Media Coverage: Newspaper, Web, Magazine, TV & Books

2016

• March 2016 | Here Pup! | Interview with 4 Paws for Ability CEO Karen Shirk | 

2015

• March 2015 | Xenia Gazette | Church Raises Money for Service Dog |  Thanks to Hawker UCC for their ongoing support of 4 Paws for Ability.  For more information about Hawker UCC, see their website:  www.hawkerucc.org

2014

• July 2014 | International Autism Association for Families and Educators | Autism assistance dogs, written by 4 Paws for Ability development director Kelly Camm
• May 8, 2014 | Dayton Daily News (Dayton, OH) | Service dogs underscore a ‘magic’ bond

2013

• August 28, 2013 | Cape Cod Time Online | Funds raised to get dog for Sandwich boy with Autism
• August 24, 2013 | Barrington Courier-Review | One dog just right for two girls with Autism
• August 23, 2013 | TelegramTowns.com, Lunenburg | Rare form of Epilepsy challenges Lunenburg boy, mom
• August 16, 2013 | Tri-City News, Canada | A boy and his dog enjoy the last weeks of summer break
• August 11, 2013 | Akron Beacon Journal Online | Golfers putting on the dog for little boy with seizures
• August 10, 2013 | Autism Daily Newscast | Dogs Help Autistic Children Bond and Grow: Part 1
• August 8, 2013 | MSN News | Pet owners get phony “service dog” status for perks
• July 30, 2013 | Sentinel & Enterprise, MA |Lunenburg boy, 3, seeks a best friend
• July 29, 2013 | CoachCal.com | Coach Cal introduces “Refuse to Lose Signature Series”
• July 29, 2013 | Carlsbad Current-Argus | Carlsbad family seeks donations for service dog to keep boy safe
• July 28, 2013 | The Daily Advocate, Darke County, Ohio | Local family Chasing Hope for a service dog
• July 17, 2013 | The Press-Enterprise, Corona, CA | Car wash to help boy obtain dog
• July 15, 2013 | Duluth News Tribune | One boy’s challenge with seizures leads to help for other sufferers
• July 14, 2013 | Fox 19, Cincinnati, Ohio | Event helps boy with Autism acquire service dog
• July 14, 2013 | Cape Cod Online | Sandwich family seeks service dog for Autistic son
• July 7, 2013 | Athens Ohio Today | Finding solace on four legs
• June 27, 2013 | CNN Heroes, National | Soldiers share canine connection
• June 19, 2013 | Fox 8, Cleveland, Ohio | Schoolbus Drivers Receive Extra Training
• June 17, 2013 | Fox 45, WRGT-TV, Dayton, Ohio | Bittersweet union for soldier and service dog
• June 17, 2013 | WDTN-TV, 2News, Dayton, Ohio | War veteran bonds with canine companion
• May 27, 2013 | WHIO-TV, Dayton, Ohio | 5K PSA
• May 21, 2013 | Fox 45, WRGT-TV, Dayton, Ohio | Fake Service Dogs
  
