Seizure Response Service Dogs are trained to perform tasks during or following a seizure to assist their handler. Their ability to respond and react quickly makes them a trustworthy companion, and provides their handlers with the confidence to live independently. Seizure Response Service Dogs allow individuals a greater feeling of safety and independence.
Benefits
The tasks they perform may include; getting help for the person having the seizure, activating an emergency response system, stimulating a person to help them “wake up” after a seizure, acting as a brace to help the person stand or sit up, retrieving a telephone or medication, providing emotional support, or helping with over all mobility.
Some dogs have the ability to detect seizures before they happen by sensing the pheromone changes that happen in a person just before they have a seizure. There is no way of knowing if a dog has this ability until they are matched with their particular handler. Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs cannot guarantee that our Seizure Response Service Dogs can alert a person before the seizure happens. In advanced training our Seizure Response Service Dogs work with a client directly. The dog may come to sense the pheromone changes in a person’s body but that may not happen.
Costs
K4PSD’s Seizure Response Service Dogs are valued between $20,000 and $25,000. We expect them to have an eight to ten year working life. However, each dog is provided free of charge to approved caregivers.
K4PSD receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations from the general public, corporate sponsors, fundraising events, and community supporters.
Our clients are expected to assist in our fundraising efforts. Their targets are at least $20,000, however the amount raised is not tied to when they will receive their service dog. Many of them participate by asking for donations from friends and family, by organizing their own fundraisers and also by helping promote many K4PSD organized community fundraisers. Individuals or families who do not show significant effort may risk losing their acceptance status.
The actual direct cost of a seizure response dog to the individual is an application fee of $75, an equipment fee of approximately $100 at graduation, and the cost of travel to training sessions in the Kingston area. All food and veterinary costs are borne by the recipient once the dog has been placed with the individual.
Wait Times
K4PSD has been steadily increasing the number of puppies in the program to keep up with demand. Our target it to continuously have 15-20 dogs in training across all of our programs. Currently, our wait time to receive a seizure response dog is about 22 to 24 months from the time of approval.
The timing of a seizure response service dog placement is determined by chronological position on the waiting list and the availability of the right dog for the individual’s needs and situation, and is in no way tied to fundraising efforts.
Application Process
To help ensure the success of each team, we have designed an intensive application process to assist with the placement and matching of our dogs. Each applicant is screened to ensure they meet our application criteria (lives in Ontario, has been diagnosed with epilepsy or other type of seizure disorder and is over the age of 6). An application can be completed on-line and sent to us along with several completed reference questionnaires from individuals involved in the person’s life. If our criteria is met, a K4PSD trainer conducts an in-home interview with a K4PSD dog to meet the person, learn more about the family, and discuss further questions and concerns. Final acceptance is determined following the in-home interview. Individuals may be disqualified at any time during the application process and should recognize that the dog who visits will not necessarily be the dog that will be placed with them.
Apply
K4PSD is currently accepting application from individuals over the age of 6, living in Southeastern Ontario with a diagnosis of epilepsy or other seizure disorders. Some restrictions may apply.
Our service area includes only the counties of Prescott and Russell, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Lanark, Renfrew, Leeds and Grenville, Hastings, Prince Edward, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington; and the municipality of Ottawa.
If the applicant meets the above criteria, please complete our online application form and a staff member will be in contact within one week.
(Click the “Online Application” link below to access the application. Please read the instructions before you start. Please do not try to print the form or send it by regular mail. Only forms received online will be considered. For assistance regarding applications please write us at info@k4paws.ca)
