Edmonton service dog volunteer shortage prompts backlog

Service dogs can be lifeline for many people with disabilities, but the pandemic caused a delay in training the dogs, which has resulted in a long waitlist for those who need the animals. 

Those involved with training the animals say that there is also a shortage of foster families willing to volunteer and help raise the dogs, which has made the situation worse. 

William Thornton, CEO of BC and Alberta Guide Dogs says the decline in service puppy raisers in Edmonton has left many in need of service dogs waiting for months or even years.

"All of my colleagues are struggling right now, particularly this summer. We're finding there's fewer people than normal who would be contacting us and taking on puppy raising," Thornton explained. 

"Through the pandemic, all the organizations actually did not produce as many teams as they would normally."

It can take up to two years of training and development before the dog is ready for service. 

Carly Neis lives in Edmonton and has cerebral palsy. She said had to wait a year for Gilmore, her second service dog, who has improved her life dramatically. 

"I wouldn't be able to do half of what I do during the day.  My energy would be expended by noon. I've been able to start a new job and I've been able to be more independent."

Service dogs are bred and raised with the purpose of serving a specific individual. Whether the service dog user has autism, PTSD, mobility challenges, or anxiety their dog is trained to specifically serve them based on their daily needs.

For Neis, she says if she had to live without her service dog, life would look very different.

"Anything my muscles and joints don't let me do anymore, he does. So, he is literally a second set of hands, or paws."

Bu many people are still waiting for their service dogs to be bred and trained, which is on hold until more people volunteer to raise the puppies. 

Maureen MacKay, CEO of Aspen Service Dogs in Edmonton trains puppies and adult dogs to become service animals, says puppy raisers and volunteers are the backbone of the industry.

"There's such a need for service dogs right now, we cannot create a service dog without having the raisers," she said. "We're always looking for volunteers that are helping to change someone's life."

In other Canadian cities like Toronto, there is a surplus of foster families ready to take in puppies. 

But in Edmonton, at least 10 people are unable to get a service dog because of the lack of volunteers to foster the puppies, MacKay said. 

Due to the lack of volunteers taking in puppies, MacKay says the life-changing animals aren't being bred at a rate to keep up with demand. 

"The individuals that receive a fully trained service dog are not capable of being able to take a puppy and train them for the two years themselves. So therefore, the puppy starts with a puppy raiser, and there's a year of training foundational skills.

"Raisers and volunteers are the heartbeat of the service dog industry," MacKay told CBC.