Service Dog Stories

At the brand-new Mathile Center for Mental Health and Wellness at Dayton Children’s Hospital, healing comes in many forms. Sometimes, it looks like a quiet conversation. Other times, it looks like a golden retriever named Piper gently resting her head in a child’s lap. Piper,… Read More »“Connection that opens the door for healing” | How Facility Dog Piper is Changing Lives at Dayton Children’s Hospital

Bella has Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), a rare and aggressive form of epilepsy. She also lives with autism, multiple heart conditions, OCD, hearing loss, dementia, and more. Every day is a fight. Her seizures come without warning and are so severe that they stop her breathing.… Read More »“He Will Always Be There to Save Her” | Bella & Zodiac’s Story

When Hardie came into Simon’s life, no one could have imagined just how transformative his presence would be. Hardie isn’t just a dog and a best friend… he’s a bridge between a world that once felt unreachable and the life Simon now embraces. “Hardie has… Read More »“He’s the Calm to Simon’s Storm” | Simon & Hardie’s Story

Meet Coach, a seizure alert and tracking service dog, for his remarkable partner, Mimi. The two graduated together as part of the 2024 Violet Class, and their story is one of profound transformation and the incredible power of a service dog. Mimi is a bright,… Read More »“The Chance at a New Normal” | Coach & Mimi’s Story

For Kam and Kris, service dog Massimo is a protector, a best friend, and a life-saver. As their autism assistance service dog, Massimo keeps them safe and gives them the freedom to explore the world with confidence. “Massimo watches out for Kam and Kris. He… Read More »“They have not eloped since.” | Kam, Kris, & Massimo’s Story

Some moments in life define us, but the most special ones deserve to be remembered forever. Our walls echo those moments every month when each new service dog class arrives on campus before graduating ten days later. Without Beverly, those memories may be lost only… Read More »“I love capturing special moments that otherwise may not get seen.” | Beverly’s Story

“A letter to those who donated to Linus, 4 Paws trainers, volunteers, foster family, and all of those who have poured the last 2 years of their time and energy into training Linus, Over the last 48 hours we have experienced something so incredibly beautiful.… Read More »“We prayed for help […] and then God gave us Linus” | Maximus & Linus’ Story

“When my son was having difficulty communicating, we started speech therapy at 18 months old. When it was determined he had fine and gross motor issues, we started occupational therapy at 3.  When he started getting aggressive during his meltdowns (especially towards himself) at 6, I didn’t know what… Read More »“4 Paws truly has given our family their life back.” | Joe’s Infinite Impact Story

There is no doubt Ohio State Buckeye fans have enjoyed the year so far, but service dog Buckeye has been changing lives since the day he was placed. Buckeye was placed with Adair in the 2023 Periwinkle Class and began his service dog life in… Read More »“Buckeye is the perfect champion.” | Buckeye’s Story

Independence looks different to everyone. For Terri & her service dog Atlas, independence is best enjoyed out on the open seas! Atlas graduated from 4 Paws for Ability just over two years ago in the 2022 Winter Sky Class. Since then, he has traveled alongside… Read More »Making Waves | Terri & Atlas’ Story