In 1998, Karen founded 4 Paws for Ability (http://4pawsforability.org), an organization that trains and provides service animals for those who cannot obtain them through other organizations. Karen, who suffers from a rare neuromuscular disease, wanted to make a difference in the lives of people like herself, who – for various reasons ranging from too much ability to too little – are turned down by the traditional service dog agency.

While Karen credits her dog Ben (now deceased) as the true founder of 4 Paws, it is clear she has been the driving force behind the organization. When she first founded 4 Paws, Karen ran it out of her own apartment. Two years ago she moved the organization to a larger facility in Xenia. However, 4 Paws is growing at such an amazing rate, it will need to move to a bigger training center very soon to continue to fill the many requests that are coming in daily. The organization will place its 100th service animal this year.

4 Paws places dogs with disabled adults, but it is best known for working with children. Most of the agencies existing today do not place dogs with children and have many restrictive criteria. Karen says she lives to see children with diagnoses such as autism hug their service dogs tight, knowing they have a friend that will always understand them and never think of them as different. 4 Paws believes that anyone who can benefit from a service dog should have someone in their corner to make that happen!

Karen works unreasonable hours due to the commitment she has to her clients. Though disabled herself, she often works from 5 a.m. until after midnight – far longer than most people without disabilities! Karen’s attitude is terrific, and her commitment to 4 Paws is without limits. As she herself has said:

“One of my kids once asked me if I ever wished I were not disabled and I could tell him with certainty that I would not have any other life than the one I have. I live to see each service dog team become a reality. I personally talk to every family. I would never let a child come to us and walk away without the miracle that only a friend on four feet can bring. It is the children who are my heroes. What some of them face every day of their life is amazing, and they conquer their obstacles with a courage most adults could never find. I am blessed to know that beside each of them is a four-footed graduate of 4 Paws!”

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