Programme in Development

Building a responsible service-dog pathway for Barbados

Roach Cares Foundation is a registered Barbadian charity working to develop a service-dog programme for people with disabilities in Barbados. We are building towards a future in which carefully trained dogs can support greater independence, safety and participation in everyday life.

We are building the professional knowledge, governance, safeguarding, animal-welfare, training and operational systems needed before service-dog placements can begin. Service dogs are not currently available through the Foundation. Applications, assessments, waiting lists and dog submissions are not open.

Explore What We Are Building Contact Roach Cares

Our Story

A personal beginning. A carefully built future.

Roach Cares Foundation grew from Donna Hinds’ experience with her dog, Roach, and her determination to help people with disabilities in Barbados have greater independence and choice in daily life.

After the loss of her longstanding friend Cheryl, and while navigating her own health challenges, Donna found companionship and comfort in Roach. Through their daily routines and the small things Donna taught her, their bond became a meaningful source of support.

Cheryl’s faith in Donna and others, her love for people and animals, and her enduring hope that life could improve for those facing difficulties helped shape the Foundation’s guiding values: Faith, Love, Hope.

That experience deepened Donna’s concern for people in Barbados facing barriers to getting around, taking part in community life and living with greater independence. It prompted a question: what could a professionally trained service dog make possible for someone who could benefit from task-based assistance?

What We Are Building

A four-phase Barbados pathway

Understanding service dogs: A service or assistance dog is specially trained to perform tasks that support a person with a disability. Companionship and emotional comfort alone are different from task-trained assistance. Roach Cares is developing its future programme; no service dogs are currently available through the Foundation.

Build Professional Capacity

Develop specialist knowledge through formal professional education and guidance, alongside the policies and programme design needed for responsible future delivery.

Build the Barbados Framework

Develop appropriate local partnerships and the governance, safeguarding, welfare, training, handler-education and follow-up systems needed to support people and dogs responsibly.

Prepare a Responsible Pilot

Prepare a carefully scoped pilot - a small initial programme - that can proceed only when professional competence, funding, safeguards and operational systems are ready.

Learn and Grow

Follow up with each future handler-and-dog partnership, monitor well-being and progress, maintain appropriate records, and expand only as professional capacity, animal welfare and resources allow.

Potential future areas of assistance

Areas that may be considered, where professionally appropriate and within future programme capacity, include:

Mobility and daily-living task support.

Autism-related assistance.

Psychiatric / PTSD-related service-dog support.

Medical-response support, including seizure-related assistance, and medical-alert tasks where reliably trainable and professionally appropriate.

Hearing-related task assistance.

Visual/sight-related task assistance, where appropriate and within the eventual competence and design of the programme.

These are areas we may develop as professional expertise and programme capacity grow. They are not services currently available or guaranteed. Any future assistance will depend on individual needs, appropriate assessment and the welfare of the dog.

Faith, Love, Hope

Values that guide how we build

Faith

Dignity, belief and purpose.

Love

Responsible care for people and animals.

Hope

A realistic, step-by-step path towards greater independence.

Get Involved

Connect with us as we grow

As Roach Cares Foundation develops, we welcome conversations with people and organisations who would like to share an idea, offer expertise or explore ways to contribute.

Partnerships and organisational support

We welcome enquiries from disability organisations, educators, businesses, community organisations and other appropriate partners interested in contributing knowledge, resources or collaboration.

Professional and technical collaboration

We welcome relevant expertise in service-dog programme development, disability inclusion, safeguarding, veterinary care, animal welfare, handler education and governance.

Funding and sponsorship enquiries

Prospective funding partners and sponsors may contact the Foundation to discuss appropriate support. Online giving is not currently available.

Future volunteer and general interest

You may contact us to express general programme interest or interest in future volunteering. This does not create a beneficiary waiting list, a service-dog application or a confirmed volunteer role.

Trust & Transparency / FAQ

Clear about where we are

Roach Cares Foundation is governed by a Board and is developing its programme through responsible oversight, documented policies and professional guidance. We are committed to clear communication about our stage of development, responsible handling of information, accessible communication, safeguarding and animal welfare.

Are service dogs available now?

No. The programme is in development. Roach Cares is building its professional and operational foundations before future training delivery and placements can begin.

Can I apply, request an assessment or join a waiting list?

No. Applications, assessments and waiting lists are not open. General enquiries do not establish eligibility, priority or a place in a future programme.

Can I submit or donate a dog for training?

No. We are not accepting dogs for training or dog submissions. Future dog-selection and welfare processes must be developed and approved first.

Can I make an online donation?

Online giving is not currently available. Appropriate funding and sponsorship enquiries are welcome through Contact. Any future payment facility will require approved and tested financial, privacy and donor-record processes.

When will the programme begin?

There is no confirmed public start date. We are developing the professional knowledge, partnerships and support systems needed before a small initial programme can begin. We will share confirmed developments as the work progresses.

Which areas of assistance will be offered?

The areas described in What We Are Building are possibilities for future development. The final scope will depend on professional competence, programme design and capacity. No particular service or placement is guaranteed.

How can I ask a question or report a website barrier?

Use Contact for general questions, partnership enquiries, privacy concerns or accessibility feedback. Please do not include medical or diagnostic information. Our Privacy Notice and Accessibility Statement explain our approach.

Contact

Connect with Roach Cares

We welcome general enquiries, appropriate partnership and sponsorship conversations, professional collaboration and website feedback. We are based in Barbados.

Please do not submit medical histories, diagnostic information or formal service-dog requests. Applications and assessments are not currently open. Please also leave out identity documents, payment details and other sensitive personal information.

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This form is for enquiries only. Sending a message does not sign you up for a mailing list or register you for a service, assessment, placement or waiting list.