4 Paws For Ability Inc

Tonia Highers

2019-05

We just received our daughter's autism service dog from 4 paws for ability and she is amazing! The staff is just phenomenal. These dogs are loved from day one by all staff and volunteers, treated wonderfully, cared for thoroughly, and trained to be amazing service dogs! We would definitely recommend anyone that needs a service dog to go here. From the CEO down they are an excellent company!

Emily Kaster

2023-09

We love 4Paws. We take care of one of their breeder dogs and picked up a puppy to foster today. They have been wonderful during our breeders whelping and with the puppies. Kennel staff are always kind and very helpful.

Tina Thompson

2024-02

The 2 trainers at the Fairfield Commons Mall were super RUDE! I asked to pet the dogs and they were very rude. I get they are working , a simple no they are working is more appropriate response.

Megan Cheers

2023-10

My service dog was attacked my freshman year of college, causing my service dog who previously had little to no issues with other dogs to begin to be more reactive. 4 paws never responded to me despite me reaching out on many occasions through phone and email. I only received nasty messages from volunteers when I shared my experiences online.I have, on many occasions, gone into medical episodes due to these dogs and their poor behavior.Once these dogs actually begin their service training I have had no issues, but the puppy raisers are rude, entitled, and should be avoided at all costs.

Buddy Lee

2018-05

I cannot express enough gratitude for the gift we have received. The facility is top notch, the staff are professional, knowledgeable, and caring. I would recommend to anyone needing a service dog.

Terri Ambrose

2022-05

My Husband Ken and I throughly enjoyed our guided tour Monday with Barbara, one of the many Knowledgeable and Friendly Volunteers.After completing my application for a Veteran Service Dog and sending it off, I found myself curious to see where the service dogs come from and how they're trained.We just happened to be in the Xenia, OH area and I arranged a last minute tour of #4PawsforAbility. We toured the facilities with Barbara and saw trainers working with future service dogs as well as touring the breeding area, the puppy house, and the grounds set up for play (and of course saw adorable puppies).The staff, trainers and volunteers were knowledgeable, friendly and dedicated to the mission of placing a quality (non cookie cutter) service dog with children and veterans who need them.Thanks everyone that made this last minute tour possible!

Jenny Napier

2023-11

Our Girl Scout troop took a tour and did a service project. All the girls want to volunteer again.

Angela P

2020-05

I don’t understand how anyone could have anything negative to say about this organization. My family and I just completed the mandatory onsite 2-week service dog training so we could bring our son’s service dog home. The facility is beautiful and clean, the dogs very well-cared for and wonderfully trained, the trainers and volunteers were approachable, knowledgeable, and hands-on every step of the way. There are SO many moving parts to keep a place like this afloat and it is run (from a parent’s standpoint) seamlessly. I have zero complaints and would entrust them again and again.

Chris Winchester

2022-05

Can't say enough good about 4 Paws! I have now adopted two of their "Fabulous Flunkies" (separately, there is a waiting list) and couldn't be happier. The dogs they breed are the kindest, smartest, happiest, healthiest, prettiest, most well-behaved dogs I've ever known. The dogs they actually put into service are amazing and the organization's employees clearly care for and value the dogs. Really great organization!

Lauren Lewis

2023-05

4 Paws is a good program for recipients but behind the scenes is a different story. There have been several, several incidents where dogs are with the same primary handler & for reasons that are never identified or completely falsified they are abruptly take from their primary handler were they thrive with one on one training & love & put in their “kennel facility”. These precious animals are not robots. They have emotions just as we do. What will this do emotionally to an animal? How is this okay? There needs to be some serious investigation of this program. Their story is glorified on the surface when there of much more going on.

Amanda Joline

2020-05

Without 4 Paws for Ability I would have never made it through freshman year at Kent State University. My first month with out a companion was lonely. I kept saying how I wanted a dog. And then I found 4 Paws. I was paired with Mandela, a papillon. I made so many incredible friends through this organization. I came into contact with some many selfless, caring people that truly cared about their dogs and everyone around them. Everyone always put their dogs first. All dogs are trained to the best they can be trained, but some dogs are not cut out for the job. All 4 Paws members try their best to work out the dogs issues. A major issue I had with Mandela was barking. I received so much advise from so many amazing people and it helped me control his barking. With out all of the support of amazing 4 Paws members I would have never been able to raise Mandela. I hope you will consider becoming a part of this organization because it is truly amazing what they do for the dogs and people in need of a service dog.

