Training a service dog to meet our child’s requirements can be very costly. On average it costs between $40,000-60,000 to raise, train, and place a service dog at 4 Paws for Ability. While 4 Paws for Ability fundraises to help cover a significant portion of this cost, families are tasked with raising $20,000 of that amount or $23,000 if receiving a poodle, doodle or papillon. We hope that we can receive assistance from our beloved family and friends to help make our service dog dream a reality.

Our son, Josiah, is a bright, funny, and loving 7-year-old boy with autism. He was diagnosed at just 19 months old. Josiah is nonverbal, and though he works hard every day to understand the world around him, it is incredibly difficult for him to express himself. He just finished second grade and has made so much progress this year (he even learned how to read!!) but he still has his daily struggles.

One of the greatest challenges we face as a family is Josiah's tendency to elope—he will sometimes run off without warning, putting himself in dangerous situations. He also struggles with self-injurious behavior when he has any big emotions- it occurs when he is excited, anxious, overwhelmed, or angry. Despite these challenges, Josiah is an incredibly sweet and joyful boy. He adores his older brothers, and they adore him right back. His sense of humor shines through when he gets excited about something—especially when it involves numbers and letters. He's a big fan of Numberblocks, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Muppet Babies. He loves music too, specifically '90's country- his favorite song is "Friends in Low Places", by Garth Brooks and he's very partial to "Boot Scootin' Boogie" by Brooks and Dunn!

Despite all of Josiah's progress, he still needs a little extra help to feel safe and thrive in the world. That's why we are raising funds for a service dog—one specifically trained to assist children with autism and the challenges that come with it. A service dog could be a game-changer for Josiah, helping with safety, providing comfort during moments of distress, and offering companionship in a world that sometimes feels overwhelming for him.

We need your support to make this dream a reality for Josiah. The cost of a fully trained service dog is substantial, but the impact it will have on our son's life—and on our entire family—will be immeasurable. With your help, we can provide Josiah with a loyal companion who will help him navigate the world with more independence, joy, and safety. Once the fee is paid in full, we will have about 2 to 2.5 years until he has his service dog here with him. His puppy will have the time needed to grow and learn, and Josiah will have time to grow a little more as well!

Thank you for your love, kindness, and generosity as we take this next step on Josiah's journey. Together, we can make a life-changing difference for our sweet boy.