What is a service dog?

A service dog can be a great help to a person with a disability.
In the United States, up to 27% of adults have a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024-CDC). Service dogs can be extremely helpful for these people. However, there are only about 500,000 service dogs in the U.S. because professional trainers have high standards for them and it's important for the dogs to be trained properly to assist their owners. A service dog can greatly improve the quality of life for individuals with mental or physical disabilities. While there are a lot of factors that will determine if a service dog is right for you, including whether you have the physical and financial ability to care for it, it may be worth considering one if you need help.

What can a service dog do for medically fragile children?

Seizure alert dogs can be trained to perform a variety of tasks, including:

Lying next to someone having a seizure to prevent an injury

Placing their body between the handler and the floor to break a fall at the beginning of the seizure

Staying with the handler during seizures provides support and comfort

Activating a device, to alert a designated person that a seizure is occurring.