• May 9, 2013 | The  Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio | Grads’ best friends join commencement
• May 9, 2013 | USA Today | In-training service dogs walk at graudation
• May 6, 2013 | KNDU-TV, NBC, Kennewich, Wash. | Fever owners make big donation to Berry family for service dog
• May 6, 2013 | Republican Herald, Pottsville, Pa. | Family seeking service dog for autistic son
• April 25, 2013 | WDTN-TV’s Living Dayton | 4 Paws 5K
• April 2013 | WHIO-TV, Dayton, Ohio | 4 Paws helps girl, 11, with canine friend
• April 2013 | Dayton Daily News, Dayton, Ohio | Puppy therapy for WSU students
• April 2, 2013 | KNDU-TV, NBC, Kennewick, Wash. | Family raises money for 4 Paws
• March 29, 2013 | WDTN-TV, 2News, Dayton, Ohio | Family seeks service dog, appeals to community for help
• March 29, 2013 | WDTN-TV, 2News, Dayton, Ohio | Service dog would change teen’s life
• March 29, 2013 | WHIO-TV, ABC 7, Dayton, Ohio | 4 Paws helps little girl
• March 15, 2013 | ABC Action News, Brandon, Fla. | Golden Retriever ‘Victory’ is more than a pet for family
• March 7, 2013 | Lorton Patch, Newington, Conn. | Toddler gets help from community
• March 5, 2013 | WBRC-TV Fox 6 | Pay It Forward to 4 Paws for Ability
• March 2, 2013 | The Virginian Pilot, Virginia Beach, Va. | Saving for a dog that can save their daughter
• February 2013 | BYUtv | Turning Point Documentary
• Feb. 23, 2013 | CantonRep.com, Canton, Ohio | Girl needs help getting seizure dog
• Feb. 19, 2013 | WAVE3-TV, Lexington, Ky. | Fern Creek family finds inspiration from their toddler and his puppy
• Feb. 2, 2013 | NewsOK, Weatherford, Okla. | Weatherford boy hopes to get assistance dog
• Jan. 31, 2013 | Salem-News, Prineville, Ore. | Mom hopes service dog will help son battle seizures
• Jan. 29, 2013 | Takedown Radio | Wrestling With Autism’s Jeff Sitler interview
• Jan. 15, 2013 | Madison Eagle, Madison, N.J. | Madison boy, 6, who inspired community, dies of incurable disease
• Jan. 6, 2013 | ABC-57 News, Goshen, Ind. | Service dog for Tyler
• Jan. 3, 2013 | The Elkhart Truth, Goshen, Ind. | Dog could help Goshen boy with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
• Jan. 1, 2013 | Lansing State Journal, Lansing, Mich. | Family raising money for guide dog to assist 4-year-old blind, autistic son
• Jan. 1, 2013 | NJ.com, New Jersey | Bethlehem Township man’s new dog can foretell his seizures

