Co-Primary Handlers:

Co-Primaries are students who foster a service dog in training with another student(s). The dog will live with you as a primary and you will be responsible for it's training and care.

This is a great option for people who want to split the responsibility or if you are lacking one of the primary handler requirements (housing approval or transportation to Ohio). Both students will get certified through 4 Paws for Ability in Ohio, and the students can decide how they would like to divide up the time and responsibilities of the SDiT while on campus.

When you're ready to pick up your SDiT, you may request the breed and sex of your dog, but not a specific dog.

Co-Primary Handlers Responsibilities:

• Care, grooming, & training of their dog

• Getting housing approval

• Transporting their dog to 4 Paws in Ohio when needed (training evaluations & spay/neuter)

• Buying treats, toys, and other needed supplies.

• Brining their dog to 4 Paws at UIUC Events to get financial support towards you and your SDiT from our club

Club Events:

• General Meetings

• Training sessions

• Fundraisers

• Collaborations

• Member Socials

• Field Trips

• If your SDiT meets our attendance criteria, our club will offer financial support for your dog to help cover the cost of supplies not given by 4 Paws for Ability

  Support includes: toys, treats, poop bags, grooming supplies & other supplies, partial gas reimbursements from trips to 4 Paws, vet care for minor treatments at our partnered hospital up to a certain amount (more info provided once a primary) , and more!

How 4 Paws at UIUC Supports their Primaries:

• The President helps primaries through the WHOLE primary process and is available by text at any time for an issues or needed support

• We have two GroupMes: a sitters chat & a primary chat. The sitter chat offers a group of 4 Paws certified volunteer trainers for primaries to ask to watch their dog whenever they need. The primary handlers chat provides an opportunity for primaries to talk and get support on issues or anything else with their dog.

Co-Primary Handler Process:

The first step is to email us that you want to be a co-primary so our President can help you through the process. This can include matching you with another person to co-primary with (more information below)!

Email Us

Next, we will add you to our weekly email list where you will receive club updates, information on upcoming events, and more!

*Email list is only active during the active during the academic year!

Added to Email List

Attend Events

Bring your SDiT to events, training sessions, and general meetings! As long as you meet our attendance requirements, you'll be able to receive support from 4 Paws at UIUC!

Become Certified & SDiT Pick-Up!

Steps to becoming a certified handler through 4 Paws for Ability in Ohio are listed below. Once certified, email the volunteer coordinator at 4 Paws for Ability to get matched/pick-up your SDiT!

*Co-Primaries do not need to pay dues since they are covering most financial responsibilities of fostering an SDiT*

Co-Primary Form:

Fill out this form if you do not have someone you would like to be a co-primary with. We will review those who fill out the forms and match you with someone we feel you would work well with. If you feel it won't work out with that person after meeting, thats's okay, we'll keep looking!