Man’s service dog passes away — so coworkers surprise him with a new one
Many service dog owners rely on their dog companion to help them live a more complete life. In many cases, individuals use a service dog because of an underlying medical condition, such blindness, confinement to a wheelchair, or epilepsy. However, unless you train your own service dog, getting one can be expensive – as the following man found out.
Cody Joss’ story
Cody Joss became paralyzed right after his high school graduation, leaving him unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair. Despite his disability, Joss was able to go to college. Once there, he decided to get a service dog. He ended up getting a black Labrador mix that he named Wrigley.
After Joss graduated from college and moved on to his job, Wrigley sadly passed away. Devastated, Joss had no idea how to pay for a new service dog, which go for roughly $20,000.
His coworkers decided to help Joss out
Joss’ coworkers, who all had gotten to know Wrigley and had even grown to love him, hatched a plan to help Joss out. They decided to raise the funds needed to get Joss a new service dog. With the help of friends, family, and the company he worked for, Joss’ coworkers were able to raise $18,000 – enough to get Mack, a golden retriever trained to be a service dog by inmates at the Turney Center state prison.
A program designed to help inmates
The prison program had been started as a way to give the prisoners a chance at rehabilitation and to provide them with some of the skills they would need to start a new life outside of prison. The programs, which operate at prisons across the U.S., have been credited with reducing violence at the prisons. Plus, there is the added benefit of a fully trained service dog for the people who need them.In other words, people like Joss.
What goes into the training of a service dog?
Before a service dog can start helping a person with a disability or medical condition, they have to receive training. Unfortunately, this is not an instantaneous process, taking anywhere from one to two years to complete. One of the first skills they must be taught is how to respond to commands, such as retrieving items for their owner, helping if their owner has a medical incident, and getting help when needed.
The service dog trainee must also learn how to be disciplined in public places. This allows them to pay full attention to their owners and hopefully detect any problems before they can escalate. That is why it is important not to distract a service dog while they are on the job.
How to get a service dog
Some dog owners train their pets to act as a service dog for them. And while this is a great way to get a service animal without paying the heavy price, it is not possible for some people. To qualify for a service dog, all an individual has to do is get the proper documentation from their physician stating that they have a disability.
Then it is just a matter of paying the appropriate fee if you are buying a service dog outright, followed by applying, and being matched with a specific service dog. Once the dog is ready, they go to live with you.
See the sweet surprise from Joss’ coworkers in the video below.
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