_ Bio of Chris Fowler
Pioneer of Service Dogs for Children and families with Autism
Chris Fowler
Consultant to Assistance Dog Organizations Internationally.
E-mail- [email protected]
Pioneer of Service Dogs for Children and families with Autism
- An avid dog lover since his youth, Chris Fowler’s original background is in working with adults and children with special needs and training dogs for people with physical disabilities. Chris has been a professional Dog Guide trainer since 1994.
- In 1996 Chris Fowler co founded the first Service Dog program that placed specially trained canines to assist children and families that had Autism in the world. He pioneered the breeding and puppy program, the training and apprenticeship program and mastered the individual interviews, assessments, placements and follow up services needed to ensure success in marrying autism and service dogs.
- From 2004-2009, trained many other service dog organizations world wide to start an autism program: (National Service Dogs-Ontario, Irish guide Dogs for the Blind, Paws with a Cause-Michigan, Fundation Bocolan-Spain, Dogs for the Deaf-Oregon, East Coast Assistance Dogs-New York, Guiding Eyes for the Blind-New York, Guide Dog Foundation-New York, Service Dogs of Virginia, British Columbia Guide Dog Services and Tender Loving Canines-California.)
- Been a conference attendee and a voting member of Assistance Dogs International since 1998 and served as a Board member for 3 years (2006-2008)
- Trained “Abby” who was inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame in 2005 for her work with a child with autism.
- In 2005, Chris received the R.L. Peterson Award for Non Profit Innovation for pioneering autism dog training and serving families with autism.
- Chris was presented the Gerald Bloomfield award by the Autism Society of Ontario in 2006, and also the Paul Harris Award through Rotary Club International in 2008.
- Under Chris’s direction, over 500 dogs have now been placed as Autism Dogs in Canada alone. Chris has worked individually with over 300 families that have children with autism.
- Chris has worked with organizations around the world training staff to provide Service Dogs to children and families with Autism
- Chris has worked with many school boards in developing protocols to include Autism Dogs in the school system through out Canada.
- Past board member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI). Chris continues to work with ADI as an organization assessor and visits programs Internationally to ensure Program standards are followed.
- Chris and his wife Heather, have 2 daughters and live in Cambridge, Ontario.
Chris Fowler
Consultant to Assistance Dog Organizations Internationally.
E-mail- [email protected]