The “Mulan Foundation,” operating in Lithuania and known for training the country’s first assistance dogs, has been granted candidate status for international accreditation by Assistance Dogs International. According to a press release from the foundation, this is the first time such recognition has been achieved in the Baltic States.

Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is a global coalition of non-profit organizations that train and place assistance dogs to support people with disabilities. Founded in 1986 by seven small organizations, ADI has grown into the leading international authority in the field of assistance dogs, operating in 25 countries. It currently has 143 member organizations. ADI’s mission includes educating the public about assistance dogs, advocating for the rights of people with disabilities who have these dogs, setting standards, and establishing guidelines and ethics for training these dogs. When asked what this means for Lithuania, the foundation’s founder, Ajana Lolat, compared it to a candidate status for joining the EU or NATO.

“Achieving candidate status opens many doors. We will be able to purchase puppies from specialized kennels, send our cynologists to specialized training, and even participate in internal meetings - though without voting rights,” says A. Lolat.

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