Service dog organizations are very complex businesses. While there is a misconception among some people that a service dog shouldn’t be costly when they can just take a dog to a few obedience lessons for a few hundred dollars, they miss the point that we are not simply teaching these dogs obedience. Extensive training and care go into creating a service dog.
At Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, we are creating life-changing service dogs, which is a process that requires a lot of care, education, and attention to be successful. Before delving into the actual cost of a service dog, it is critical to understand all of the elements that go into producing one.
The Complexity of Service Dog Organizations
Our organization has multiple departments, from dog training to dog care specialists to our veterinary team, who are responsible for taking care of the dogs in a number of ways, from cleaning up after them to feeding, watering, grooming, health care, etc. There is a wide range of duties that need to be performed to keep the dogs in top-notch condition.
Our trainers conduct all of the different levels and stages of training to teach the dogs everything from obedience to specialized tasks that assist a person living with a disability with a variety of tasks, from balancing to picking up dropped items to alerting the recipient of a medical emergency or waking them up from a night terror. In addition, they must be socialized, desensitized and receive a lot of practice in public venues.
Our veterinarian team and animal hospital are on our campus to ensure the dogs are healthy 100% of the time. The veterinarian staff is also there to handle any sickness or other issues that may arise with our paired teams across the country.
Additionally, we have our Recipient Relations Department, which works with all of our recipients and applicants for a dog, helping to qualify them. We have teams of people within this department, including an inquiry team, who are the first ones to receive a request from an individual, and they start the conversation about the process of getting paired with a service dog. Once the applicant moves up the scale and is qualified, they work with our recipient relations staff to continue the process.
They may also work with our Experienced Team Panel to answer everyday questions that may arise.
Office personnel and our Finance Department also play a significant role in our operations. They work to keep up with bookkeeping, computer skills, documentation, letters, thank you notes, etc. A lot of administrative duties go into the documentation of training and pairing of a service dog.
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs also has a Development Team to bring in the funds needed to care for, train, and pair the service dogs. We do not sell products like a for-profit business. We donate all of the dogs we pair, so our Development Department works to find the funds that keep our organization moving forward.
When you break things down by each department, it begins to put things into perspective on the costs that go into training a service dog.
Training a Service Dog
To train a service dog to navigate the public world successfully, there are a lot of skills they need to learn to become properly socialized and desensitized to deal with all the different situations, noises, smells, etc., that they will encounter in public.
Each service dog is trained based on the needs of their recipient. These skills go far beyond the standards of emotional support, sit, heel, and come. These dogs are trained to detect changes in the recipient’s blood chemistry so they can alert them to an oncoming seizure, high or low blood sugar, or a PTSD episode. The service dog can also be trained to open and close doors, turn on and off lights, and bring food and water from the refrigerator. Additionally, they can be trained to assist someone with their balance or help them get up from a lying or sitting position.
These dogs are trained with highly advanced skills that take time to teach. It also takes time to teach the trainers how to teach these skills properly to the dogs.
So, in addition to the departments needed and the extensive training the dogs receive, this is all part of the cost that goes into preparing the dog to be a service dog.
Pairing the Service Dog
Everything we do is ultimately for the recipient and the service dog. When we are ready to pair a dog, we cover the travel costs for the recipient to come to our campus from anywhere in the country. This includes airfare, hotel, rental car, etc. We cover this cost to ensure the recipient gets the service dog they need to regain their independence. Without covering these costs through our organization, many recipients would not be able to afford to get their own service dog, even if the dog is being donated. We don’t want a circumstance like a lack of available income to stop recipients from being paired with their service dog.
The recipient is brought in for two weeks of training, and then they go home with their service dogs. After that, we have a consistent follow-up with them, starting the first few weeks when they first get home with the service dog and then quarterly after that for the life of the team. We also have traveling trainers who, if there’s a problem with the service dog that can’t be resolved over the phone or by Zoom call, can then fly out to that location. The trainer stays there to work with the team, see what’s going on, and work through that issue with them.
We also have a medical savings program for recipients to help them cope with any veterinary costs, which have also skyrocketed.
Total Cost of Producing a Service Dog
In the past, it would cost around $37,000 to produce one service dog. Now, with inflation, that cost has quickly gone up by more than 10%. For example, dog foods are more expensive, with prices increasing astronomically in 2023.
In a six-month span, first, we had a 15% increase in dog food, then we had a 30% increase in dog food. So that is a considerable expense.
After COVID, there have been many “Help Wanted” signs everywhere due to many people not wanting to return to work. With the government raising the minimum wage in a lot of places and business owners having to raise wages and offer more benefits to draw people back into the workplace, that was another cost increase due to both COVID and inflation.
At Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, we provide excellent wages for a nonprofit organization, and we offer our employees more benefits than most regular businesses because we want to take care of our people. While it creates a great environment for our employees, it does raise our costs significantly.
A lot of funding is needed to achieve our mission. Each piece we’ve discussed in the article goes into each service dog we produce and pair with a recipient.
We search for every avenue to raise funds to produce quality service dogs to pair with recipients and help them lead a fulfilling life.
To learn more about how you can support our mission, visit our Donate page today!
Connor, a Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs recipient, was recently awarded Teacher of the Month at Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School. Connor was nominated by a student and was thrilled to receive this award. “I am extremely honored to be nominated by a student. Furthermore, I am extremely proud to represent Springdale. None of this would be possible without the countless educators and mentors who had a major impact in molding me into the teacher I am today,” said Connor. In addition to his gratitude for his educators and mentors, Connor is also grateful for Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs for pairing him with his service dog Bradley. (more…)
Dear Friends-
I know I speak for all our recipients as well as those on our long waiting list, when I thank you for all you do and all you have given to support our mission. Because of you, after thirteen years, we continue to maintain a ZERO suicide rate and less than a 3% divorce rate. Many of the people who have come to us have had multiple suicide attempts but are no longer destined to be a statistic thanks to you providing their Guardian Angels medical service dog. Guardian Angels has many milestones to our credit, but this one will always remain the most important. (more…)
As we celebrate her 70th birthday, we invite you to join us in honoring all the work she has done for this incredible organization.
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, is a non-profit organization that provides highly trained service dogs to veterans and others in need. These medical service dogs are not only trained to assist with daily tasks, but they also provide companionship and support for those struggling with physical or mental disabilities.
Carol’s passion for helping others and her unwavering dedication to this cause have made Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs one of the leading organizations in providing medical service dogs to those in need. And on her 70th birthday, we want to show our appreciation by asking for donations to support this cause.
We are aiming to reach a goal of $70,000, and we invite you to donate in honor of Carol’s birthday. Whether it’s $7, $70, $700 or even $7000, every little bit counts and will make a difference in the lives of those who will receive these medical service dogs.
(Note: Please feel free to personalize this message with your own words and memories of Carol) Your donations will not only honor Carol, but they will also bring hope and support to those who deserve it.
Carol Borden has dedicated her life to helping others, and on this special occasion, let us show our gratitude by giving back to this noble cause. Your donations will go towards training and providing service dogs to veterans and individuals with disabilities, making a significant impact on their quality of life.
We invite you to spread the word and share this invitation with your friends, family, and colleagues. Together, we can reach our goal and make Carol’s birthday one to remember for years to come.
Thank you for your generosity and support. Happy 70th Birthday, Carol Borden!
https://givebutter.com/carolsbirthday
Mary Jo Brandt, COO of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs recognized as a Diversity Game Changer by the Orlando Magic Basketball Team
Orlando, FL – November 30, 2023 – Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs is pleased to acknowledge Mary Jo Brandt, Chief Operating Officer, as the distinguished recipient of the Orlando Magic Diversity Game Changer of the Week award. This esteemed recognition highlights Brandt’s unwavering commitment to promoting social justice and equality within our community.
The Magic Diversity Game Changers program acknowledges local leaders who strive relentlessly to effect sustainable change and enhance the lives of residents in Orlando. For each game, one individual is honored, and this week, Mary Jo Brandt was selected for her exceptional contributions to both the service dog industry and our community.
Some notable achievements of Mary Jo as a Diversity Game Changer include:
- Successfully placing individuals with service dogs to foster enduring partnerships
- Demonstrating unwavering dedication to the mission and goals of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs
- Providing hands-on support to partner families, establishing robust support systems
- Advocating for diversity and inclusion within the service dog industry and the wider community
Carol Borden, the CEO of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, shared her excitement about Brandt’s well-deserved recognition. Borden stated, “Mary Jo Brandt, our exceptional COO, is truly revolutionizing the service dog industry. Her strategic placements and unwavering commitment to our mission have earned her the esteemed title of Orlando Magic Diversity Game Changer of the Week. We are extremely proud to have her as a part of our team.”
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs is proud to celebrate the invaluable work of Mary Jo Brandt, shining a spotlight on her dedication and the profound impact she has made on countless lives.
For more information about the Orlando Magic Diversity Game Changers program and Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, please visit OrlandoMagic.com and MedicalServiceDogs.org.
About Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs is a nonprofit organization dedicated to training and donating highly skilled medical service dogs for individuals living with disabilities, with a focus on U.S. military veterans and first responders. With an emphasis on enhancing the lives and independence of their recipients, Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs has successfully paired hundreds of dogs with deserving individuals, making a positive impact on families and communities across the nation.
