The Reason Why There is a Need for
Service Dog Funding
The High Cost Associated with the Purchase of a Service Dog
A service dog is a specially trained dog that performs tasks for people with disabilities.
German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are the most common dogs that perform these services. In 2019, there were approximately 20,000 registered service dogs in the United States performing tasks and serving as companions to disabled individuals.
A service dog can assist individuals with disabilities by:
Providing balance or support when standing or walking
Assisting with transfers from a wheelchair to a chair/bed
Opening doors
Retrieving things for their person
Turning lights on/off
Alerting a person who may have a seizure
Alerting to cardiac episodes
Common disabilities where a service dog can provide assistance:
ALS
Arthritis
Cardiac-related disabilities
Cerebral Palsy
Chronic back/neck problems
Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome
Diabetes
Epilepsy/seizure disorders
Fibromyalgia
Hypotonia
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Myasthenia Gravis
Narcolepsy/Cataplexy
Paralysis
Parkinson’s Disease
Spina Bifida
Spinal Cord Injuries
Stroke
Vertigo
Because of the specialized training these dogs require, from a very early age, it can cost between $15,000 and $30,000 to purchase a dog. The cost reflects adoption costs, vaccinations, spaying or neutering, and trainers fees.
Few families or individuals have the funds to buy these dogs because the money is required upfront. In addition, most disabled people are already facing much higher annual medical costs due to their disability.
The are many accredited service dog trainers throughout the United States. Most non-profit service dog training organizations are certified by Assistance Dog International (ADA), which basically reflects the standards, training, and quality of the program. In the United States, there is no government provision for certification of service dogs.
In Connecticut, Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities (ECAD) is a non-profit service dog training for people with disabilities. Since their fee to train a service dog is a hefty $24,500, they help clients set up a funding page on Click and Pledge. For example, here is the page for my sister’s grandson, Rowan:
https://connect.clickandpledge.com/Organization/ecad1/campaign/RowanMiller
But Rowan’s story is only one of many people seeking assistance, people from all walks of life. Here is the url for other individuals who have started funding pages, with the help of ECAD, on the Click and Pledge website:
https://connect.clickandpledge.com/Organization/ecad1
Here is the website for Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities (ECAD).