Help! Finn Retired But Disabilities Didn’t
Donation protected
Finn has retired. My disabilities haven’t. After years of loyal, life-saving service, my incredible dog Finn has officially hung up his vest. He’s now living the dream — sunbathing, sleeping in, and demanding snacks with zero hesitation. He’s earned every bit of rest. But while Finn gets to enjoy retirement, I’m still navigating life with complex and overlapping medical conditions — both physical and psychological — including:
- POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
- SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia)
- Parsonage-Turner Syndrome (nerve disorder)
- Psychogenic Amnesia
- C-PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression
Finn wasn’t just trained to help with mobility and safety — he provided deep, intuitive support for my mental health. From alerting to dissociative episodes to grounding me during panic attacks, he was everything. Now I’m starting over… and I’m asking for your help.
Hope is on the Horizon Thanks to Tiffany Schneider at Barkerhaus Kennels, I’ve been matched with a potential puppy from a litter expected next month. This is not just any litter — it’s a carefully thought-out pairing:
- Mom is a Barkerhaus girl: stable, even-tempered, and absolutely stunning.
- Dad is from an entirely different, fresh genetic line — adding excellent structure and temperament potential for psychiatric and physical service work.
This will be my first full-breed dog, chosen with one purpose: to give both the dog and me the best chance at success in intense and lifelong service training.
The Costs — and Why I’m Asking for Help
Service dogs can cost $50,000 or more when fully trained — and insurance does not cover it.
This pup will be trained for both medical alert and psychiatric service work — including:
✅ Basic and advanced obedience
✅ Public access and desensitization
✅ Medical tasking (fainting/falling response, cardiac alert, retrieval)
✅ Psychiatric support (grounding, dissociation interruption, anxiety response, memory cueing)
This process is rigorous and expensive, and unfortunately, insurance doesn’t cover a penny. Your donation directly supports this journey to independence and safety.
Immediate Need: $3,500
These are expenses that hit right now, in order to secure the puppy and begin the journey:
Puppy cost: $1,500
Collapsible crate (home, car, events): $350
OFA health & joint testing: $700
Heartworm/flea/tick meds + supplies: $450
✨ Misc. startup gear/training tools: $500
➡️ Immediate Need Total: $3,500
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♦️ Remaining Budget: $11,800
This covers the full service dog journey:
Basic & Advanced Training: $6,000+
Task-specific support for cardiac episodes, memory lapses, dissociation, grounding, mobility, retrieval
Vet care & health screenings throughout development
Travel to trainers/classes/events
Gear & specialized equipment (vests, harnesses, working tools)
Total Campaign Goal: $15,300
Why This Matters: Finn changed my life. He kept me safe. He helped me function. He gave me hope when everything felt too heavy.
Now, I’m trusting the process — and this next pup — to do the same.
If you can give, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
If you can’t, a share or kind word helps more than you know.
Finn says thank you too — from the couch, surrounded by treats, and wondering when the rookie arrives to take over.
#FromFinnToFuture #ServiceDogInTraining #PsychServiceDog #RetiredNotDone #FinnsLegacy #BarkerhausKennels
Organizer
Darci Escandon
Organizer
El Paso, TX