Non-profit organization trains dogs to aid patients suffering from disabilities

People suffering from epilepsy suffer from serious issues and face high risk of seizures or abnormal neural activity. Therefore, a non-profit organization, known as 4 Paws for Ability is offering patients a solution that has proven more beneficial than expected. The Ohio-based 4 Paws breeds and trains service dogs.

Karen Shirk, founder of 4 Paws for Ability, said the organization is teaming service dogs up with people suffering from disabilities in order to provide them companionship as well as an overall improved quality of life.

Although, other agencies specifically train dogs to help people with seizures, this organization does not exclude young children, which means that it offers services to patients of all ages.

Majority of organizations don’t provide certified trainers for underage patients and a trained supervisor is required by younger patients to make sure that the animal can provide adequate care.

As a result, there are a large percentage of people suffering from debilitating conditions that can’t legally access a service animal.

According to Assistance Dogs International, service dogs don’t just help the blind and deaf. Certain can be trained to aid people who suffer from psychiatric disabilities or diabetes can’t walk and need seizure alert or response.

Essential objects that are otherwise out of reach can be retrieved by service animals. The animal’s assistance can save their owner from a potentially dangerous situation. A service animal could make all the difference in a medical emergency for a child.

It costs 4 Paws for Ability roughly $22,000 to breed train and incorporate a service dog with a patient in need. The families of the patient are asked to contribute $15,000 to the cost.