4 Paws for Ability

Of the 52 million people with disabilities in the US, only 1% are able to obtain a service dog. The demand for these dogs far exceeds the supply and securing one is often a frustrating process. Most service dog providers have multiple year waiting lists and restrictive eligibility criteria. Training a service dog is costly, averaging $10,000 - $15,000 per dog. It is especially difficult to secure service dogs for children.

Sarah & Wonder

4 PAWS FOR ABILITY, a non-profit organization that specializes in service dogs for children, has agreed to train a seizure assistance dog for Sarah. The people at 4 Paws form a working relationship with their service dog recipients by helping them raise money for 4 Paws. In this manner, the waiting list is only as long as it takes the person to complete their fundraising requirement. They also certify parent-child teams so that young children who ordinarily would not qualify for a service dog can benefit from the loving friendship that is magically created between children and dogs.

The mission of 4 Paws is “to enrich the lives of people with disabilities by training and placing service animals to provide them with companionship and promote independent living”. The organization’s stated goals are as follows: 1) To provide everyone defined as “disabled” with access to a qualified service animal regardless of age and severity of disability; 2) To reduce the number of unwanted animals that would otherwise be destroyed by obtaining the majority of its animals from shelters and rescue groups; and 3) To increase public awareness of the laws regarding service animals and the value they provide their owners. In addition to training certified service dogs, 4 Paws has two other programs that promote the human-dog bond. The Rover Rehab Prison Program helps inmates train dogs formerly slated for euthanasia due to overpopulation at the local Humane Association, and Mission Pawsible uses animal assisted therapy to help at-risk youths.

If you would like to help provide certified service dogs to children with refractory epilepsy and other disabilities please visit the Donation Page.