About ADEP

Assistance Dogs Empowering People

Transforming lives through trained assistance dog partnerships.

Our Mission

Mission Statement

To empower individuals with disabilities by providing service dogs free of charge for fostering greater independence, enhancing quality of life, and promoting social inclusion.

Vision Statement

We envision a world where individuals with disabilities are fully integrated into society, gaining enhanced independence and quality of life through the support of service dogs.

Our Team

Behind every great dog is a dedicated team of passionate humans. At ADEP, our team brings together experience, compassion, and a shared commitment to empowering people through assistance dog partnerships.

Dr. Marina Rodriguez

Founder & CEO/Head Trainer

Federico Lezcano

Vice President

Fiorella Mascaro

Secretary

Agustin Jaureguiberry

Treasurer

From Our Founder

"I've seen firsthand how a well-matched assistance dog can open doors—sometimes quite literally—for someone living with a disability. My journey with assistance dogs has taken me across continents, but the heart of it has always remained the same: empowerment, dignity, and connection. I started ADEP because I believe that no one should be denied the life-changing support of an assistance dog due to cost. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live with more independence, more confidence, and more connection to the world around them."

— Dr. Marina Rodriguez, Founder & CEO

From 2024

Our Story

ADEP – Assistance Dog Empowerment Program – was born from a deep passion and a decade-long journey of dedication to the life-changing impact of assistance dogs. Our founder has spent over 11 years working across the globe—from Assistance Dogs of Hawaii in the U.S. to Bocalan in Argentina, Shine On! Kids in Japan, and back home in Australia with Guide Dogs WA and See Differently in Adelaide.

Along this journey, one thing became clear: assistance dogs have the power to transform lives in extraordinary ways. ADEP was created to bring that transformative power to people with disabilities in Australia, ensuring that cost is never a barrier to this life-changing partnership.

Our Home

Based in Australia, ADEP supports people through assistance dogs, creating life-changing partnerships.

Address

Sydney, NSW

Hours

9am - 5pm

Our Work

Empowering lives through trained assistance dogs.

Training

Dedicated training to match dogs with needs.

Learn More

Support

Community helping people and dogs thrive.

Get Involved

Frequently Asked Questions

About ADEP

What is ADEP?

ADEP (Assistance Dogs Empowering People) is a not-for-profit charity that empowers people with disabilities by providing professional assistance dog partnerships free of charge.

What is ADEP's mission and vision?

Mission: To empower individuals with disabilities by providing service dogs free of charge for fostering greater independence, enhancing quality of life, and promoting social inclusion.
Vision: We envision a world where individuals with disabilities are fully integrated into society, gaining enhanced independence and quality of life through the support of service dogs.

What are ADEP's core values?

Compassion, Partnership, Integrity, Empowerment, and Community.

Are ADEP's dogs free?

Yes. Thanks to donors and community support, ADEP places assistance dogs at no cost to the individual. While ADEP provides the dog, training, and placement free of charge, the ongoing care and maintenance of the dog is the client's responsibility.

Clients & Eligibility

Who can apply for an assistance dog?

People living with disabilities who would benefit from a trained assistance dog to improve independence, daily functioning, and social participation.

How are clients selected?

Clients are selected from our waitlist based on the best match between the dog's personality, lifestyle, and location—not on a "first come, first served" basis.

How are clients assessed?

Assessment happens in several stages: phone interviews, a supporting medical letter, home visit to check the living environment, and standardized assessments to measure the client's ability to meet a dog's basic needs and cognitive capacity.

Training & Partnership

What is team training?

Training varies between 2 weeks and 1 month. Week 1 includes full-time, hands-on and classroom lessons covering dog handling, welfare, and cues with daily assessments. Remaining weeks involve community-based training tailored to the client's needs. At the end a final assessment ensures both client and dog are ready for public access and daily life together.

What follow-up support is provided?

Weekly follow-up during the first month, monthly follow-up for the next 6 months, and annual follow-up after that.

What happens when a dog gets older?

During yearly follow-ups, trainers assess the dog's workload. When it's time to retire, the client may choose to keep their dog as a pet, or the dog will be rehomed in a loving pet environment.

Donations & Support

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes. ADEP has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, meaning all donations over $2 are tax-deductible in Australia.

How are donations used?

Every donation supports the training, care, and placement of assistance dogs, as well as community education and support programs.

How else can I help?

You can support ADEP by volunteering or raising awareness about assistance dogs and disability inclusion.

Governance & Transparency

How is ADEP structured?

ADEP is a registered Australian not-for-profit company (Pty Ltd) and charity under the ACNC. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Does ADEP publish reports?

Yes. Annual reports and audited financial statements are published to ensure transparency and accountability.

Dog Training School

Are these classes suitable for assistance dog or service dog training?

No. These classes are for pet dogs only and are not designed to train or certify assistance dogs service dogs or therapy dogs. ADEP's assistance dog programs follow specialised training pathways that are separate from these community classes. If you would like information about ADEP's assistance dog initiatives, please reach out to us directly.

Where are the classes held, and who runs them?

Our classes take place at Doggielove Day Care, in partnership with ADEP. Training is delivered by a qualified dog trainer using positive, reward-based methods. A portion of every booking supports ADEP's mission to empower individuals with disabilities through assistance dog partnerships and community education.