4 Paws for Ability Service Dogs
 Do you know of a disabled person who needs a service dog? 4 Paws
for Ability has few restrictions for acceptance and works with
most families within the boundaries of our organization's ability
to train and place the type of dog needed. We say "yes" when
many more traditional assistance dog placement agencies say "no."
Our founder is alive today because
of a service dog. She's devoted her life to making the same
kind of help available to other disabled children and adults.
Please help us continue to build our meaningful, rewarding work.
Your help will be a life-changing act
for a child, a family, a dog, and for you (it's more than a project!).
| As of January 2011, 4 Paws for Ability has trained and placed over 600 service dogs! |
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Meet Cole and his Seizure Alert Dog, Slugger
January 2012. Slugger is a seizure Alert dog who has been placed with Cole.They were partnered in October and have become an awesome team!
4 Paws for Ability Expands its Training Services
January 2012. A new training center has just opened in Anchorage, Alaska! 4 Paws for Ability Alaska received its first 4 Paws puppies in December and is busy preparing them for placement. 4 Paws Alaska is a direct branch of 4 Paws for Ability: all dogs are being trained and placed to 4 Paws standards under the supervision of the 4 Paws Training Director, Jeremy Dulebohn.
Meet new Alaska Training Manager Peg Walsh Bernert. She's had a lifetime passion for all things pertaining to dogs, but it wasn't until her three-year-old autistic son Leo was lost and presumed drowned that she entered the service dog world.
"Autism is a rocky road," says Bernert. "Our service dog Halo evens out that road for us. She keeps our son safe, she comforts him, and she brings peace to our family. By training dogs in Autism Assistance, Seizure Alert, Hearing Alert, and Mobility Assistance, I hope to bring the magic of 4 Paws to other families and help to even out their rough roads."
For more details, go to our new Alaska Training Facility Page.
Seizure Alert Service Dog at work
December 8, 2011 Mason said earlier he did not feel right, he fell asleep pretty early. Now Pippi is not settling down she is sniffing his room like crazy, keeps licking his feet. Mason shares a room with his sister Jenna, and Pippi keeps going over to Jenna and pushing her arm with her nose trying to get her attention.
Something is brewing, and without Pippi I would have no idea because this happens all the time in his sleep. Looks like I am sleeping in his bed tonight!! Thank GOD for Pippi....thank you Karen Shirk and all the 4 Paws staff for the amazing work these life saving partners do for our kids!!! I am so grateful....Amy O.
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| Assistance
Dogs |
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Make a Dream Come True |
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| Do
you or your child have disabilities that fall into two categories
of service dogs? Ask about our multipurpose service dogs!
We train our dogs case specific and
will work with you to meet your or your child's unique needs... |
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Little three-and-a-half-year-old Chad has been on High Risk since birth, due to the fact that one parent is schizophrenic (plus autistic) and the other is developmentally disabled. Read more about how to make a dream come true for this little tot... |
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| Donate
to 4 Paws for Ability |
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Online
Support Network |
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| We rely on
the generosity of individuals, as well as corporations, and
accept donations for operating expenses, training, food, toys,
training supplies, medication, and our building fund. Learn
more about how your donation can change lives... |
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"I was
always afraid to join a support
group, I thought all I would ever hear
was parents complain about their
special needs child, or why did God let
this happen to them. This
group has
blown me away with their love, friend-
ship, faith, and zest for life..." |
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| Frequently
Asked Questions |
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Our
Mission and Goals |
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| How do
you decide who gets a dog? We believe service dogs should
be made available to anyone with a disability who wishes to
have the love, companionship, and independence
that are the result of a service dog placement... |
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We not only
serve the needs of children with disabilities, but we strive
to reduce the number of unwanted animals who would otherwise
be destroyed by obtaining the majority
of our animals from shelters and rescue groups... |
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Hannah and Blitzen 3 years later
December 2011 Hannah and Blitzen continue to be an awesome team. Their bond grows stronger every day (even after almost 3 years!!) Hannah has now been diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome and has had regression since we got Blitzen. But, he continues to alert to her ever-changing seizures like a champ and seems to know exactly when she needs that extra bit of love and attention.
He's amazing...I cannot imagine life without him. Our entire family loves him so much....Marcia Kirchhofer
Golden retriever listens to young readers at Chillicothe libraries
 December 2011 Marilyn Gawalek recently adopted 4 Paws Service Dog Tye, a lovely, loving golden retriever who was unable to perform because of hip dysplasia. Gawalek searched for a place Tye could put his training to use, and trained him as a listening dog. Listening dogs are used at libraries to support struggling reading companions and those practicing to improve...full story.
Prior to Tye's adoption, he was fostered by Elly Organiscak and family. The picture above is of Tye with Aaron, who is doing homework. Little did they know Tye would end up working in libraries!
Want to read a personal blog about what happens during the 4 Paws training sessions, from a parent's perspective? With pictures? Dawsyn faces the challenge of Dravet Syndrome, and on December 6, 2011, she met Lilleth. Read more.
How much does a service dog cost?
At 4 Paws For Ability it costs $22,000 to train and place a service dog with a disabled child. However, our families engage in fundraising activities as volunteers for 4 Paws to qualify for a free service dog. Each family is asked to help raise at least $13,000. It costs about $1,500 - $2,000 to maintain a service dog each year...about $100 a month. Learn more about costs...
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