2012

• Dec. 21, 2012 | WNDU-TV, South Bend, Ind. | Goshen family raising money for service dog
• Dec. 5, 2012 | Fox-TV, Orlando, Fla. | Epileptic girl wants seizure dog
• Dec. 5, 2012 | Wetzel Chronicle, New Martinsville, W.V. | Dog helps local girl with non-verbal autism
• Nov. 19, 2012 | WTHI-TV, Terre Haute, Ind. | Four paws for autism: Finding a dog for Levi
• Nov. 17, 2012 | TribLIVE.com, Pittsburgh, Pa. | Fundraiser in Connellsville to benefit toddler with severe epilepsy 
• Nov. 13, 2012 | TribStar.com, Terre Haute, Ind. | Family aims to provide canine to keep autistic son safe
• Nov. 12, 2012 | NBC 2, Lexington, Ky. | Levi Walker seeking independence 
• Nov. 7, 2012 | WBIR-TV, Knoxville, Tenn. | Little boy wants special dog, service dog / Brotherly love
• Nov. 1, 2012 | The Interior Journal, Kentucky | New leash on life: Service dog could change a lot for a 12-year-old autistic Stanford boy
• Nov. 1, 2012 | Live with the dogs. tv, | Mother hopes to give her autistic son the gift of 4 Paws
• November 2012 | The Daily Times, Madisonville, Tenn. | Teen creates website to honor his brother, ‘Noody’
• Oct. 23, 2012 | Dayton Daily News, Dayton, Ohio | 6-year-old autistic boy meets donated service dog after family is scammed
• Oct. 22, 2012 | WOUB News-NPR, The Plains, Ohio | Family raises funds for service dog to assist autistic girl
• Oct. 19, 2012 | CrossRoadsNews.com, Decatur, Ga. | Victoria and Choco become fast friends
• Oct. 9, 2012 | WAPT-TV, Jackson, Miss. | Family seeks dog for sick child
• October 2012 | Lawrence County Press, Monticello, Miss. | Local family raising funds for toddler’s seizure alert dog
• Sept. 15, 2012 | Kentucky Kernel, Lexington, Ky. | UK Alumni Game raises $350,000 to charity
• Sept. 13, 2012 | News and Tribune, Jeffersonville, Ind. | Charlestown Police helping raise funds for Sofi
• Sept. 13, 2012 | Kentucky Kernel, Lexington, Ky. | Pros return to Rupp for Alumni Charity Game
• Sept. 13, 2012 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pa. | Family ‘grateful’ for donation to help daughter
• Sept. 11, 2012 | Fox 45, WRGT-TV, Dayton, Ohio | Forever homes needed for special dogs
• Sept. 5, 2012 | Kentucky.com, Lexington Herald, Lexington, Ky. | Charities named for UK Alumni Game
• Sept. 4, 2012 | Ky. Forward, Lexington, Ky. | Proceeds from UK Alumni Game to benefit 4 charities with range of missions
• Sept. 2, 2012 | The Messenger, Fort Dodge, Iowa | Family needs funds to get 4 Paws for Ability service dog
• Aug. 31, 2012 | Local 12, WKRC-TV, Cincinnati, Ohio | Girl leaving legacy of helping other children
• Aug. 30, 2012 | Dogster.com | Boy writes book about seizure dogs — So he can afford one
• Aug. 27, 2012 | Miami University | 4 Paws for Ability student group in the news
• Aug. 23, 2012 | Local 12, WKRC-TV, Cincinnati, Ohio | New friend, new life
• Aug. 22, 2012| Xenia Daily Gazette, Xenia, Ohio | 4 Paws for Ability visits YMCA camp
• Aug. 22, 2012 | NewsChannel 20, WICS-TV, Springfield, Ill. | Legal action against dog trainer accused of scamming autistic families
• Aug. 19, 2012 | Fox News | Boy writes book to help raise money to get service dog
• August 2012 | HaloPets.com | Special place trains service dogs for kids
• Aug. 10, 2012 | Xenia Daily Gazette, Xenia, Ohio | Local charities nominated for grant awards
• Aug. 8, 2012 | The Washington Post | Evan gets a seizure dog
• Aug. 4, 2012 | Dayton Daily News | One-eyed dog will work as companion pet
• July 31, 2012 | Patch.com | Dog changes life for Kirkwood boy with autism
• July 28, 2012 | Xenia Daily Gazette, Xenia, Ohio | Pirate the one-eyed puppy to help others
• July 27, 2012 | Union County Weekly | Mission accomplished for Ben’s furrever friend
• July, 26, 2012 | WDTN-TV, Dayton, Ohio | Pirate, the Papillon ready for service
• July 26, 2012 | ABC22, Dayton, Ohio | Unlikely dog to train as service animal
• July 25 | Patch.com | Benefit aims to help Bayport girl acquire needed service dog
• July 20, 2012 | Yahoo! News | Prison pups: Dog Training program changes his life, says inmate
• May 2012 | ABC5, Cleveland, Ohio | Ohio dog training school teaches service dogs to work with disabled children
• May 2012 | ABC6, Greene County | Special Report on 4 Paws for Ability and the Koonce family
• May 3, 2012 | UK graduate and four-legged friend getting degree and giving back
• March 31, 2012 |  Students Team With 4 Paws for Ability To Train Service Dogs: Wittenberg University
• March 30, 2012 | Fox25 Morning News, Boston | Canine miracles: Covering Deanna and Alex LeBlanc and Honor
• March 7, 2012 | College students foster service dogs for children with disabilities
• Feb. 22, 2012 |  “Five-year-old Caden Butler Modaff rubbed his fingers around the ears of Elf, an English black lab,” says Jessica Larsen in the Houston County News. “Caden was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the snack time chaos at school. The feel of the fur on the boy’s finger tips was just what he needed to calm down.” Read the entire story including how Elf is the first service dog La Crescent Montessori and STEM School has had.
• Feb. 12, 2012 | The New York Times | Wonder Dog: A Golden Retriever reaches a raging boy
• Feb. 9, 2012 | WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, Ohio | Autistic boy finally gets dog after scam
  

2011

• Aug. 30, 2011 | CBS News | Dr. Debbye Turner Bell profiles one seven7-year-old Virginia boy who has found a creative way to improve the lives of countless Epilepsy patients and seizure sufferers. Read about Evan Moss and his best-selling book!

