Assistance Dogs International would like to thank all of the volunteer assessors and their organizations that allow them to participate. Without these hardworking individuals the ADI accreditation process could not happen.
Amy Perrow
Operations Coordinator
Dogs for Better Lives
Amy Perrow studied Environmental Science with a focus on Applied Ecology and Resource Management as well as minoring in Fisheries and Wildlife through the Oregon State University Distance Learning Bachelor’s Degree Program. After moving to Oregon from Florida, she took her career in a new direction and joined the Dogs for Better Lives (DBL) team in October of 2018 as the Operations Coordinator. She works very closely with the Client Services and Program teams and has been instrumental in helping Client Services transform their application process from a completely paper application to completely digital. She also created and maintains the DBL Client Portal for current Clients with Dogs, and Clients awaiting their dog, stay up to date with current paperwork, communications, and events happening in the DBL world.
Angela Bentivegna
Hearing Dog Guide Instructor
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides
Angela Bentivegna started her career with animals, working as a vet assistant before attending the Animal Care program at Sheridan College. After doing a co-op placement working with large cats at a small zoo, she fell in love with working alongside animals. She moved on to training marine mammals before shifting to dog training and adoptions at the local SPCA. She started training service dogs in 2008 at the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. During her apprenticeship in the Service Dog Program at LFCDG, she also gained experience working with seizure response dogs and hearing dogs. Angela started specializing in hearing dogs in 2012. Angela’s favorite part of her work is training the dogs and seeing the difference they make in the client’s day-to-day lives.
Becca Bell
National Program Project Manager
Canine Companions
Becca started out as a puppy raiser for Canine Companions while earning a degree in Psychology from UC Davis. She began working for Canine Companions in 2005, earning her certification as a Service Dog Instructor in 2008. While she really enjoyed training service dog skills and working with clients to match them with their service dogs, she found a passion for working with volunteer puppy raiser and helping them do the best possible job of raising potential service dogs. In 2015 Becca helped found a new region of Canine Companions in Texas, building and supporting a volunteer puppy raiser base. Becca has a particular interest in prison puppy raising programs and the positive impact these programs can have on the lives and future success of inmates. She was instrumental in starting and supporting four new correctional puppy raising programs. In Becca’s current role she assists the training, breeding, puppy, and client services departments with developing new materials. Becca lives in Oregon with her husband, two children and two dogs.
Beth Biondo (trainee)
Chief Operating Officer
Duo Dogs
Beth Biondo is the Chief Operating Officer for Duo Dogs located in St. Louis, MO. She earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degree from the University of Missouri – St. Louis with a Certificate in Nonprofit Organization Management and Leadership. After working in the banking industry for 16 years, she transitioned to the nonprofit sector and has been with Duo Dogs since 2019. Beth has been involved in the various aspects of the Assistance and Facility Dog program as either a volunteer or a staff member since 2017. Beth also serves on the ADI Standards committee.
Cabell Youell
Executive Director
Saint Francis Service Dogs
Cabell Youell is the Executive Director of Saint Francis Service Dogs. She graduated from the University of Virginia and earned her law degree at Washington and Lee University School of Law. After practicing law for several years, she joined Saint Francis Service Dogs in 2003. Cabell has been an ADI Assessor since 2017. In addition, Cabell has served on the Board of Directors of ADI and ADI North America. She lives in Roanoke, VA with her husband and two dogs.
Clark Pappas
National Director of Client Services
Canine Companions for Independence
Clark Pappas joined Canine Companions for Independence in 1988 and became the National Program Director in 1992 where he implemented new programs and enhanced existing ones. In his current role as the Director of Client Services, he oversees all national and regional client operations. Over the years, he has served on several ADI sub-committees including the initial ADI Accreditation Committee. In 1999, he authored the first working draft of the accreditation manual and helped facilitate three years of spirited committee collaboration prior to its implementation. In 2002, he coordinated the logistics of the first wave of accreditation surveys. The following year, he formed the Accreditation Review Committee (ARC) to promote objectivity and transparency in the accreditation process. He lives in Northern California with his wife and three children.
