Children often find dogs to be a great pet. As much as they are wonderful pets for children, dog’s can also be of great assistance to children with disabilities. 4 Paws for Ability is a non-profit organization based out of Ohio. It was started in the late 1990’s when their Executive Director, Karen Shirk, had been turned down by multiple organizations to get a service dog. Since then the organization has set out to enrich the lives of people with disabilities by the training and placement of service dogs to provide individuals with companionship while promoting independent living. The organization also works to educate the public in hopes of a greater acceptance of the use of service dogs in public areas. 4 Paws for Ability certainly isn’t the only organization that can assist you in obtaining a service dog but there is definitely something special about them. All service dogs must be trained and 4 Paws has the fastest turn around time in getting these dogs to the children who need them. The organization prides itself on its ability to reach out to families who have more specific needs from a dog and provide custom training that is tailored to fit those families’ needs. There have been times when parents have come to the organization looking for a dog, for a child with multiple disabilities. 4 Paws can train dogs for children with multiple disabilities and even train dogs for two different children that suffer from two different disabilities. Unfortunately many times, when looking to get a service dog there are many requirements, most specifically age requirements. 4 Paws understands and caters to the needs of children in every aspect of what they do, from training all the way to their facilities available to children during the training process, as families are required to travel and stay around the facilities for an extended period of time. Some children may not be able to participate in the actual training due to their disabilities but it is imperative that they are present during the training period so to form a bond with the dog. The only requirement to obtain a dog is that the child needs a physician’s statement stating that the child is suffering from a disability. Service dogs can prove to be fairly expensive but none of the funds come from the family’s pocket. 4 Paws works with the family to help them meet the fundraising requirement necessary to receive a dog. The system is simple, once the family has met the required amount, this usually takes from 3-9 months, and they are then able to receive a service dog. In the past families who have benefited from the program have been known to give assistance to other families in the fundraising process. Not only does the fundraising enable the family to get a service dog but it also gives the child a sense of accomplishment and pride, in that they worked for their dog. Going forward 4 Paws would like to become the primary provider of service dogs for children on a national level through volunteer work and building a sufficient number of employees. At 4 Paws they’re also working on educating the public to accept the use of service dogs in public. If you would like to volunteer, donate, or inquire about receiving a service dog you can do so at the 4 Paws website. If you are looking for a service dog it is also important to note that when you go through 4 Paws not only are you helping your child by getting them a service dog, many times you are also saving a dog, as 4 Paws gets many of their dogs from shelters and rescue groups.
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