FAQ

• Do you have any kind of support system for families of children you accept?

We have an online support network for our 4 Paws families. We allow all of our clients access to each other so that our graduates can communicate with each other and help our new families through the process! We feel this speaks to our quality of service! 

 

• We already have pets in our home. Will this disqualify us, or make problems for us?

Our dogs are trained to work even with the distractions created by other household pets. We believe that asking a family to give up their current furry family members to obtain a service dog promotes the societal view that the animals in our lives are commodities to be thrown away when no longer convenient. In keeping with this respect for the animals in our lives, we also encourage our families to keep their dogs when they are retired or can no longer work because of health issues.

 

• What kind of funding options do you offer?

We provide a wide range of funding options. We have no eligibility requirements beyond a physician statement that the person requesting a service dog has a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and which falls within the programs provided here at 4 Paws. We find creative, innovative means of assisting people with severe disabilities with solutions for handling the dog.

 

• Our child is unable to handle a dog. Do you certify parent-child teams?

We do make placements on a three-unit team. All of the placements we make with children or adults who have disabilities that prevent them from handling a dog though they would benefit from the dog’s tasks on a three-unit team. We have seen great things happen when children and dogs are paired. As the dog migrates the child’s disability through trained tasks and the child gains independence, self-confidence, and self-esteem.

Fundraising Support

Read about our 4 Paws Fundraising support team. Families who have completed the process helping new 4 Paws families to fulfill their fundraising requirement!

At 4 Paws, the money doesn’t come out of the recipient’s pocket either. What we have done is to create a fundraising requirement. We form a working relationship with the recipient to have them raise money for 4 Paws in order to then qualify to receive a dog. The family is raising funds for 4 Paws for Ability as a volunteer to support our mission and goals.

In this manner, the waiting list we have is only as long as it takes the person to complete their fundraising requirement. We felt that there were many, very capable people with disabilities and their friends and families, who would rather spend time helping us fundraise so they could then get a dog, than to sit on a 2-5 year waiting list for a “free” one.

Here is an example, which might help you understand. Most people are familiar with Habitat For Humanity, a group that builds new houses or renovates old houses for people who can’t afford to buy a house on their own. Once a person applies and is accepted to receive a house, they then have a “work requirement.” This person must now spend 300 hours helping to build houses for other people before they will be given a house.

Someone might read this and think, 300 hours? “I can’t do that,” but there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of people across the USA sitting in their very own houses because they could do it. Many time people think, “Fundraising? I can’t do that.” However, if you take a minute to look around the website, you will see a fraction of the many dogs placed because the people could do it!

I can’t even begin to tell you how many of our recipients were astounded when they finished their requirement and said,”Wow, look what I did.” In this way, their service dog has become an empowering influence in their lives even before they get him/her! Fundraising takes commitment on your part, but just think at the end of the process you can be very proud of this accomplishment, as we hand you the leash and send you of on a new and exciting journey in your life.

FAQ About Our Fundraising Process

This is good news for you! The funding you are raising is used to support the 4 Paws mission of placing service dogs with disabled children. Once your fundraising requirement is complete you will then qualify to receive one of our specially trained dogs. It will cost 4 Paws $22,000 to place a service dog with your child so any amount of money you raise that exceeds your minimum requirement of $13,000 will certainly make it possible for us to train even more dogs for more children.

4 Paws will assist you with fundraising ideas. We have a handout titled Fundraising – A Great Start with many wonderful ideas on ways to raise money for 4 Paws. These ideas will usually bring in much, if not all of the money needed to fulfill your fundraising requirement. This amazing document is provided as part of the acceptance packet only.

Remember, 4 Paws is not asking you to go out and fundraise for yourself, independent of 4 Paws. You are required to “volunteer” to fundraise for 4 Paws For Ability as a sort of “partnership” in providing a service dog to you.

We are here to guide you, approve all fundraising efforts, make changes on all material going out to the public, and offer suggestions to improve your efforts.

You will not be sent out to raise money on your own, which can seem very overwhelming, you are volunteering for and working with 4 Paws.

We will be here to support your efforts in any way that we can.

• Why can’t I just raise funding on my own?

4 Paws is a 501(c)(3) agency. This means that not only is the donation tax deductible by the person donating it but also that we are accountable to the IRS for our fundraising efforts. In addition there are agency policies in regards to how fundraising is done. For these reasons, all fundraising efforts must be cleared through 4 Paws.

You will need to call and/or email us with your activities. On the fundraising handout you will find the following statement “Keep a detailed account of all your contacts including but not limited to, schools, universities and colleges, churches, media other agencies, businesses, or funding sources. Provide updates on your fundraising efforts weekly.” If we have a problem with how a letter or flier is worded, we will provide alternate wording.

If an activity is not acceptable we will explain and offer an alternative means of raising the money. There are specific ways the money raised through the means on the handout Fundraising – A Great Start should be collected and/or supplied to 4 Paws and these will be shared with you at the time that we discuss the fundraiser with us. If you were just to go out and “do it on your own,” you might accidentally misrepresent the fundraising process to the donors or create a legal issue that we would then have to deal with. Remember, in essence you are volunteering your time and fundraising efforts to 4 Paws in order to qualify for a dog from our agency.