Chris Allen (trainee)
Head of Canine Supply, Training and Welfare
Medical Detection Dogs
Chris Allen is the Head of Canine Supply, Training and Welfare at Medical Detection Dogs. He is responsible for sourcing all the dogs trained within Medical Detection Dogs, ensuring volunteers and puppies are given the best support, training, and health advice as possible, enabling them all to reach their potential either as a Medical Alert Assistance Dog or Bio Detection Dog. Before this role, Chris worked at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (UK) and Dogs for Good. Chris has worked within the Assistance Dog Industry since 1993 and is proud to be a part of so many life changing partnerships.
Most evenings and weekends, Chris can be found with his 2 pet dogs somewhere in the UK either competing in agility or carrying out judging appointments. Chris is also an assessor for the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme where he gets to travel around to different dog training clubs observing owners and dogs learning and having fun together.
David Bailey
Service Improvement Lead – Canine Assisted Services
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (UK)
David joined Guide Dogs For The Blind in 1985. He has worked at a number of Guide Dogs sites in the UK and has also worked for the South African Guide Dogs Association. During his time there he qualified as an Animal Behaviour Consultant and is an Honorary Life member of the ABC of South Africa. He spent 7 years working for Canine Partners UK as Director of Operations before returning to Guide Dogs to work on their dual dog program. David was an IGDF assessor and is now an ADI assessor and part of the Accreditation Review Committee.
Duncan Edwards
Strategy and Quality Assurance Manager
Dogs for Good
Duncan has worked in the assistance dog world for over 25 years, beginning his career at Dogs for Good as an instructor training assistance dogs for physically disabled adults. As the charity grew its services to support both children and adults with complex needs, Duncan was active in the development of services that are centered around both the needs of each individual and family and the wellbeing of dogs. He is passionate about the human-dog bond and the charity’s belief that by developing mutually beneficial partnerships the impact can be truly life-changing. His education and professional training relate to coaching and leadership, project and quality management and disability. Duncan has attended many of the ADI conferences and has presented as a keynote speaker, talking about the human-dog bond. Duncan supports ADI by co-chairing the organizations Diversity, Equality and Inclusion committee, a group committed to developing support and resources for member organizations. Away from work Duncan is an English Football Association qualified coach and a strong advocate for girls and women’s football, running weekly coaching sessions for two teams.
Elisabeth Faerbinger
Founder and Managing Director
Verein Partner Hunde Österreich
Elisabeth Faerbinger has always been fascinated by dogs and could hardly wait to get her first dog at the age of 13. She grew up "living the dream" of watching trainers and taking part in several dog competitions. After finishing school she started to study biology, but was drawn back to dogs. This led her to start the first assistance dogs program in Austria. In the thirty plus years the program has been helping people, the program has placed over 350 assistance dogs all over the German-speaking area is Europe (Germany, Switzerland, and Italy). Her program offers assistance dogs for children and adults with a focus in service, hearing, diabetes, and autism dogs.
Elke De Vleeschhouwer (trainee)
Trainer
Hachiko
Elke has been working at Hachiko vzw in Belgium since 2009. From a young age, she was fascinated by animals, with a special love for dogs. Her Bachelor's degree in Agro- and Biotechnology opened the doors to Hachiko, where she immediately found her calling as a trainer. Over the years she developed strong insights in coaching a team. She is involved in the national and international network and focuses on exchanging information and learning new skills. With support from the trainers team, it is her responsibility to find the beautiful match between the dogs and their future owners. In 2021, she successfully completed a postgraduate degree as an Animal Behaviour Technician at Odisee University College, marking an important step in her constant pursuit of deeper knowledge and understanding. Today she plays an important role in the growth and strategy of Hachiko.
Emily Dombrowski
Director, Service Dog Program
Southeastern Guide Dogs
Emily Dombrowski began working with Southeastern Guide Dogs in 2019, and in her current role, oversees all components of the program, including all aspects of dog training and placement, client coaching, and graduate services. With over 14 years of professional training, behavior modification, and teaching experience, Emily is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), and holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Some of Emily’s past professional experience with animal behavior includes a role as the Animal Behavior Director at an animal shelter, facilitating and overseeing a prison dog training program, and working for 7 years as a marine mammal trainer and educator. Emily has a true passion for the positive impact that assistance dogs can have on the lives of the people who are served through programs across the world. She currently resides near the beach in St. Petersburg, FL with her husband and their three dogs.