• Aug. 26, 2011 | People magazine | Boy writes book to raise money for seizure-sniffing dog
• Aug. 16, 2011 | NBC Today Show Epileptic boy’s book helps raise money for seizure dog
• Aug. 2, 2011 | The Washington Post | Evan raises more than $13K, will get seizure dog
• July 20, 2011 | Stolen Special Needs Service Dog Gets Returned, says Bing.com. Discover how Christmas, a 4 Paws Service Dog, was lost, then found!
• July 18, 2011 | Huffington Post | Greatest person of the day: 7-year-old Evan Moss’s inspiring fight against Epilepsy
• July 12, 2011 | Syracuse.com, Cicero, N.Y | Community responds, Cicero girl receives service dog An 8-year-old Cicero girl who can’t walk or talk is getting around easier this summer by the help of a service dog that the community helped her family to purchase…
• June 20, 2011 | Binghampton N.Y. | Community support helps disabled girl get a service dog. NORTH SYRACUSE, N.Y.   Eight-year-old Gracie D’Alberto can’t walk on her own or talk on her own, but she has a new best friend named Frankie who makes life easier. “Gracie has a button on her talker that says help and when she pushes that, Frankie goes and finds me,” said Gracie’s mom, Bethany D’Alberto. The black lab can also open and close doors and cabinets, press handicap buttons to open doors and get the elevator, but the D’Albertos couldn’t have gotten her without the community’s help.
• May 18, 2011 | Anchorage Daily News | Eivind and Amy Brendtro have an autism service dog named May to assist with their two special needs children Linnea, 9, and Leif, 6. May, a 3-year-old golden retriever, was trained at 4 Paws for Ability and helps track the children when they get lost, she helps with behavior assistance by comforting them, and the kids are tethered to her in public to ensure their safety. More about the Brendtro family and their special service dog, May…
• April 16, 2011 | The News-Herald | A helping paw – service dog helps brothers deal with autism. Kara and Brent Clarke learned Oct. 31, 2007, that their son, Noah, was autistic. In September 2008, they found out that their younger son, Adam, also is autistic. The boys, now 5 and 3, respectively, have been diagnosed with classic autism and sensory processing disorder. Adam has been diagnosed as moderate; Noah, as severe and nonverbal…On April 26, the family will have had Radar, their autism service dog, for a year.
• April 15, 2011 | The Bastrop Advertiser | Isreal was 5 months old when Tina began to see some developmental delays and what appeared to be excessive hiccupping, sometimes as often as 40 or 50 times a day. The hiccups were diagnosed as infantile spasms or seizures and were later categorized as epilepsy. Isreal has seizures only rarely now – one every two years or so. As he grew older, Isreal began displaying many characteristics of autism…Jesse had been in the Marines for seven years before his first tour of duty in Iraq. He spent five months as a sniper team leader in the city of Ramadi, about 60 miles west of Baghdad, before the night of July 24, 2004, when, returning to base after a mission, the Humvee he was in was struck by a roadside bomb roughly a quarter of a mile from the base….Jesse was medevaced to Al Taqaddum Airbase, where he had the first of around 13 surgeries – he can’t remember the exact number – on his arm. The Longorias waited two years for Moe. They contacted a number of service dog agencies, looking for one who would train an animal who could help not just Isreal, but also Jesse. Eventually, they were referred to 4 Paws for Ability by the Pets for Patriots program….
• March 29, 2011 | Dallas Morning News | Boy with epilepsy awaits “Doctor Dog” One minute, Oliver Kurlinski was ripping open presents on his 4th birthday. The next, he was in the hospital with electrodes stuck to his head. While his family watched the toddler tear at wrapping paper in his McKinney home, he suddenly collapsed. Panicked and unsure if their child was dying in front of them, his mother, Heather, starting CPR while his father, Joshua, called 911. “He was holding his present, an action figure, and then he just collapsed,” Heather said. After about a week of medical tests, Oliver was diagnosed with epilepsy. Seven months later, Oliver is afraid to be alone. So Heather wants to find independence for her son – in the form of a seizure assistance dog.
• March 26, 2011 | Meadow Lakes, Alaska | Service dog would give 8-year-old newfound independence. In many ways, Willie Koonce is like most other 8-year-olds. He loves music (Lady Gaga is a favorite), television, swimming and jumping on the trampoline. That he’s fed through a tube and can’t verbally communicate doesn’t slow down the Meadow Lakes Elementary student. Affected by Down syndrome and autism, Willie can’t tell his family or teachers what he’s feeling and can become frustrated. More about Willie Koonce…
• March 20, 2011 | TampaBay.com | St. Petersburg Times, New Port Richey, Fla. | The bonds children forge with pets are often deep, but the connection between 9-year-old Jennifer Petersen and her sidekick Fanny the poodle is nothing short of extraordinary. Born prematurely at 5.5 pounds after an emergency Caesarean section, Jennifer lacked full supply of oxygen to her brain and spent six weeks in a newborn intensive care unit
• March 10, 2011 | South Bend Tribune |4 Paws provides canine miracles Service dog will help twins battle numerous disabilities To say Jamin and Jacob had a rough start in life would be exactly right. They are twins who were born in Russia 10 weeks prematurely, weighing 2 pounds and 2 1/2 pounds, respectively. They were transferred from the hospital to an orphanage one month apart but were unknowingly separated. Through divine intervention, Jamin was found in time to join her twin brother in the process of becoming an Irwin. Despite the delay and a significant increase in fees, Jamin and Jacob became Irwins on March 3, 1999, and moved to Akron, Ind., at 10 months of age. Our two blessings struggled with respiratory issues for a few years, but thankfully have grown into healthy, happy kids. One of the hardest challenges for our family is their varying special needs. Jamin and Jacob’s primary diagnosis is fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), followed by autism spectrum. Jacob is also challenged with cerebral palsy, Jamin with a hearing impairment…