• What happens if I can’t raise the entire amount?

We have placed over 600 dogs and have never had an applicant who truly put effort into fundraising who could not raise the total amount of their fundraising requirement. It does take time; funds do not come in overnight. 4 Paws will continue to work with you for as long as it takes. Generally the fundraising takes 3-9 months.

However, if you were to raise half, three-fourths, etc. of the money and then quit your fundraising efforts, stating you no longer wish to participate in this process, no dog will be placed with you.

The donations you helped to raise for 4 Paws are not returned. These are monies given to 4 Paws as a donation and will be used by 4 Paws to continue our service dog placement services.

Please be clear on this topic of discussion, 4 Paws will NOT quit working with you as long as you are making the efforts needed. We will support you in any way and stay with you until all funds are raised. No family who has honestly worked at fundraising has not received their dog!
What if I can afford to just pay the money or my family wants to just pay the money?

In the event that a participant has the means to provide the amount of their fundraising requirement themselves, they may make a personal donation to 4 Paws. It must be clearly understood that this is a donation made to the agency and NOT a fee paid to “buy” the dog. Whether a person is fundraising or personally donates the fundraising requirement, they must still meet the other contracted requirements to get a dog. The contract is provided before you begin your fundraising requirement.

If the person fails to meet the contracted agreement and no dog is placed, or a dog is removed after placement, the money donated is not returned.

Remember it is a donation NOT a fee paid for the dog and fundraising is not the only requirement you must meet to get a dog.

• How do I know that the money I bring into 4 Paws is credited to my efforts?

You will be asked to tell anyone making a donation to 4 Paws because of efforts on your part, to include your name on their check or to attach a letter, newspaper clipping, etc. that shows the donation is in your name and should be added to your list of donations secured for 4 Paws.

Each time a check comes in with a notation indicating your name, it is noted on your records. A letter of thanks is sent to the person who made the donation to 4 Paws that they can use for tax purposes.

At the time your records show you have met your requirement, your case is officially opened and a dog is placed into training for you.

You must participate in training with the dog at the training center and in public. Make all training sessions, with the dog, after the dog is placed, and maintain the training contract you signed prior to fundraising as well as the placement contract you will sign when the dog is placed in the home.

You should also know that how the dog is placed is not guaranteed by the fundraising requirement. Let’s say you have been approved for a Mobility Assistance Dog and wish to take this dog into the public. You have finished raising money and the dog has been fully trained. However, after the training period is over, you have not been able to demonstrate that you can handle the dog in public; the dog will then NOT be placed for use in public.

You will sign an agreement stating you understand the dog is for home use only until at some later date you may be then able to demonstrate better control of the dog. If you fail to follow through on your requirements for getting a dog at any point during the entire process, from fundraising through maintenance of yearly certification the dog will not be placed or may be removed from your home.

Again, please be assured, 4 Paws will provide a dog that was chosen and trained specific to your needs. Your ability to handle the dog determines if the dog is placed for use in the home or for use in public as well.

If you fail to come for training with the dog (out of state) or training sessions (in state), no dog will be placed. Therefore the only reason no dog would be placed at this point would be as a direct result of your failure to meet the training requirements. 4 Paws cannot simply hand someone a trained dog.

The recipient must learn how to use the dog both in the home and in public.

Hopefully this has answered your basic questions. If not, please feel free to call and discuss your questions or concerns with a 4 Paws staff member. We have placed more than 40 dogs in the community, using this process, and their recipients are thrilled to have them!

We look forward to beginning this exciting journey to receive a wonderful 4 Paws For Ability service dog, with you. The day the dog is placed, we guarantee all your efforts will seem light in respect to the wondrous life you and your dog will have together!

• What happens when one of your dogs is discovered to be unsuitable as a service dog?

Meeko is an example. Meeko is a German line German Shepherd who was donated by a soldier who was in Iraq, and he has what we call garbage gut which means he got loose stools very easily. We felt he would do better in a pet placement than a stressful service dog placement. We placed him with an adoptive family, and here’s what Jim Weber says about his new dog:

Just thought I’d let you know how Meeko is doing. WONDERFUL!!!! He has settled in at his new home quite nicely. He is a happy, healthy, and very intelligent dog with a great disposition. He has socialized with the neighbors dogs, as well as other dogs at the park and pet store extremely well.

Even with lots of distractions, he minds his manners and pays attention to my commands. We play/train in the yard every day, and we have been going to Prairie Oaks parks to walk and run for at least another hour each day. In less than a week he has almost mastered “loose leash” walking. And he is rapidly learning my commands and signals.

For an 11-month-old dog, his ability to learn and behave is amazing. I am using positive reinforcement for his training. He is a natural for it. Meeko is gentle, patient, and very loving. He does not pester me for food, bark when he has to wait, or chew on anything while alone. My vet was really impressed with him and his behavior when he went in this week. He is in perfect health and weighs 64 lbs.

We both agreed that he should be about 80 -85 lbs once he’s filled out. (Boy, can he eat!!!) In short, I could not have dreamed of a better dog. I cannot thank you enough. The programs and care you have given him have done wonders. I have told every one I know (and a few I didn’t know) about your program. What you do for these animals, and the people lucky enough to adopt them is nothing short of a miracle.