Gai Lugo (trainee)
Service Dog Instructor
America's VetDogs
Gabi is a Service Dog Instructor at America's VetDogs, where she specializes in training dogs for individuals with diverse needs, including PTSD, mobility challenges, hearing impairments, and facility work. Her journey began in high school when she began raising puppies, igniting her passion for canine assistance. After completing an apprenticeship, Gabi has worked with a variety of programs, including shelter dog initiatives and owner-trained service dog projects. Her hands-on experience has equipped her with the skills to train a wide range of service dogs, helping to enhance the lives of those in need.
Grete Eide
Chief Canine Care Officer
America’s VetDogs and Guide Dog Foundation
Grete Eide is Chief Canine Care Officer of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc.® and America’s VetDogs®. She earned her BS in Biological Sciences with a concentration in animal anatomy and physiology from Cornell University. She also studied in the PhD program in Physical Anthropology with a focus on primate ecomorphology at Stony Brook University. At the Guide Dog Foundation, Grete leads the Breeding, Veterinary Services, Volunteer Services, Canine Care, and Consumer Services teams. She plays an active role in Assistance Dogs International, having served as a founding member of ADI’s North American Breeding Cooperative and an international accreditor since 2017. She is an instructor in the School of Professional Studies and Young Visionaries Academy at Long Island University. Grete shares her home with a menagerie of dogs, cats, chickens, honeybees, and one very patient spouse!
Hannah Plant
volunteer
Hannah holds a Hons degree in Anthropology (Anthrozoology) and a MSC in Biology (Canine behavior), as well as a diploma in Project management. Since joining the assistance dog field 17 years ago Hannah has been training Dogs and adults and children with a range of impairments for charities such as Hearing dogs for Deaf People UK, Dogs for the Disabled IE and Irish Guide Dogs for The Blind in both team leader and management roles. Hannah is a great believer in empowering confidence within people and using positive reward based approaches in her training. She has served as an ADI accreditation assessor since 2014, and finds this to be a rewarding and enriching experience. When she is not working and assessing, Hannah enjoys nothing more than running her two dogs on the beautiful Irish beaches and idyllic countryside, and enjoying a pint of Beamish by the fire in her local traditional Irish pub.
Janice Meehan (trainee)
Manager of Admissions & Process Improvement
America's VetDogs and Guide Dog Foundation
Janice started her journey as a puppy raiser for the Guide Dog Foundation in 2008 and soon after became an employee, working in their Canine Care department. After many years of learning about canine care, veterinary services, breeding, and training, she took a position in the Consumer Services department in 2014. Janice started this career path because of the dogs, but it was in Consumer Services that she found her love of working with clients and helping them achieve their goal of partnering with an Assistance Dog. In 2021, Janice took on the role of Manager of Admissions & Process Improvement where she oversees the Admissions Department and continuously works to improve internal and external processes. Janice is an ASQ certified Quality Improvement Associate and holds a BA in Studio Art from SUNY Geneseo. Janice likes to keep herself busy; when she is not working, she’s riding horses, coaching a riding team, and spending time with her husband and three boys.
Jenny Barlos
volunteer
Jenny joined Assistance Dogs for Achieving Independence (ADAI) as the Client Services Director in 2007. She was responsible for all aspects relating to the client side of the organization including interviewing potential clients, organizing and facilitating team training and graduate activities and all graduate support after placement. Once ADAI merged with the Ability Center of Greater Toledo in 2011, she also worked in development for ADAI and the Ability Center. Jenny has a BA in Communications from Bowling Green State University, and her background includes working with animals, as well as working in education and government. She has been an assessor for ADI since 2015 and is also on the ADI Standards Committee and Education Committee. Jenny and her husband live in northwest Ohio with their two dogs and a cat.
Jessica Pigott
Guide and Assistance Dog Trainer
Scale Dogs asbl
Jess joined Scale Dogs (Belgium) in 2018 after volunteering there as a pet puppy class trainer. She now works as one of their guide dog trainers. At this smaller program, this role encompasses everything from puppy selection and raiser classes to guide dog mobility instruction. She also has trained and placed several autism assistance and buddy dogs for children with special needs. Jess graduated in 2019 with a MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Training and its Best Student Award from Bishop Burton College, after completing her BSc in Psychology and Educational Sciences at the Universities of Lausanne and Brussels.
