Since our founding in 2000, it has been our dream to build a state-of-the-art training campus for our service dogs and clients. For many years, we relied entirely on volunteer foster homes and staff members to house and train our dogs, which limited the number of dogs we could accept into our program and the number of clients we could serve.

With the completion of the Canine Condo, the first building of our campus, that dream is finally becoming a reality. This permanent space will now allow us to provide more dogs for our clients, operate more efficiently, and continue improving the care and education we provide. A campus also creates a sense of permanence for the organization, something our donors, volunteers, and clients value and are eager to invest in.

The campus is situated on 17 acres and will have three buildings totaling approximately 16,000 square feet. We have sited the buildings where they are buffered from neighboring properties and have incorporated water and energy efficiency and sustainability into our designs and construction.

We are building the campus in three phases, funded primarily through the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations.

• Phase One – Canine Condo: Completed!

• Phase Two – Training & Administrative Center: Next to begin.

• Phase Three – Client Lodge: To follow.

Canine Condo – Completed in 2025!
Our Canine Condo features 24 kennel suites accommodating up to 40 dogs in training. Each suite resembles a home living situation with a shaded patio and access to large outdoor play yards. The Condo also includes puppy-rearing areas, quarantine and observation rooms, food preparation and grooming spaces, laundry facilities, and storage.

Training & Administrative Center – Next phase to begin.
Our Training & Administrative Center will be the hub for all things educational, for both people and dogs. Our dogs learning advanced skills will be trained here each day in preparation for placement with their partners. The training center will contain training props and some areas that will simulate a home or work environment for dogs to learn such skills as opening and closing doors, turning on and off lights, loading a washing machine, taking off bed covers and retrieving a telephone. The training center will also be used to conduct weekly training classes for our volunteers who are fostering dogs and educational classes for clients who are partnered with a Summit service dog. The administrative center will provide staff and volunteer offices, as well as a conference room.

Client Lodge – Final phase.
Our Client Lodge will contain six fully accessible rooms and bathrooms for clients and their dogs, as well as caregivers, if required.  Having accommodations on site will allow our clients to focus on their training and not have to concern themselves with transportation to and from hotels and restaurants. The lodge will also be less stressful for our dogs as they adapt to working and living with a new partner before being exposed to the rigors of public life.

Absolutely! Volunteers are the backbone of our organization, and we will continue to rely on volunteers to raise happy, healthy, and confident dogs for our training program. Our campus will provide a place for volunteers to bring dogs if they are going on vacation or if the dog needs an evaluation. Our campus will also be a place for volunteers to come help with short-term tasks such as grooming, enrichment, dog walking, and training.  

Yes. Our “Dogs First” philosophy continues to guide everything we do.

The Canine Condo was designed with the dogs’ well-being in mind, painted in warm colors, with natural light, fresh air, and outdoor play spaces. Each suite provides a quiet, low-stress environment that promotes learning and relaxation. Staff bring dogs into offices daily for companionship and the facility is equipped with live-feed cameras for remote monitoring and safety.

Nationwide, there is a great shortage of trained mobility assistance dogs. Typically, most people wait two to five years to receive one or they may not receive one at all. With a campus, Summit can expand our training capacity and reduce client wait times while providing a centralized, supportive environment for training and education. We are working toward a day when we can provide dogs to our clients within one year of applying, and a full campus will help us reach this goal.

The campus will also provide a Client Lodge, allowing clients to stay on site during their two-week team training where they will learn to live and work with their new service dog, as well as a place for current clients to come for continuing education and skill building workshops with their assistance dog. The campus will ensure Summit can offer lifelong support for all our service dog partnerships, while sustaining our mission for generations to come.

No, Summit has received no government funding to date. Our work is funded entirely by generous donors, community organizations, businesses, and foundations. Thanks to our supporters, we are able to provide our highly-skilled assistance dogs free of charge to qualified applicants.

Support the campaign with a donation made online here or send your donation by mail to: Summit Assistance Dogs, P.O. Box 699, Anacortes, WA 98221, via a stock transfer, or through your employer.