Emily G.

2020-05

This is a great place to volunteer with your friends and family. They are an organization that trains and places service dogs with children and veterans. They have service dogs for autism, diabetic alert, seizure alert, hearing impaired, and mobility. They do a great job and really love the dogs and families they work with. They are always accepting donations. Contact them to see what they need, or where to send monetary donation.

Joel Legawiec

2019-05

This place is amazing. The staff is great and mostly volunteers. Three work they do, providing service dogs to children and veterans is absolute amazing. They do everything from breeding to raising and training the dogs all at their facility. I highly recommend that you take a tour of their facility and see all the amazing work they do.

Melissa Bowyer

2023-06

Such a wonderful organization helping children with disabilities and veterans live a more joyful and higher quality life with a highly trained and obedient dog/best friend.

Emily Becker

2020-05

Many of the members I have met or seen out have been fairly rude. There was a girl who was assigned to be a co-handler with me because I was new to the organization, but have had prior dog training experience and she did not tell me what I did wrong, rather she complained to another and I was yelled at In front of many instead of corrected and helped. I have seen many people with 4 Paws dogs who do not seem to care about those with disabilities as much as they care about the attention that comes from owning a dog. I have had 4 Paws handlers kick my friends and I out of a dog park because they “couldn’t have our dogs near theirs”, despite us being there first. Overall, I think they have the right idea, but there are many members I have seen act very unprofessional in public and be very harsh with their puppy. As an ex-volunteer, I would not recommend this because most of the time people seem to yell rather than provide pointers and tips.

Matthew Tracy

2020-05

An absolutely amazing charity organization that breeds, raises and trains service dogs for children and vets. They work tirelessly to raise funds to ensure over 50% of the costs to do everything they do are raised by them and then they assist the families to fund raise the remaining share of the costs. They and the founder have been recognized by many organizations and news reporters. View the first show in the Dogs series on Netflix to get an understanding of what they do and more importantly who they do it for.

Reggie Pickel

2020-05

THEIR DOGS DISTRACT REAL WORKING DOGS. I am a student with a guide dog at one of the University’s that is partnered with 4 paws and there are 20+ dogs on my campus alone which seems to be way too many then they can realistically handle and because of this they have put me and my dog in danger on multiple occasions. Every time we see one of their dogs it either barks, lunges, fixates, or growls at us and there have been several times where we have turned a corner in an academic building and have been lunged or barked at by their older dogs who should be well behaved. They distract real service dogs and then their excuse is that the dog is in training, but even dogs that are in training should have a fairly good basic obedience along with not distracting working dogs from their jobs.The students also seem to have a slim understanding of service dogs and the laws in general, when I talked to the leaders of the club on my campus (who should be well aware of the laws) they had no education on the laws that Ohio provides for service dogs in training. For some of these students it’s their first time ever owning a dog and it shows, they physically will hold the dogs months shut when they see us to keep their dog from barking or they will physically do things to get the dogs to follow commands if the dog isn’t listening such as pressing really hard on the dogs butt to get it to sit and then smacking it to get it to listen. They will also allow the dogs to have “play dates” in the middle of the student center which is a totally inappropriate place for dogs to be playing with each other and they will let the dogs pull their puppy raiser to other 4 paws dogs so they can greet each other, which is why they have the behavior problems they do. The students just like having the dogs be with them all the time, but don’t take the responsibility and time it takes to teach the dogs basic manners and really set a foundation for the dogs. The dogs lunge for food on the floor, will seek for attention from passing by students, and have extreme responses when they see another dog. The students will also yell at other students for touch their dogs even though the dog will run up to other students (they also encourage people to pet the dogs if they see them so they kind of send mix signals) and they will yell at other dog owners to keep their dogs away even though their dog is acting out of control.Upon further research of this program a lot of red flags were thrown up. A program (no matter how good) can not guarantee a seizure alert dog to anyone (an alert dog will detect the seizure before it happens to let the person know to get to a safe place or lay down and response dog will respond to the actual seizure as it happens) the dog may be able to alert to one person and not another which is why most programs will have day where you come and meet some dogs before they pair you up with dog to make sure it’s a right fit and in their Netflix doc the dog sat when it was asked to brace which shows the dog was not ready to work or didn’t enjoy working. If you’re a parent looking for a service dog for your child I understand that you may be desperate looking for a salutation, but take your time looking for a service dog it’s a big commitment and look at all your options. You also shouldn’t just be looking for a companion for your kid the dog needs to be providing task for the child without being asked such as if a child is having a meltdown the dog should automatically start to disrupt the behavior and do deep pressure therapy or a seizure response dog can actually go and find a parent or an adult and lead them back to the child or force itself under the persons head to prevent their head from hitting the floor.These dogs have behavioral issues that can not be fixed in a one to two month period all while at the same time learning all of their task and becoming a service dog, these behaviors are easily masked while at their facilities and around dogs they know.