Jo Baker
Managing Director
Righteous Pups Australia
Joop Mekke
Head of Programs, Instructor
Buttersmekke
After working as a psychiatric nurse, Joop started working with assistance dogs at Hulphond Nederland in 2003 as a Client Instructor and Manager of Client Care. While working there he helped start a pilot program for seizure dogs for those with epilepsy. After having clients inquire about training their own assistance dogs, which was not offered at his current program, Joop was inspired to co-found his own assistance dog program in 2008. Joop knew from his time as a nurse working in a rehabilitation center where it was always the goal to get people motivated to work together in solving their ‘problems’ or issues that what you can do yourself, do it yourself, in a way that’s fitting with your situation; he knew it would be possible for a person to train their own assistance dog. He now enjoys working with people to train their own assistance dogs as well as being an assessor for ADI. He believes we all can learn a lot from each other and that the bonding is important in growing together - just as it is between a person and it’s assistance dog!
Julianne Larsen
Director of Training
Can Do Canines
Julianne Larsen has a degree in sign language interpreting and combined that skill with her passion for dogs when she joined the staff at Can Do Canines, then Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota, in 2003. Since that time she has served in various roles within the program until accepting the position of Director of Training in 2010. In that capacity she oversees all aspects of program relating to dogs and clients. She developed Can Do Canines’ breeding program and continues to take an active role in breeding management and in the International Breeding Cooperative. She is on the ADI Education Committee and serves as Chair on the Candidate Program Subcommittee. Julianne and her husband enjoy spending time in the summer at their lake place with their two dogs.
Kyria Henry Whisenhunt
Founder and Executive Director
paws4people
Kyria founded paws4people in 1999. Kyria serves as Executive Director of paws4people. She is the Program Director and Instructor of the University of North Carolina Wilmington Assistance Dog Training Program, the first and only comprehensive Assistance Dog academic certificate program at a state university. She has also served as an adjunct faculty member of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. Most importantly, she is mom to her Ambassador Assistance Dog, WYATT, and her Scent Detection Facility Dog In-Training, HOBBS. Kyria started as an assessor for ADI in 2019.
Lori Stevens
Founder and Executive Director
Patriot PAWS Service Dogs
Lori Stevens is the Founder of Patriot PAWS Service Dogs. In 2005, while working as a professional dog trainer, she was asked to help a group of disabled veterans train their dogs. After working with these veterans and visiting the VA Hospital in Dallas, she realized just how many of our disabled veterans are in desperate need of assistance dogs and she knew she had to help. With the help of a few friends and family, she started Patriot PAWS Service Dogs in Rockwall, TX. Lori began as an assessor for ADI in 2017.
Maree Butler (trainee)
Client Placement Coordinator
Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust
Maree’s background is in education and commerce. After 20 years as director of her own import company, she decided it was time for a change. Her interest in the amazing contribution dogs can make to people was cemented when the family got a dog to support her daughter who was experiencing anxiety issues. The dog/daughter partnership was a success and it opened her eyes to the wonderful world of service dogs. Maree started her journey volunteering at the Guide Dogs in the Blind Breeding Centre. She was a volunteer puppy raiser for the Guide Dogs program and then went on to complete the Service Dog Instructor Certification at the Bergin University of Canine Studies in 2017. Upon returning to NZ later that year, she joined the team at Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust in the role of Client Coordinator – Placements. This role encompasses all aspects of client services, from the acceptance of an applicant to the program, organizing Team Training through to the support of the graduate team for the duration of the partnership.
Marianne Slingerland
Director, Head Trainer
Scale Dogs asbl
Marianne is the Director and Head Instructor of Scale Dogs, a small guide dog program in Belgium. After giving pet dog classes at Scale Dogs as a volunteer, she decided in 2003 to leave behind her professional career in the commercial sector in order to start as a guide dog instructor. Over the years she took on more responsibilities and, since 2009, has been sharing her time between the management of the program, training dogs, and coaching the instructor team. The team at Scale Dogs during her time has grown from 3 people to 7 people and the program has started an autism dog program in addition to their guide dog program. Additionally, Marianne is a board member at Dyadis, another service dog program. Marianne became an assessor in 2014. She enjoys working with new programs, sharing experiences while verifying whether they are right on track, and helping programs by providing advice.
