Who we are
ACTS, Assistance Canine Training Services, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to training service dogs for people with mobility disabilities and facility dogs for professionals who use animal assisted therapy in their daily work. As an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International and a member of Animal Assisted Intervention International, we follow the highest standards in training, ethics, and care.
Based in the Mount Washington Valley, with our training center in Center Conway, New Hampshire and additional training at the University of Vermont through Club UPRAWR, we are a small organization with a deeply personal approach. Our staff and volunteers bring years of experience and a shared commitment to preparing each dog for meaningful, real world work.
Our dogs begin their journey at just eight weeks old with dedicated volunteer puppy raisers who welcome them into their homes and guide their early development for up to two years. These volunteers are essential to our mission, helping shape confident, capable dogs through everyday experiences in the community.
We place dogs throughout the Northeastern United States, within 500 miles of our training center in Center Conway, New Hampshire. Our service dogs create life changing partnerships with individuals, while our facility dogs work alongside professionals in schools, counseling centers, hospitals, and other care settings, reaching and supporting many people every day.
But our work is rooted in something deeper.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion:
We are committed to creating an environment where all board members, staff, clients, and volunteers feel respected, valued, and supported. We welcome individuals of all backgrounds and identities, including differences in gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and life experience.
We believe our work is stronger when it reflects a range of perspectives and lived experiences. We strive to build a culture of belonging where everyone is treated with dignity, collaboration is encouraged, and each person has the opportunity to fully participate and contribute.
We are also committed to expanding access to our programs and reducing barriers for those we serve.
Lives Changed Every Day
“I could have my life back.”
“I think the dogs came into my life so I could have my life back. The chances of me having a service dog would never have happened without ACTS.”
~ Mark (Baxter)
“We are so grateful.”
“Digger adds so much to every day. We love him very much and we thank you for getting him to us. We are so grateful.”
~ Barbara (Digger)
“She makes a difference in so many lives.”
“Brooke has got to be one of the luckiest dogs in the world. She loves her job and is happiest when she is amongst her 500 plus students. This little girl is beyond amazing at what she does for our students. From stopping a meltdown with kisses and resting her head in a child’s lap until they are calm, to being an instant friend to new students or a welcoming start to a reluctant student’s day, Brooke is worth her weight in gold. Every day I have the joy of watching her make a difference in so many lives.”
~ Melanie (Brooke)
“He’s changing hundreds of lives.”
“Captain is changing 520 lives, not just my students, but my staff as well. He’s incredible. I never knew I was going to love him so much. He truly is an amazing animal.”
~ Stephanie (Captain)
What It’s Like to Work With ACTS
“It truly feels like joining a family.”
“ACTS is incredibly attentive to each client’s well being. They put their full effort into making the right match and providing ongoing support. When you work with ACTS, you gain an entire team advocating for you. It truly feels like joining a family.”
~ Lacey
“You know they are changing lives.”
“You can feel how passionate everyone is. They are in this work because they care deeply about the dogs and the people they serve. Watching the time, dedication, and teamwork that goes into raising these dogs was amazing. You know they are changing lives.”
~ Stephanie
“They match the right dog with the right person.”
“They have a unique ability to match the right dog with the right person.”
~ Mark
We are committed to inclusive practices and equitable access in all of our programs.
Our Story
ACTS was founded in 2007 by Dorothy Hyde Williams in memory of her son Nate, who tragically passed away in a bicycle accident. In the face of profound loss, Dorothy chose to create something meaningful and lasting, building an organization rooted in purpose, compassion, and connection.
What began as a way to honor Nate’s life has grown into a mission that continues to impact individuals, families, and communities every day. His legacy lives on in every dog trained, every partnership formed, and every life changed.
At its core, ACTS exists to bring something positive from tragedy. That purpose continues to guide our work and the care we put into every match.
What We Do
ACTS trains and places both service dogs and facility dogs, each prepared for a specific role and environment.
Service Dogs
Our service dogs are trained to assist individuals with mobility disabilities, helping increase independence, safety, and confidence in daily life. Each dog is carefully matched to their handler, creating a partnership that supports both practical needs and emotional well being.
Facility Dogs
Our facility dogs work alongside professionals in settings such as schools, counseling centers, hospitals, and residential programs. These dogs provide comfort, support, and connection, helping individuals regulate emotions, build trust, and engage more fully in their environment.
Every ACTS dog completes a comprehensive two year training program. From early socialization with volunteer puppy raisers to advanced, task specific training, each step is intentional. Our goal is not just to train a dog, but to create a reliable, well prepared partner ready to make a meaningful impact.
What Matters
People First
We take the time to understand each individual’s needs, making thoughtful matches and providing ongoing support long after a dog goes home.
Inclusive and Welcoming
We believe access to an assistance dog should be equitable. We are committed to creating a process that is respectful, supportive, and open to people of all backgrounds and experiences.
Volunteers at the Heart
Our volunteers are essential to our mission. From puppy raisers to program support, they bring dedication, time, and compassion to every step of a dog’s journey.
Strong Relationships
We value the connections built along the way, between dogs and handlers, clients and staff, and within our broader community. These relationships are rooted in trust and communication.
Commitment to Quality
We hold ourselves to high standards in training, care, and ethical practice, always focused on preparing dogs that make a meaningful and lasting impact.
