Guest mjaynes288 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I have contacted Greyt Hearts. I am waiting to hear back. The reason I am not going through an orginization is because very few train counter-balance. The ones that do have 5+ year waiting lists. Most organizations do not want the liability of training a balance dog because according to them a dog can just as easily knock a person over as help them balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 I am looking for a medical alert dog and definitely want to adopt a retired grey and train it myself. I can get a grey now but being on a limited disability income, I could never afford the adoption fees. If anyone can give me some advice on how I can find an affordable grey would be great. I am desperate atm.....my hypo-seizures are getting bad and is affecting my family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 I'm just going to be blunt. If you can't afford the adoption fee, how will you afford the dog? Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mjaynes288 Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 The adoption fee is small compared to the cost of owning a dog. How are you going to afford food, heartworm preventative, and routine vetcare? I budget $60 a month just for maintenance. That does not even touch injuries or illness. Vet bills pile up quickly. If my budget was tighter I would go for a small dog. They eat less and their medication is cheaper. If I could not afford $40 a month I would not get a dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 VA pays for most of the expenses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 I would discuss your situation with your local groups and see if anyone is willing to accommodate you in some way. If it truly is only the adoption fee that is holding you back, you can provide a safe home for the dog, and the dog will be a service dog, a group may be willing to lower the cost for you. Can't hurt to ask. Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 (edited) Have to agree. The adoption fee is almost always far less than shots/spay/neuter unless you live in a very rural area. As stated you have to figure out monthly food bills, heartworm, vaccinations, treats (what dog can live with no treats?) flea and tick, annual exams without even factoring in emergencies and other vet visits. I am also on disability and my two dogs are my life. I honestly don't know if I can ever afford another grey and it breaks my heart. Edited March 27, 2015 by Hubcitypam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 The only expenses I have to pay are food etc. All meds, vet bills, vest and training are free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 thanks NeylasMom. Got everything ready for my beautiful new greyhound except the hound and the adoption fee. If there was a place to get one for free....I'm glad I asked. If there aren't any....I'm glad I asked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mjaynes288 Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 (edited) I believe the VA only pays benefits for service dogs from Assistance Dogs International accredited schools. Federal Rule 17.148 say (c ) Recognized service dogs. VA will recognize, for the purpose of paying benefits under this section, the following service dogs: (1) The dog and veteran must have successfully completed a training program offered by an organization accredited by Assistance Dogs International or the International Guide Dog Federation, or both (for dogs that perform both service- and guide-dog assistance). The veteran must provide to VA a certificate showing successful completion issued by the accredited organization that provided such program. (2) Dogs obtained before September 5, 2012 will be recognized if a guide or service dog training organization in existence before September 5, 2012 certifies that the veteran and dog, as a team, successfully completed, no later than September 5, 2013, a training program offered by that training organization. The veteran must provide to VA a certificate showing successful completion issued by the organization that provided such program. Alternatively, the veteran and dog will be recognized if they comply with paragraph ©(1) of this section. Edited March 27, 2015 by mjaynes288 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 according to orthopedics, VA pays for the training program Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DofSweetPotatos Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 (edited) Grant,if you've been approved by the VA, then yoU should have been referred to Service Dogs international. This organization will get you in touch with a group that will help you select a dog with a temperament that may be appropriate for the tasks you require. Approved veterans are not charged for dogs or the associated training through SDI. Edited March 28, 2015 by DofSweetPotatos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 ty DofSweetPotatos....Its been quite a journey of patience dealing with the VA and service dogs. I guess from what I understand, if I train my own dog....I have to pay all expenses until the dog can be certified as a SD. If I find an agency thru SDI, then all is paid for as you stated. Draw back is you gotta wait anywhere from 3 months to a year. Seizure alert dogs take even longer. I got in touch VFW and they may pay for the adoption fee if it is getting trained as a service dog. At least the initial cost will be paid and I wont have any problems paying monthly expenses until it is trained. So its basically, if I want it free....have to get whatever breed they have trained and wait a significant period of time. If I want to train my own....have to pay all expenses until the SD is trained. Also, ty mjanes, your post made me dive deeper into the specifics the VA provides for a SD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mjaynes288 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 No, you will need a dog certified by a program accreditted by Assistance Dogs International to get expenses paid by the VA. I do not know of any ADI accredited program that will certify a dog they have not trained. I would love it if they did as then I could travel outside the US but the programs will not take on the liability of a dog they have not observed training/working for hundreds of hours. The fedral government including the VA is not covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. They have their own rules. After many incidents with poorly trained or untrained dogs at VA facilities Congress passed H.R. 1627 "Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012" which defines a service dog as a dog certified by an ADI program. After this passed owner trained service dogs have regularly been denied entery to VA facilities. If you go the owner training route understand that the VA will not recognise your dog as a service dog for access to their facilities or benefits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 its too bad because its a long wait list for a seizure alert dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sportingfields Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 its too bad because its a long wait list for a seizure alert dog Interesting information here on medical alert dogs: While an emergency medical response dog may sound like a miracle solution to some individuals and families, it is imperative to remember they are still merely a dog and not a physician. If a person’s life depends on the dog’s response to a medical emergency, an EMRD is probably not the best choice. The bond we’ve seen between our best placements often takes months and sometimes years to develop and isn’t something that can be established instantly. Therefore, an EMRD is best considered as a tool in improving a person’s quality of life rather than one that saves it. http://www.servicedogsforamerica.org/about-us/service-dogs/emergency-medical-response-dogs/ This group is fully accredited with Assistance Dogs International. On their site it says it takes 2 years to fully train a dog, only then it is matched up with their possible new owner. Certainly understandable that there is a long wait list. Hope you continue to be patient and work with a" local to you organization", so that one day you may have a EMR dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Grant Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 I know its not a miracle dog....just need something to improve me quality of life. After all of what I have been learning over the last couple weeks (and some misunderstanding), I'm just gonna have to get on waiting list and is what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 One of the greyhounds I adopted out turned out to cue on her adopter's Dad's seizures with no training at all. That was totally random tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AngelPup Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Thought of this post when I read this article! Don't discount Greyhounds as service/therapy dogs. http://www.guideposts.org/inspiration/angels-on-earth/guardian-angels/her-guardian-greyhound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_daerr Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Thought of this post when I read this article! Don't discount Greyhounds as service/therapy dogs. http://www.guideposts.org/inspiration/angels-on-earth/guardian-angels/her-guardian-greyhound Thanks so much for sharing. This made my day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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