Michelle Woerner
CEO
K9s 4 Mobility
Michelle was one of the founders of K9s 4 Mobility in 2012. She became an Assistance Dogs International Certified Instructor in 2002 after completing a three-year training program with an Assistance Dogs International Accredited Program. She has been involved in the breeding, training and placement of Assistance Dogs since 1997. She has also served as a board member for the North American region of ADI from 2008-2012. Michelle has worked with ADI as an Accreditation Assessor since 2009, traveling to many different programs around the world. She is the CEO for K9s 4 Mobility located in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Mike Annan
Executive Director VICD Service Dogs, a division of BC & Alberta Guide Dog Services
BC & Alberta Guide Dog Services
In 2004 Mike started his Canine Training career when he founded an obedience school and behavior consulting practice, known as Sal Pacific Canine Obedience. In 2008 Mike co-created the Academy for Canine Educators Inc. (ACE), a behavior clinic and online education platform that veterinarians could refer their clients to for help with both dog and cat behavior issues. In 2010 Mike was asked to help start a project with a group to train Service Dogs to support Military Veterans who suffered from Operational Stress Injuries such as PTSD. In the pilot portion of this project, the first Veterans and dogs went through their training at Sal Pacific Canine Obedience. Since then, Mike has been directly involved in both the development and management of a service dog program. This includes the development of one of the first schools to be ADI accredited under the Military-Related PTSD Service Dog Standards in 2018. Mike has recently been brought on as the National Service Dog Advisor for Wounded Warriors Canada. Mike is currently the Executive Director and co-founder of the BC Guide Dog Services OSI PTSD Service dog program (VICD Service Dogs).
Nicole Maples
Training Manager - POOCH Program
Guide Dogs of America I Tender Loving Canines
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Nicole was a pet dog trainer for fourteen years before joining Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines. She joined TLC as the Training Manager North in 2016 to implement and run the Prisoners Overcoming Obstacles & Creating Hope (POOCH) service dog training program which was expanding to a new institution. Since then, Nicole has grown GDA|TLC’s prison program in Northern California to four facilities and two institutions. The POOCH Program is designed to meet the increasing demands for service dogs, while providing an opportunity for education, rehabilitation, and community improvement within the prison system through the experience of training a dog. Nicole became an ADI assessor in 2022. She stays busy training and competing with her personal dogs in multiple different dog sports.
Pierre Charlot (trainee)
Instructor Team Coordinator
Dyadis
Pierre grew up with dogs since birth and always had a good bond with them. Therefore, it was a logical step for him to follow a course to become a dog trainer. He joined Dyadis as an Assistant Trainer in 2016. He liked what he was doing and became a fully qualified Assistance Dogs Instructor some years later. In 2023 he was promoted to Dyadis Instructor Team Coordinator. Working in a non-profit organization with dogs and helping people at the same time, is the perfect combination for him.
Rebekah Barr
Deputy Director of Operations
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
After earning her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Brunel University, Rebekah started her career in the assistance dog industry as a Dog Training Instructor at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. This led her to travel internationally, working with assistance dog program in Belgium, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, and the USA.
Upon returning to the UK, Rebekah assumed various positions at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, including Operations Development Manager and Training Centre Manager where she ran various projects including the dual purpose dog and children’s dog programs. She currently serves as Deputy Director of Operations, managing the research and development team and supporting the work of the breeding, training, and canine healthcare teams. She lives in Cheshire with her husband and two children.
