We wanted to let everyone know about the inception & fruition of K-9s to Furkids, Ltd. I have been doing this on my own time & my own dime for years now. That is when it struck me that I could be helping far more dogs & families if I only incorporated & filed for a non-profit status. We are now a nonprofit incorporation to the thanks of Ryan Kennedy, who did such entirely pro-bono.
We rescue, rehab, and train those rescues using behaviorism to see if they have what it takes to become service dogs. If so then they move forward in our training program with those families on our list waiting for SDs. If not, then they get rehomed with those on our pre-screened families waiting to adopt one of our pet dogs. At that point, we have already put a lot of work into the dogs, so anyone would be more than willing to open their home up for a pre-trained pooch! *smile*
Knowing health insurance will not pay for Service Dogs will ensure K-9s to Furkids, Ltd is not only a viable program but an absolute Godsend to those in need of a service dog. As well as the dogs being rescued from certain euthanasia—to find a perfect place for their work drive, a job to facilitate their energy is spent helping a family in need. Due to the length & intensity of this training, purchasing a service dog can be exceptionally pricey – anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000 – and they are not covered by any health insurance. Service dogs’ expenses, however, can be deducted from your taxes to help defray the cost.
The families we help are those of which most of the better known Service Dog Training Organizations downright REFUSE to assist. For instance; anyone who needs a dog who is under the age of 14, lacks age-appropriate cognitive ability, as well as being able to independently command or handle a Service Dog for themselves is instantly out of the running for one of their dogs. Talk about a slap in the face for those who need these furkids the most. Any applicant must not have any other animals in the home. Who cares if you have had a beloved pet dog since you were three years old? Time for you to re-home Sparky with family or take him to a shelter or rescue if you want a Service Dog from their Center.
The average wait time on a variety of waiting lists can range from one to fifteen long years. Can you even imagine waiting three to five years for help you need? I honestly cannot. Keep in mind, I have a service dog of whom I rely upon heavily in my day to day life. He ensures my life remains as normal as possible. These demands leave out a great number of families who could & would benefit the most from an assistance Dog, let alone the emotional benefits of the companionship of a Furkid. This all feels exceptionally elitist. Thusly, we dislike their business model a great deal.
I have proven my mettle with Harrison County’s Animal Control’s Director and their officers with cases they believed to be lost causes. I believe Animal Control, Humane Societies, and various rescues are untapped resources for what I am building. I hope that I can, in time, earn your trust so that I can build a working relationship with a variety of rescues. So that when a GSD comes in that a whisper of hope, that you can reach out to us. That we can use a system that is in place to get the dog to us and we can help both the dog and those in need!
DOG Training (If you aren’t interested, you can skip THIS paragraph)
Once the rescue arrives, I assess said pup/dog. Then, instantly begin the rehabilitation with him/her in my own home. There are no crates involved as I use leads and tie down in in each of my rooms and where I am they are. Dogs are social animals, they need to feel as if they are a PART of something, not alone. Making “tinkle training” with pups a WHOLE lot simpler. It also allows the dog to become a part of my pack, without allowing them to be out of control in excitement, lashing out aggressively successfully (fear or otherwise), or being shunned via alone, sadness, etc. I can constantly assess them and keep control of the situation. It is a constant process and obviously a passion because I am at it 24/7. The dog sleeps in the same room as myself, but is restricted to a very small area near the foot of the bed. (Yes, the dog always has access to water) Once I recognize that the dog is eager to integrate into the pack, I release the lead from the floor, but not from the lead. Until the dog has fully earned my trust, I won’t risk the wellbeing of the rest of my furkids nor myself he won’t be released from the lead. As long as the dog plays well, eats well, and does well during pack quiet times for 3 days then we know he/she has fully integrated into the pack successfully. During those three days, I do full testing trying to find triggers. If I find full on red-triggers, I put my behaviorist skills to work. I do my best to save the dog from itself.
We get our soon-to-be Handlers involved in the training process. It not only helps to build trust & bond between the dog and handler, it also builds confidence in the family & a skill set that lasts! It teaches them how to be a better dog owner! It doesn't simply stick a dog into a family that knows absolutely nothing about a dog and expect them to know something about a canine and pack-structure! It's a win-win all around for all involved!
We sincerely hope in the future that we will be supported in our endeavor with building an interdependence between Handlers and Service Dog teams by rescuing K-9s all while helping these lost souls to become Furkids with a bit of love, patience, and consistency.
This has been something I have been doing for years now... only recently have I pursued expanding my efforts since approached by so very many who are in need. I am of the opinion, German Shepherd Dogs make the perfect Service Dog. I know that many people get a GSD believing that high-drive puppies are a breeze to raise, then they quickly learn that if you don’t give them the attention they deserve and a firm hand they require they quickly become more than most people can handle so they sadly end up in rescues, shelters, & animal control across the nation at the age of 2 years old because people believe it's easier to tie them out or lock them up in a laundry room or basement. It is FAR more time-consuming to train an older dog than a pup. We hope to bring a light to this issue and award those families a better option when those puppies prove they are more than those families can handle at the age of 5-8 months of age. We can & will readily offer a tax credit & the knowledge that this puppy went on to higher endeavors... so long as they donate those pups to our training facility.
I have Left Temporal Lobe Epilepsy that generalizes. Despite taking four Antiepileptic drugs I still have violent breakthrough seizures, much to my chagrin. I guess that is what makes this mission's success so very vital to me on a deeply intimate level. I know what it means to REQUIRE a Service Dog at my side to live a semi-normal life. Segen's service & assistance is vital to my life & well-being. He is trained primarily in seizure alert & assist - I cannot tell you the difference he has made throughout my life. Only that I no longer fear to leave my house and have a seizure in public the way in which I once did, all thanks to him. I'm thankful for the independence through interdependence. Even my worst days I have him beside me to ensure I'm never alone as I once was. Everyone deserves that kind of security, companionship, & love. Even if they lack cognitive ability below 14-years-old, can’t walk without a wheelchair, lack the ability to utilize their hands, or own a Sparky.
There's ALWAYS a way, and it's our sacred duty to ensure it does. Want to help? Volunteer. Donate.
-Franc Floyd Director/Behaviorist K-9s to Furkids, Ltd