Service Dog For Zephyr - Stroke Survivor

On 8/1/18, Zephyr (they/them pronouns) had a massive ischemic stroke at the age of 23. They lost use of the left side of their body, suddenly unable to walk or even hold their head up unassisted. Over the past year they have survived through incredible amounts of adversity, chaos, and fear, enduring a heart surgery, seizures, and intense physical rehabilitation. They have re-learned how to walk, slowly and with the aid of a leg brace and cane, though they are unable to walk long distances and still require the use of a wheelchair in certain situations. Their left arm and hand are recovering much more slowly, and they are currently unable to use their left arm or hand functionally. Their recovery will continue for years to come. The stroke has left Zephyr unable to work full-time, unable to drive, and they require care and assistance from others for many basic tasks. They also experience severe pain, depression, anxiety, and PTSD daily from their experiences. Partnering with Zephyr’s doctors and physical therapists, we have determined that a service dog would greatly improve Z’s life. It would give them a better quality of life, allowing them to be more independent and self-sufficient both at home and in the community. A service dog would also help positively impact their mental health, providing emotional comfort and support as well as a constant companion. By law, a service dog will be allowed to accompany Zephyr everywhere they go. Some of the physical tasks that a service dog will be able to directly assist Zephyr with: -Retrieval of dropped items -Retrieval of medication -Lightswitches -Elevator buttons -Carrying things, such as a grocery bag, water bottle, etc. -Opening doors -“Go get help” if Z has a fall -Seizure response, and possible seizure detection -PTSD calming responses -Along with many more tasks Cost: Service dogs can cost upwards of $30,000 due to their specialized training. This training requires 1-2 years, if not longer, depending on the needs of the person. The one free service dog organization in the country has an extremely long waiting list, and does not offer any type of seizure training for their dogs. We have found a local trainer who was willing to offer us a lower price, along with a longer payment plan than normal. However, we are still struggling financially. We will be working as hard as we can to meet our own living costs, and meet the payment plan agreement for the dog, but neither Zephyr or I are currently able to work full time due to Zephyr’s disability and health needs. Any help would be so appreciated. If you have specific questions about the cost, please feel free to ask me!