Epilepsy Talk

Seizure Service Dogs Directory — National and International | May 27, 2024

“Owning a dog is not a matter of life and death, it is much more important than that.” — Unknown Author

We love them as they love us.
We are both devoted to each other.
We depend upon them and they seldom falter.
They are our friends, guides and they are our leaders to independence.

Who wouldn’t want a service dog? But how many of us can find one? That’s what this research was all about.

The rationale for these listings was to select highly recommended organizations providing national and international service dogs.

From there, I figured you could find your own state or country.

Resources listed are for informational purposes only. It’s up to you to check the credentials of each facility to find your perfect partner.

Some (Surprising) Facts:

In the United States there are about 120 service dog training organizations. Fewer than 20 work with seizure assist dogs.

Most trainers will not guarantee that a dog will alert. For that reason, the terms “seizure-response” or “seizure-assist” dog are often used.

Training can take up to two years to complete and can cost between $10,000 and $25,000.

Health insurance companies do not cover the cost.

Montana is currently the only state with a Medicaid program that pays for the purchase of a service animal.

Some service dog training organizations provide the animals for free or offer financial assistance.

For example, the Canine Seizure Assist Society of North Carolina, Inc. based in Mooresville, North Carolina, gives trained seizure-assist dogs without charge to qualified applicants.

The requirements to obtain a seizure-assist dog vary among training centers but the one constant is the applicant’s ability and willingness to give the animal proper care and follow-up training.

Programs that provide dogs nationally:

4 Paws for Ability
253 Dayton Ave.
Xenia, Ohio 45385
Phone: (937) 374-0385
Email: Info@4PawsForAbility.org
Provides service dogs for children worldwide as well as veterans from recent conflicts. Families engage in fundraising activities as volunteers for 4 Paws to qualify for a free service dog. Types of dogs provided: Hearing Aid Dog, Autism Assistance Dog, Mobility Assistance Dog, Seizure Assistance Dog, Diabetic Alert Dog, FASD Assistance Dog, Facilitated Guide Dog, Food Allergen Detection and Alert Dog, Multipurpose Assistance Dog, 4 Paws for Veterans.

Canine Companions for Independence
Corey Hudson, Clark Pappas
PO Box 446
Santa Rosa, CA 95402-0446
(707) 577-1700
(707) 577-1756 TDD
(707) 577-1711 FAX
Email: info@caninecompanions.org
Types of dogs trained: Service, Hearing, Social/Therapy Dogs. Available all over the U.S.

Canine Helpers For The Handicapped, Inc.
Contact: Beverly Underwood
Address: 5699 Ridge Road; Lockport, New York 14094
Phone: (716) 433-4035
Fax: (716) 433-4035
TDD: (716) 433-4035
Website: http://caninehelpers.org/
Disabilities animals are trained for: Guide, Hearing, Mobility, Seizure, Psychiatric. Services Provided: Multiple Disabilities, Own Animal, Train Handler, Apprenticeship, Children (6 yrs., based on maturity of child).
Provides services nationally and internationally.

Canine Support Teams, Inc.
Contact: Carol Roquemore
Address: PO Box 1329; Perris, CA 92572‐1329
Phone: (909) 943‐3972
Fax: (909) 943‐7653
TDD: (909) 943‐3972
Email: ROQC@aol.com
Website: http://www.caninesupportteams.org
Disabilities Animals are Trained For: Mobility, Seizure, Psychiatric, Multiple Disabilities, Own Animal, Train Handler.
Provides services nationally. Individual must travel to Canine Support Team for team training and once a year thereafter for re-certification.

Paws With a Cause — Currently 40% of applicants request a PAWS Seizure Response Dog.
National Headquarters
4646 South Division
Wayland, Michigan 49348
(616) 877-PAWS TDD/VOICE
(800) 253-PAWS TDD/VOICE
(616) 877-0248 FAX
Website: https://www.pawswithacause.org/
Email: paws@ionline.com
PAWS Seizure Response Dogs are custom-trained to assist people who have epilepsy or other seizure disorders with tasks such as activating a life-alert system, finding someone to help, retrieving a phone or stimulating a person during a seizure. As a person recovers from a seizure, a PAWS Dog can retrieve medications or food, act as a brace to help them up and provide comfort.

Paws-Up, Inc.
Contact: Robin Pool
Address: 205 W. Main; Mulvane, KS 67110
Phone: (316) 777-9322
Fax: (316) 777-9302
Email: pawsup@cox.net
Website: http://www.paws-up.org
Disabilities Animals are Trained For: Hearing, Mobility, Seizures.
Services provided nationally for Multiple Disabilities, Train Handler, Apprenticeship, Children (based on maturity of child).

Rocky Mountain Command Dogs
Contact: Hal Steiner
Address: 3240 Linney Road; Bozeman, MT 59718
Phone: (406) 388-1197
Email: rmcd@avicom.net
Disabilities Animals are Trained For: Guide, Hearing, Mobility, Seizure, Psychiatric, Multiple Disabilities, Own Animal, Train Handler. Apprenticeship, Help select, Children (2 years+, based upon maturity of child).

International Assistance Dogs

Assistance Dogs International, Inc. (ADI)
Address: P.O. Box 5174; Santa Rosa, CA 95402
Phone: (707) 540-1553 (Voice)
Email: info@assistancedogsinternational.org
Website: http://www.assistancedogsinternational.org
Assistance Dogs International, Inc. (ADI) is a coalition of members, representing organizations and individuals, training and placing assistance dogs in areas such as Europe, Australia, Asia and Latin America.
To find a chapter in your area, click on: http://www.assistancedogsinternational.org/members/programs-search/

For a treasure trove of resources, go to: National Service Dog Registry https://www.nsarco.com/

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