WHAT IS THE LAW REGARDING SERVICE DOG ACCESS TO PUBLIC PLACES?
In the United States, the Code of Federal Regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 defines a service animal as “any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work and/or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items.”
WHAT IS THE SUCCESS RATE OF MATCHING SERVICE DOGS WITH OWNERS
Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions has an extremely high success rate for service dog partnerships. This high success rate is due to careful suitability screening of both dogs and owners.
CAN A SERVICE DOG BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE OWNER TO ANOTHER?
Unlike many similar organizations, Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions allows partners to own their dogs. If for some reason the owner cannot keep the dog, Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions has first right of refusal for ownership. If a partner dies, the family or a close friend may wish to keep the dog and Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions normally grants them that right.
WHAT IS A SERVICE DOG WORTH, AND WHAT IS THE COST?
Although our families are only required to provide a small portion of the cost of the service dog, Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions estimates that it costs up to $25,000 to select, raise, and train a service dog although this total cost is not passed on to the applicant family. Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions raises the money through a variety of fundraising efforts. Behind a Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions dog are hundreds of hours of volunteer time. Puppy raisers, puppy sitters, trainers, and foster families all work with the dogs. In addition, office volunteers and fundraising volunteers are continually raising awareness and donations. Behind a Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions dog are many generous donors contributing to the cause. All these people are invested in your partnership with a service dog.
WHAT ARE THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ACQUIRING AND OWNING A SERVICE DOG?
The prospective applicant pays a $25 non-refundable application fee. Once the application is approved, the fund raising process begins for that dog through a cooperative effort between Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions and the applicant family. Typically, the cost for a fully trained Pawsitive Solutions Service Dog is $12,000 and this is generally raised in a combined effort by Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions partnering with the applicant family in fund raising during the dog’s training period.
Families are required to provide a small portion of the cost of the service dog.
Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions also provides follow up training and re-certification for the life of the dog.
Once placed, the applicant is responsible for all costs of the dog – including both routine and non-routine veterinary care. There should be a maintenance budget of at least $1,000 a year for the service dog.
Below is a list of routine costs/maintenance that are involved in dog ownership:
Initial costs: $100-$200 (For items such as food/water bowls, grooming equipment, dog bed, toys, etc.)
Regular Yearly Expenses: $1000-$1500
Yearly vaccines: $150 – $200
Food: $200 – $300
Heartworm preventative: $120 – $150
Flea preventative: $ 75 – $150
Treats: $ 50 – $100
Grooming: $ 50 – $100
Please note: This cost range starts with the average that a dog needs. If any added care is needed such as additional trips to the vet for an injury or illness, then the cost would increase.
IS AN AUTISM SERVICE DOG A TAX WRITE-OFF?:
The cost of buying, and maintaining a guide dog or service dog is fully deductible as a medical expense according to the IRS. You can read what they say about this HERE.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
Whether you decided to apply through Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions or another reputable organization, here are some important things to consider and to ask any potential service dog organization during the intensely personal experience of applying for an autism service dog:
What types of tasks are the dogs trained to perform and how will the tasks we need be matched with a service dog?
How long is the waiting list or how long is the waiting period to receive a service dog?
What is the cost associated with the training of the dog and what is the cost to the recipient?
How is that cost managed or raised?
Can we have another pet in the home?
Does the final training and placement occur at our home or at a facility and how is this accomplished, logistically?
Once we acquire our service dog, is follow up training or support offered?
Will the dog be owned by us or the agency placing/training the dog?
When the dog eventually retires, what is the process for acquiring a successor dog?
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” –Anatole France
