Service Dog for Sloane

My name is Sloane and I’m fundraising training expenses for service dog Faolan who helps me manage my physical and mental health. The reason I’m asking for your help is that owning and training service dogs is ⭐astronomically⭐ expensive, and I can neither work more hours nor take on more debt at this point.

How your donation would help me

In 2022, I rescued Faloan as a puppy because I needed a service dog to help me manage my health. As a Swiss Shepherd, Faloan was a perfect fit for me: a kind temperament, a drive to work, and his large size meant one day he could assist me with mobility tasks when my bone syndrome (bilateral patella compression syndrome) causes my knees to dislocate.

I’ve trained Faloan daily with support from service dog trainers in Virginia where he passed three American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen tests. Faolan’s medical alert and response tasks for other health issues like my auditory processing disorder which helped me regain some independence.

However, there are a lot of things I can’t do until Faolan can access specialized mobility training and gear to help me with my physical disability in my knees.

The good news is that I’ve connected with the awesome Maryland-based service dog training company Coastal Service Dogs who can teach him how to safely do things safely like: pulling me up from a sitting position, counterbalancing me when I start to lean over, and guiding me forward when I can’t walk straight, among other tasks.

Where your money would go

$5,000: A month-long board and train with professionals at Coastal Service Dogs to learn his final tasks and advanced leash work

$750: Paying off the cost of his adult service vest and associated gear like a pull strap handle, waist leash, do not disturb patches for the public, and other smaller items.

$250: Fees to GoFundMe

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$6000

Why can’t I just put this cost on a credit card?

Service dogs typically cost tens of thousands of dollars to feed, train, and care for, and Faolan is no exception. In 2023 alone, I spent $10,304 on his training, vet bills, and basic upkeep like food.

I've scraped this money together in various ways: Gifts, freelance income, personal bank loans, credit cards, service dog discount programs, customer reward points, and good quality pet insurance. I also keep meticulous record of all receipts for tax deductions. At this point, I can't work longer or borrow more to fund this last expense.

Put quite simply – you are my last hope! Any funds you can spare, or time sharing this post, would be so helpful in helping me regain my independence. If I raise any extra funds, I will donate them to my friend Mohammed Arafet’s fundraiser who is trying to rescue his family from a besieged refugee camp in Gaza.