence to individuals with disabilities. In the intricate world of service and facility dogs, finding your path can be challenging. We're here to light the way.
Addressing the Growing Demand
With the increasing need for service and facility dogs, the landscape is rapidly expanding. Yet, the lack of a standardized regulatory body overseeing training, certification, and travel intricacies often leaves individuals and organizations navigating a maze of confusion. Certify Canine emerges as a beacon of guidance in this space. Our dedicated team of experts is passionately committed to assisting service dog owners, facility dog handlers, and the public in understanding the nuances of certification and rights.
Our Approach to Empowering Partnerships
Here's our strategy for making a significant impact:
- Standardized Certification Process: We've developed a certification framework in collaboration with experienced dog trainers, service dog providers, and ADA law experts. This structured approach clarifies the pathway for a dog's transition into a service animal role.
- Innovative Insurance Solutions: For the first time, all service and facility animals certified through our process gain access to unique insurance options, covering both liability for service dogs and comprehensive health care. This groundbreaking offering is unprecedented in the service and facility animal sector. .
Guiding Principles for Success:
- Unlocking Confidence through Education: We provide handlers with detailed insights into service dog rights, diverse training methodologies, and legal stipulations. This knowledge builds confidence and empowers individuals to stand up for their rights.
- Demystifying the Service Dog Experience: Our engaging workshops, informative articles, and user-friendly resources aim to close the gap between service dogs and society, promoting understanding and acceptance. .
- Advocating for Clear Regulations: We stand at the forefront of advocating for standardization within the service dog industry, pushing for regulations that are accessible, transparent, and equitable.
Whether your companion was trained by a professional organization or through your own efforts, we believe in fostering a collaborative, educated, and supportive environment. By uniting our efforts, we envision a society where service and facility dogs are universally recognized, esteemed, and empowered to accomplish their vital roles.
At Certify Canine, we're not just facilitating certifications; we're building a community where every service and facility dog team thrives. Join us in creating a future where the remarkable potential of every human-animal partnership is fully realized.
Meet our Team
Blake Woody, Co-Founder
Seasoned dog trainer and owner of her own service dog. Her passion for the human-animal bond developed in cultivating a community of like-minded individuals who invested in creating sustainable change in the mental health and service dog space.
Sam Marti, Co-Founder
Experienced dog trainer who has a passion for finding creative solutions to behavioral challenges. Sam has successfully addressed various issues and improved obedience in dogs of all breeds and sizes. With a deep understanding of the importance of the human-animal relationship, Sam strives to create lasting connections built on trust, boundaries, and advocacy for human and dog alike.
Meet our Advisors
Tamika Hardin
Tamika Witter-Hardin resides in Queen Creek, AZ, originally hailing from Brooklyn, New York. With 25 years of experience in marketing, she currently serves as a marketing professional for a Medical Device Company based in Phoenix, AZ. Tamika's diverse marketing background spans pharmaceuticals, retail (both human and pet sectors), and now focuses on medical product devices. She holds a BS in Sociology from Towson State University.
Married to Eugene Hardin II for 15 years, they share their home with their two beloved dogs, Sake and DJ. Tamika is passionate about animals and maintains a strong work ethic, excelling in attention to detail and maintaining a positive attitude. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking for both humans and her furry companions alike.
Eugene Hardin
With over two decades of experience in Product Management and National Account Leadership, Eugene brings a wealth of expertise in driving strategic growth and maximizing profitability across diverse consumer goods industries.
Born and raised in Ohio, Eugene is a proud graduate of Wittenberg University (Springfield, OH), where he honed his skills in business management.
In his free time, Eugene enjoys exploring the great outdoors, riding motorcycles across the mountainous desert landscapes of Arizona and spending quality time with loved ones, Mother Carol, wife Tamika and two (2) dogs, Sake & DJ.
Dr. Bobbi Volesgang
Dr. Bobbi Vogelsang, DBH, LCSW, has been a practicing therapist since 1985, and has held leadership positions within private and public treatment organizations over half of that time. Currently in a solo private practice, “Dr. Bobbi” (as her clients like to call her) and her therapy dog Kali enjoy the impact of watching people respond to Kali’s sweetness and emotional intelligence, and open up to her soulful eyes and wagging tail. While life is certainly better with a dog, Dr. Bobbi, Kali, and her clients would agree that the workplace is better with a dog as well!