Ohio Nonprofit Needs Foster Care for Dogs and Pups

Xenia, OH (PRWEB) February 8, 2008 -- Karen Shirk, a 40-something single Ohio mother with Myasthenia Gravis (grave muscle weakness), became ventilator dependent as a young woman and sought the help of agencies in getting a service dog. Repeatedly denied a dog because of the severity of her illness, she often thought of suicide, but instead obtained a little black German Shepherd pup, Ben, and set about training him. Today, she operates an agency of her own, and right now there's a strong need for people to care for foster pups.

"We desperately need homes that will foster the pups that will one day be assistance dogs. No experience necessary. Puppies are usually around 8-12 weeks," says Shirk. "In addition we need foster homes for adult dogs. When we obtain adult dogs (6-18 months) that are ready to begin training, they usually go straight into our prison program for basic obedience training. At times when there are no openings at the prison, we need temporary foster homes for these dogs until a space opens up for placement in the prison program."

The love and devotion of Ben had helped her improve physically, and she began focusing on one of her dreams: creating an agency where people wouldn't be turned away for the wrong reasons. In 1998 she incorporated 4 Paws for Ability as a nonprofit 501(c)(3), and to date the organization has trained over 250 autism, seizure, hearing, mobility, and multipurpose dogs. Entire families have been transformed by these special creatures.

During the eight years that Ben was her assistance dog, Shirk began dreaming nor only of starting a nonprofit, but of adopting children. In 2002, Ben died, and that same year she began researching foreign adoptions. Benjamin Aaron came home from Bulgaria in 2003. Somewhat later, she discovered an adorable baby in Haiti, and began the process of adoption. The paperwork requirements there have caused delays, and her little Elijah is now almost three and still in the orphanage. But he'll soon be home in Ohio.

During one of Shirk's visits to see him, she met a slightly older brother and sister whom she intuitively knew were to be part of her family. She'll get Elijah soon, but because of more paperwork has to wait longer for the Isaiah and Isabelle. Undefeated, she knows they're her kids, and she visits the three of them in Haiti as often as she can.

"My hope for my children," she says, "is that they will grow up and have a place in the world where they can make a difference in other people's lives. I want them to have the opportunity to be who they are meant to be. To foster who they are and to see that all their needs are met. Here in America I know they have that potential."

Currently, in addition to finding foster homes for pups, she's seeking to raise funds for a new training area in their facility so 4 Paws for Ability can train more dogs. Of the 52 million people with disabilities in the U.S., only 1 percent use service dogs. The demand for these dogs far exceeds the supply. Shirk's dream to help disabled people continues to make a difference in many lives throughout the country, and someday, perhaps the same will be said of her children.

Find more information on Shirk and her puppy foster care program, at http://www.4pawsforability.org/foster.html.

And the story of 4 Paws for Ability at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39-9bxmfpug

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