Aaron Joy

2018-05

As a volunteer trainer, I can highly recommend their services. If you are in the need of a service animal (big or small) this is the place to go. If you simply love dogs, live within 3 hours and want to contribute, this is a great place to volunteer as well.

Elixabete Gray

2017-05

This program does amazing things. The owner, Karen Shirk, is not only kind and compassionate, she is brilliant, creative, driven, and open-minded. This service dog training program changes so many lives for the better that it's almost incomprehensible. I believe, if not for Karen's vision and determination, there would be nothing like this organization, anywhere in the world.

Christina Wallis

2019-05

Unsure about their ethics. They waited until they had my $50 app fee to tell me that it would be about 3 years total to get a dog, despite several correspondence BEFORE I sent the check. When I asked why they did not disclose the wait time, the response was "You didn't ask". They refuse to refund the money. They may or may not intentionally be deceitful, could just be sloppy and poor ethic skills. Just be aware of the possible wait time and try to think of any questions you might not even know to ask. I'm sure their dogs are probably fantastic, but not too sure about this organizations ethics.

Paul Collinsworth

2019-05

I am going off of the documentary that I watched on Netflix. I am so very impressed with what I watched and cried and cried. You folks that work and volunteer here are as much heroes as the beautiful dogs you train to do a job that is nothing short of a miracle. All of you are a gift from Heaven as well as the dogs. You should all be so very proud of your dogs as well as yourselves. I know that I am. There is a special place in Heaven for you guys, the dogs AND the recipients of the product you work so hard to provide for. Keep up the good work and God bless you all. Happy holidays to you and all you love.

Beverly Westerkamm-Wallrauch

2018-05

My son’s autism assistance dog was just what he needed. Seven years later we are still involved with this group and volunteer with them by puppy raising.They truly care about the kids, the veterans and the dogs. Top notch.

Gene Niess

2017-05

This organization is the best. I understand the previous reviews feelings about being rejected, that must be hard, but if anything it just goes to show that they are very careful about making sure it will work. We just finished the process and leave this weekend for training, and I couldn't imagine having done all this and gotten money from so many loved ones and strangers alike only to find out that it's for not. We couldn't be happier with our decision!!

Amiee Dayton

2023-08

Wonderful experience. Friendly staff. Great place to volunteer or donate to. Nothing but wonderful.

Carrie G.

2021-05

Amazing group doing amazing things! They are bringing such joy as well as peace of mind for the families to whom they provide service dogs. The world is a better place with organizations like this one!

Yui Sasako

2018-05

4Paws is amazing in the work they do. Tons of lives have already been saved by their dogs. Fostering is great, and 4Paws will always do all they can to support and help their fosters. Not to mention how awesome the community of fosters is!

Misherald “Missy” Brown

2014-05

A great organization that provides excellent trained service dog. Not only are they a training faculty for service dogs but they are a great organization that offers a opportunity for children with "dis"abilities to thrive.

Jeremiah Bontrager

2019-05

Great organization, great people and amazing dogs. Our experience was amazing with Bolt and he was a perfect match for our son. Would highly recommend and it is worth the wait!

Reuben Gruen

2019-05

My dog is a breeder dog for here. Just had two adorable puppies. They take such good care of her when it is time for her to breed, or if we need to travel.

Michel Berry

2021-05

An amazing nonprofit that matches service dogs to individuals needing help. Friendly and caring staff and volunteers. Clean and well-run facility.