History of Os'mose
Os’mose: A Story of Passion and Dedication Since 2010
When it was founded in 2010, Os'mose only trained service dogs for people in wheelchairs and for children with autism or rare/orphan diseases. From now on, the association trains five types of dogs because it has added the training of dogs for people with epilepsy and diabetes, but also assistance dogs for specific projects such as facility dogs accompanying police officers in the context of sensitive functions or institutional dogs (for retirement homes, for example). This category of dogs makes it possible to meet the demand of many people who are suffering.
To extend its knowledge, Os'mose had to become more professional by first hiring its first employee in 2017 (until then, there were only volunteers) – there are now 4 FTEs (September 2023) – as well as finding facilities that could allow to improve the training of dogs. This last condition materialized with the construction of our training center, which was built in 2020 with help of volunteers and whose staff took possession in 2021. Discover everything about this center her.
Over the last few years, Os'mose has experienced many moments of emotion, either through "firsts" in Belgium if we are talking about the training of assistance dogs, through the meeting of certain people/supports or through certain events organized or in which the association has participated.
Some of these "key moments" :
2010-11
26.11.2010 The organization is officially born
March 2011 : first lesson given in the canine school in a field without fence, light or without asphalt section
We also welcomed Chance, the first Os'mose dog to become an "ambassador".
The first dog to take on this role. The association owes a great deal to Chance, this fabulous and charismatic dog who left no one indifferent and was remembered by all.
She enabled us to try out new methods, new ways of working and new activities, while at the same time representing Os'mose when necessary, particularly in our fund-raising efforts.
2013
The very little Os'mose takes part in the giant agricole fear of Libramont (the biggest in Belgium). A huge event that saw us take part in a demonstration with our assistance dogs in the main ring. An unforgettable moment for all those who shared it.
We also met the great comic strip author Derib (Yakari - Jo). After falling under the spell of our association, he created this drawing, which now appears on all our communication media.
2015
First successful accreditation for ADI (Assistance Dogs International) - the highest distinction for assistance dogs - and training of the first dog for a person with epilepsy.
2016
This year, we were awarded the Prix de l'Oeuvre Nationale by the Lions Club Belgium... This prize (€16,000) was intended to finance the construction of our future new training center.
That same year, we organized our Randosmoses in a place as beautiful as it is exceptional: Les Grottes de Han...
Finally, we had a litter of puppies, 2 of which became assistance dogs.
2017
2017 was a very busy year, with a number of major projects coming to an end, but above all a major battle fought for the accessibility of assistance dogs in public places. We also visited the French Senate, and were welcomed by the Francofolies de Spa music festival.
During this wonderful year, we also met Didier van Cauwelaert, who literally fell under the association's spell. As a result, he became an Os'mose support / godfather, and never misses an opportunity to talk about us with the press, or to come and say hello when he has the time. We also welcomed His Royal Highness Prince Laurent to our traditional "Assistance Dog Award Ceremony".
2017 also marked the launch of the first operation cuberdons - those delicious Belgian sweets. While we secretly hoped to sell 1,000 boxes (of 16 cuberdons), in the end 3,500 boxes were sold. In 2022, we passed the milestone of 15,000 boxes sold in 1 month.
2018
We are proud to have trained the first alert dog for diabetics in Belgium!
The success of this project was made possible by the expertise of Patrick Dartois - a specialist in detection dogs - and above all by our partnership with the diabetology department of the CHU Liège, without whom nothing would have been possible.
At the same time, we scoured every inch of our region to find a location for our future center.
2019
This is it! The Osm'House project is clearly underway. Osm'House is the name given to our training center. In 2019, we will not only have found the location for our new center, but also signed the lease with the commune, drawn up the project with the architect and submitted the planning permission. To launch the financing of the building, after the Prix de l'Oeuvre Nationale, we received the Prix de l'Oeuvre Internationale from the Lions Club. This funding of €70,000 enabled us not only to launch the project, but also to welcome the president of the time (a rare occurrence!).
2020
While for most of the population 2020 is synonymous with COVID and therefore bad times, at Os'mose we have a slightly different memory of this period. Indeed, it was in 2020 that our long-standing project took shape and our training center was built. Thanks to COVID, we were able to count on the invaluable help of volunteers who transformed themselves into construction workers. They put up the straw roofs and walls, covered them with lime or clay, built the internal partitions and even painted them!
Discover this superb human adventure
Want to know everything about our center? Visit our special center page.
2021
It's the year of the move, the year when we can take possession of our new premises. The inauguration: another emotionally-charged moment shared with everyone involved in the building process. Nor did we miss the opportunity to share with the public at our open house. We were so proud to show off our magnificent center
2022
One day, Emy - a policewoman in Brussels - knocked on Os'mose's door and said she had a crazy project, but that she hoped we could hear it...
After the initial exchanges, she realized that it wasn't as crazy as all that, since - in a way - we'd been waiting for her. In fact, we had already considered this project before, but it hadn't come to fruition, so we knew that one day the right person would come knocking at the door.And so, together, we trained Lucky, our first legal assistance dog.
2024 - ADI WORKSHOP
In response to the desire of ADI (Assistance Dog International) members to exchange ideas during practical sessions, Os'mose was asked by this international body to organize this three-day workshop, which featured lectures, but was almost exclusively centered around practical workshops. Os'mose joined forces with the Ghent-based non-profit organization Hachiko, in which Elke De Vleeschouwer was particularly involved.
BUILD THE RELATIONSHIP was the central theme of this workshop. How can we create a relationship of trust within the assistance dog/instructor/foster family/beneficiary pair? Demonstrate that nothing can be learned through fear, discomfort or coercion. Create a secure environment with gentleness, patience and kindness. Cooperate rather than impose.
