Service dogs for diabled - Page 1

I received an email from a lady last week looking for information on puppies and if I would be willing to donate one to her as she is disabled. She informed me that she has a Shepherd now that is getting old and needs a replacement. I asked her who does the training for her and she replied she did it herself. I told her I did not feel comfortable just "giving" away a puppy without there being a certified company that works with her and the puppy.

I am very open to this and have been looking for organizations that offer such a thing. She informed me most have waiting list so am wanting to know if puppies are donated to a specific person does that help the process and if so who, or what organization does such a thing?

I have contact the Service Dogs For America, but have not heard back yet. I live in WA state and so does this disabled woman and would like to find someone local that is trained in such.

Any suggestions or knowledge of an organization in this area?

And yes I have already thought it may be some one looking to get a "free" puppy but all of the fine print will be looked into prior to anything moving forward. This is why I want an organization to take charge of it.

oleos,

I have a personal experience with these "so called companies there to help"!!!  It wasn't a pleasant one, unfortunately.  When my youngest daughter was 10 yrs old, she was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease, and we were told that she would be completely blind in the next 2-3 years.  I contacted a few of those agencies that are suppose to be there to help, and I explained to them the reasoning for wanting to get her a pup before she completely lost her sight.  I wanted her to be able to really bond with the dog (my daughter had underlining medical issues as well), and wanted my daughter to be active in the training process and most importantly at the time, wanted a dog to help her through this process, emotionally.  As dog people here, I'm sure we can agree how theroputic a dog in our life can be. 

Several wouldn't even speak to me about the issue, or even offer help to where I can learn more about it and the process, several told me that my daughter was "not disabled enough", and refused to help, and Pilot Dog even had me in tears before I finally hung up on them, telling me that I was a horrible parent to "label" my daughter as disabled!!!  And yes, the majority do have a waiting list, and it's a first come, first serve things.  There is an organization here in Ohio, that I found, and really like it.  It's called 4-paws for ability.  Very nice organization to work with.  Karen has been in several dog mags., for her work.

So, I went out and got her a dog on my own, read everything I could get my hands on, and we trained her dog ourselves.  Yes, I paid for this dog myself.  I was not looking for a "free" dog from anyone.  But then again, I was in a better position then possible this woman that contacted you.  I wouldn't discount what she is saying, but definately understand where you are coming from.  I would talk more with this woman, find out why these organizations won't help her..perhaps it's a situation like ours where they might feel "she is not disabled enough"!  Bottom line...you have to go with your gut.

Christine

The group I currently train with has "their dogs" that they train for people, but they also train people who have their own dogs.  I have my own dog right now, but since she has Hip Dysplasia they are helping me to locate a replacement. Most breeders I spoke with want $1,500 for a dog and being disabled I just can't afford that much. I'm very lucky that the group I'm with is a 501c3 and they are willing to help me look for a donated dog, or help me find one in a shelter.

Beth

Oleos93 - I sent you a PM

Tina

I looked into getting a hearing ear dog through Dog Guides Canada. They told me I would have to get rid of any other dogs I had in the household. My German Shepherd, Tasha, was 13 years old at the time. I would sooner have cut off my hand than rehomed her!

There are also various other stipulations: you never own the dog, and Dog Guides can take it away from you at any time for a number of reasons. I have heard of dogs being taken away because the disabled person let the dog get overweight. A dog will also be removed if it develops health issues, rather than being allowed to stay in the home as a pet. Needless to say, this can be quite traumatic for both the dog and its handler!

Now you know why I decided to train my own dog...   Unfortunately, Canada currently doesn't recognize owner-trained service dogs, although legislation does permit all service dogs the same right to access as guide dogs for the blind.

I had checked into donating a litter of pups, or whichever pups they deemed acceptable from the litter, I was willing to care for the pups, socialize etc until they were ready for them, free of charge in every way. I sent emails out to 8 different organizations in texas and outside of texas and heard back from 2. 1 stated their trainers supplied their own dogs. The other stated they only accepted dogs into the programs that both parents were ofa'd and prelims on pups. I can totally understand the criteria, it is expensive to train only to find the dog dysplastic.... but I remember thinking at the time are the dogs so plentiful that they would not even bother to acknowledge and offer?

I have learned alot since then and understand even better the requirements and risks they take. I also understand that the folks that need the assistance of these dogs the most are exactly the ones that can least afford the huge cash outlay to get one, its a catch 22.

I wish I were in a position to train and donate

Thank you....some good tips and information...I think I will try and find out more from this woman and find some local trainers that do this sort of thing....looking at some big organiations  and the information they provide it may be best to go small and local.

I just want to make sure the puppy gets the proper training in order to do what he/she was meant to do.  I guess I always felt it had to be "certified" by proper channels to be classed as a "service dog" and recieve the same beinfits, like going into public places.

Thanks.

I was going to donate a pup to a service for the blind here in VA what they told me was that people are afraid of german shepherds so they don't use them, if it was me and I was the one blind I would rather have a gsd at my side than a lab not saying anything is wrong with a lab I had one years ago but being blind there is people that will take advantage of you and a well trained shepherd I would think is more comforting.

I have looked into this also from a military standpoint.   The U.S. Marine Corps has a program for disabled Marines to get a trained dog mainly German Shepherds.  They go thru a very dificult 15 month training program.  There is a very long waiting list for one of these trained dog's.

Giving a dog that is not properly trained to a disabled person could do more harm than good. 

The Marine Corps has started a program where prisoners in the brig are taught to train these dogs.  The dogs actually live with the prisoners during training.

I just placed a dog with a private seeing eye home (a rescue).  There are many people out there training their own dogs, quite successfully. I may be jaded, but it takes VERY little to get a 501c3 and become a certifying organization, so that means NOTHING to me.

Disabled people are not incompetent, just disabled. If they have the right support system in place to train the puppy, it will be fine. I am not disabled and I will fail at training a puppy without the right support system :)

I think it if was someone's first assistance dog, I might be more concerned, but when I see someone who has already trained a dog successfully it really ups their chance of success with this one IMO.

Shannon