Help Carl Make His Dream Come True With 4 Paws!

Want to join me in supporting a good cause? I'm raising money for 4 Paws For Ability and your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps. Thank you for your support. I've included information about 4 Paws For Ability below.

4 Paws for Ability strives to be the leading provider of service dogs for children regardless of disability as well as adult children with caregiver guardianship who cannot live independently. 4 Paws assists Veterans who have given selflessly to our country by providing service dogs which can assist with disabilities on a case by case basis as well as adults living with hearing loss, diabetes, or Alzheimer’s.

Carl’s story:

Carl is 9 years old with a big heart and a great love for anything animal related. He is happiest when he plays with his fur babies. He is very smart and loves to watch shows such as Wild Krats and Odd Squad and play basketball.

I am Carl’s great grandmother. My husband Steve and I adopted Carl when he was 5 years old. Carl and his mother lived with us off and on from the time of Carl’s birth. She moved him from place to place for his first 4 years sometimes leaving him with strangers. As many of our youth today have done she turned to drugs and being a mother did not fit into her new life style. He has suffered from abandonment issues, emotional abuse, physical abuse and neglect that lead us to seeking help and guidance which eventually lead to his adoption. Carl has been in mental health treatment since he was 4 years old. Through his therapy, neuropsychological and other exams, he has been diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD and disruptive mood disorder. Carl is developmentally behind, has meltdowns, focus issues, uncontrollable rages, impulse control issues and issues forming relationships with other people including his peers.

My husband was the primary care giver for Carl as I worked from home as well as cared for my Dad. My husband and I moved from Florida to Kentucky to care for my father who had suffered from a stroke.  Steve and Carl were very attached to each other. They did everything together such as going to parks, feeding the ducks, and fishing trips. Carl loved having the two men to spend his time with and starting making progress. Shortly after adopting Carl we learned that Steve had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Our lives became rounds of doctors, chemo, and hospital. Through it all Carl was still his main priority and they became inseparable.  In 2016 my father passed away suddenly from a brain bleed. A year later Steve lost the cancer battle after two and a half years of fighting.

Carl was suffering from the losses and his behavior and other issues began to escalate. He began to have irrational rages hurting others as well as himself. We tried all different interventions but nothing helped.  Suggestions of residential treatment started coming but I could not bring myself to let him go and began desperately looking for an alternative. During a school meeting it was suggested that with his love of animals that a service dog may help so we began researching. We were told about 4 Paws for Ability and their different types of service dogs. His doctor and therapist agreed it just might be our answer so I applied to 4 Paws for Ability and completed the application process which included medical documentation and other approvals. Carl has been approved through the program for a multi-purpose service dog. I believe that a service dog can make a positive impact that no amount of therapy, medication or alternative therapy is able to do.

 The dog will help him through training to interrupt an escalation or meltdown, detect anxiety and apply deep pressure and aide in social interactions to help him feel more comfortable and safe. In addition, this will give Carl a non-judgmental, 24/7 friend who will love him unconditionally and show him that not everyone leaves. This will help Carl be able to have more control with his disabilities and lead him to adapt to the world around him.

In order for Carl to bring his dog home we need to raise $17,000 for our part of the 4 Paws for Ability program. Training a service dog to meet the requirements can be very costly. On average it costs between $40,000-60,000 to raise, train, and place a service dog at 4 Paws for Ability. We are asking for donations to help us raise the $17,000 to make Carl’s dream come true.

 Would you be willing to help make Carl’s dream come true?

Donations in support of Carl should be made directly to 4 Paws for Ability – be sure to write the name Carl Adams on the memo line.

Mail checks to:

4 Paws for Ability

In Honor of Carl Adams

253 Dayton Ave.

Xenia, Ohio, 45385

If you wish to make an online donation, the website is www.4pawsforability.org/donate-now. Include the name Carl Adams in the “instructions to merchant” through PayPal. You may also call to make a credit card donation over the phone at (937) 374-0385 – Monday thru Friday 9AM to 4PM EST.