Service Dogs

Autism Service Dogs:: Hearing Service Dogs :: Mobility Service Dogs
Multipurpose Service Dogs :: Seizure Service Dogs :: In Home Companion Dogs

We at 4 Paws for Ability 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 service dog placement. As of January 1, 2010, 4 Paws for Ability has trained and placed over 500 service dogs!

We specialize in placements with people who are turned away by many other agencies. We have no eligibility requirements beyond a physician's statement that the person requesting a service dog has a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. We find creative, innovative means of assisting people with severe disabilities with solutions.

Often times people with disabilities contact agencies that place service dogs only to be told they are "too disabled" or "not disabled enough" and are turned down. Also, parents trying to find service dogs for their children quickly discover that many agencies will not place service dogs with children. In addition, many agencies won't place service dogs in homes where there are other pets, and state that if they want a dog they have to get rid of their current pet companions.

For these and other reasons, 4 Paws for Ability offers a variety of training for assistance dogs. Here is a list of the types of dogs we train, along with some links to dog programs that might interest you:

• Hearing Ear Dogs
• Autism Assistance Dogs
• Multipurpose Assistance Dogs
• Mobility Assistance Dogs
• Seizure Assistance Dogs
• 4 Paws GSD Rescue
• Rover Rehab
• Foster Puppy Program
• Prison Program Dogs, Handlers, and News

Don't see a dog that fits your child's exact disability? 4 paws trains our dogs case specific and will work with you to meet your child's unique needs!

How much does a dog cost?

A large majority of the service dog agencies list their dogs as "no cost to the recipient," which is often taken to mean "free." However, their dogs are not free. The agency placing the dogs, "at no cost to the participant" has received donations for the funding of the dog placed. In other words, someone other than the recipient paid for the training of his or her dog.

These agencies have a person, or a small number of people, doing the fundraising. They are able to raise funds on a limited basis and those dogs are then trained and placed.

Because they are limited in the number of people fundraising, they can only offer a certain number of dogs per year and usually develop a long waiting list. Most agencies with these "free." dogs have waiting list averaging from 2 – 5 years.

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.

Five Stages of Placing a Service Dog

1st Stage: Application and Interview

Applications for service dogs are currently received and reviewed by the 4 Paws Executive Director. The Executive Director makes a determination regarding the need of the applicant; the ability of 4 Paws to meet the applicant's needs, and interviews the applicant to determine what the dog would be trained to do. Based on this need, the fundraising requirement is determined and the contracts are sent to the recipient. The fundraising requirement is the amount of money the applicant is to bring in through volunteer efforts in fundraising for 4 Paws for Ability, Inc.

2nd Stage: Contract

After the interview is complete, fundraising and contracts are reviewed with the applicant. Upon receipt of the signed contracts from the applicant, the applicant formally becomes a 4 Paws for Ability Client. The Client then begins to fundraise, as a volunteer, the contracted sum of monies for a trained service dog. The exact sum of monies for a trained service dog is based on the training necessary for the recipient's needs.

3rd Stage: Fundraising

Client
The Client begins fundraising. Funds raised are sent to 4 Paws Headquarters in Xenia, Ohio, where money raised is deposited into the 4 Paws for Ability, Inc. bank account and credited to their fundraising quota.

The Client is responsible to raise the total amount stated in the contract to move to the 4th Stage.

Should the Client not fundraise the total amount contracted 4 Paws is typically able, through open donations and excess funding brought in by other Clients, to at least offer the recipient an In-Home or Street Certified Companion Dog.

4th Stage: Service Dog Selection

4 Paws
While the Client is finishing their fundraising or post-fundraising, 4 Paws will select a service dog that can meet the disposition of the Client and deliver consistent with the Clients needs. 4 Paws chooses a dog from one of several sources - our breeder program, local shelters, our Rover Rehab programs, foster care, or a dog that in already undergoing training.

4 Paws Mission Pawsible program provides service dogs with preliminary training from prisoners at WCI, FPR and Lakin Correctional Center. 4 Paws also places service dogs with Puppy Raisers/Foster Homes, who provide preliminary training. Preliminary training requires at least one formal training session per week, daily practice of house manners, basic obedience, and daily socialization.

Final Stage: Uniting the Client and Service Dog

4 Paws & Client
Training is provided by the 4 Paws Training Director, Junior Trainers, and Interns under the direct supervision of the Training Director.

This training is timed with the completion of Client's fundraising.

The Client, Service Dog, and Training Director will be united to finish and polish contracted training services in a 10-day extensive training session.

Upon completion of training, 4 Paws service dogs are required to be re-certified annually.

^{Families with children under the age of 18 who have mental health issues or adult-dependent children with developmental delay can apply for a MULTI-PURPOSE ASSISTANCE DOG. However, 4 Paws will certify In Home Support Dogs regardless of the applicant's age.}

Top of Page