• March 7, 2011 | Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs Hillsboro School District Agrees to Access for Autism Service Dog. WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that the Hillsboro, Oregon, School District will allow Jordan “Scooter” Givens to bring his trained autism service dog into his classroom in the Hillsboro School District. 

  The highly trained service dog, Madison, provides critical assistance to Scooter, recognizing when he is about to engage in behavior that might endanger him, and distracting him to obstruct this type of behavior. For nearly three years, Scooter’s parents’ efforts to get permission for Scooter to bring Madison to school had been rebuffed. After U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton and a senior attorney from the Civil Rights Division met in late January with the superintendent of the Hillsboro School District regarding the failure to accommodate the Givens’ request, the school district announced last Friday that it would allow Scooter to be accompanied by the service dog for a trial period..

• March 8, 2011 | Hillsboro, Ore. | Autistic boy wins fight to bring service dog to class  After a three-year battle with the Hillsboro School District, a young autistic boy has won his fight to bring his service dog to class. Due to a federal investigation, the school district had to make a decision, and Oregon’s attorney general laid it out bluntly: It could be a long, expensive lawsuit. So, Scooter Givens’ service dog, Madison, will be allowed during a trial period at Patterson Elementary…

• March 8, 2011 | The Hillsboro Argus | Hillsboro service dog adds class to resume Sometimes it takes an animal to show people the most humane solutions to problems. It appears the rights of severely autistic children in Washington County will get a big paw forward with Friday’s announcement that the Hillsboro School District will allow Patterson Elementary fourth-grader Jordan “Scooter” Givens to bring his highly-trained dog Madison to school with him on a trial basis..

• March 7, 2011 | Columbia Missourian,  Jefferson City, Mo. | Bill seeks service-animal rights for those with mental disabilities, Ten-year-old Sean LaRochelle sat quietly with his dog while his father testified during a public hearing Wednesday. According to his father, Matt LaRochelle, this would have been nearly impossible four years ago, before his family’s ownership of Cady, Sean LaRochelle’s service dog. Sean LaRochelle has severe autism. “I would have to be chasing him out of the room or down the hall,” Matt LaRochelle said. Without the assistance of Cady, Matt LaRochelle said his family essentially would be homebound.

• Feb. 15, 2011 |  White Bear Lake: Mark Grewing lost one leg and then the other to diabetes but stayed active with aid from a wheelchair and a service dog. “He never got real down in the dumps about it,” said neighbor Lorraine Dreher. “He didn’t let it stop him from doing anything. He didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him…”

• Feb. 9, 2011 | Greene County Dailies | Xenia, Ohio | 4 Paws for Ability receives donation The four legged friends in residence at 4 Paws for Ability, 253 Dayton Ave., received a generous donation on Wednesday, Feb. 9, when Proctor and Gamble provided the non-profit agency with a mind-boggling 44,800 pounds of dog food…

• Feb. 7, 2011 | TwinCities.com | Mark Grewing had a hard life. Years ago, he lost his lower legs to diabetes, and he continued to be plagued by that and other diseases. About 4:30 a.m. Sunday, bothered by insomnia resulting from back pain, Grewing steered his wheelchair from his White Bear Lake apartment onto Highland Avenue, possibly headed for a nearby 24-hour convenience store. He was hit by a pickup truck and died later in the day at Regions Hospital in St. Paul…