Sean Diamond
Vice-President of Programs
Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN)
Sean Diamond's initial involvement with ICAN began in 2004 as a trainer. During this time, he also earned his Bachelors in Social Work from Purdue University and was the Director of Rehabilitation Services for The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Indiana along with his ICAN Facility Dog, Cubby. In 2013, he became ICAN’s Director of Training where he oversaw the training of the dogs, inmate handlers, volunteers, clients, and canine medical. In 2022, he began his role as VP of Programs where he leads all operations of the Program Department team. He was instrumental in building ICAN’s Veteran Services Division for the placement of psychiatric service dogs, building a strong relationship with the Indiana Department of Correction, and expanding and enhancing the prison program model of ICAN. Sean is heavily involved in animal welfare programs, education, and consulting in the State of Indiana. He is a strong proponent of positive reinforcement based training philosophies focusing on the welfare of the dog and strengthening the partnership in the human-dog relationship. In his past life, he played hockey in various areas of Canada and the U.S. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Kelly, reading, watching hockey, and spending time with their two rescue dogs and two rescue cats who have done a masterful job of training him.
Tony Clementi, M.Ed. (trainee)
Paws With A Cause
Staff Development and Education Officer
Tony Clementi began his career in the Assistance Dog Industry in 2015 by joining Paws With A Cause in Wayland Michigan as the Client Services Field Representative Coordinator. In the role, he worked as a liaison between PAWS and their field representative trainers who finalize team placements in the client homes and communities. A few years later, he shifted into the role of Canine Production Manager which oversaw the dog production processes from Breeding to Foster Puppy Training to Prison Handling to Training to Dog Selection and Placement of Assistance Dogs and Breeding Stock Dogs. Currently, Tony is in the role as Staff Development and Education Officer. The position ensures the organization meets ADI standards and requirements, supports staff with continuing education opportunities, and the development and oversight of internship programs within the organization. Tony has been involved in ADI Standards Subcommittees for Training and Prison Programs, as well as the ADI Conference 2025 Planning Committee. Prior to these career opportunities, Tony used his Master of Education in public education and nonprofit educational programs. Eventually, he shifted from educating children and supporting parents to training dogs and supporting their families in developing healthy and happy relationships with each other.
Valerie Cramer
Service Dog Program Manager
America’s VetDogs
Valerie has volunteered and worked for the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs since 2003. For over 15 years, Valerie's passion for working with dogs began as a volunteer puppy raiser for the Foundation and eventually lead to a career as a Certified Guide Dog Mobility Instructor in 2005. After seven years working as a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor, Valerie transitioned to a service dog apprentice program in 2012 earning her certification as a Service Dog Instructor in 2014. Valerie has placed more than 175 assistance dogs with U.S. Military Veterans and individuals that are blind and as of 2019 has become an ADI Assessor. During her tenure, Valerie’s most notable accomplishment, was the training and placement of Sully, former President George H.W. Bush’s service dog, who now serves at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Valerie is also responsible for creating and implementing the Combat Stress Control Dogs (COSC) program where specially trained canines are deployed in theater to provide emotional support for active military personnel as well as Facility Dogs that provide animal assisted therapy intervention to wounded soldiers and active duty personnel during their recovery at various military hospitals and veterans' medical centers.
Vanessa Wey
Director
Os'mose ASBL
Vanessa lives in Belgium, though a piece of her heart is still in Switzerland. Her first contact with dog training was when she followed lessons with Vaya, her own beautiful Flat-Coated Retriever, in a dog school when she was just a teenager. She trained her first service dog, Alissa, as a volunteer in 2000. Vanessa moved to Switzerland two years later, where her focus was on positive training for dogs. She obtained a Federal Certificate as Dog Trainer and also continued to train and follow-up on service dogs in Belgium. Her thesis focused on the relationship between dogs and young offenders in teenage prisons. She wanted to prove that dogs can help to create and build human relationships, develop communication skills and build self-esteem. When she came back to Belgium in 2010 she founded Os'mose. Os'mose trains dogs to react and work with as few commands as possible. Her organization was first accredited by ADI in 2015 and they are currently building a beautiful dog training center from natural elements: wood, straw and natural rubber. Vanessa, who has been employed as director of Os'mose since 2016, is also fighting an ongoing battle for the right to access public spaces with a service dog. Vanessa enjoys being an assessor for ADI stating, "To be an assessor is a big chance for me to evolve constantly. A chance to improve my method and to create links with other organisations in Europe. A great opportunity, sometimes stressful or tiring, but to be better and better each day and mostly to meet a lot of interesting people."