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Frequently Asked Questions for All Service Dogs
How much do your services dogs cost?
$12,000
How do I pay for it?
Wilderwood provides our clients with an excellent fundraising planner and resource list of available grants and previous funding sources.
Most of our families follow this formula for payment.
- Organize a fundraiser with the goal of raising $3000.
- For free advertising at event or small community grants find matching funds for $3000.
- Finally, nearly all of my families know someone who works for a larger corporation that does employee matching. This is where the company will match funds donated to a non-profit. They participate in such a program and complete their $12,000.
Additionally, Medicaid recipients may be eligible for assistive technology grants to cover the expense of the service dog. Medicaid also offers interest free or low interest loans to cover the purchase price of a service dog. Wilderwood can offer assistance to our clients in applying for these services. All service dog expenses are considered health related and can be deducted from income pre-tax.
What are the criteria for receiving one of your service dogs?
The individual must be under the care of a licensed MD or Psychiatrist and receiving current treatment for a recognized neurological diagnosis.
Some examples are (but not limited to):
Where are you located?
- All Spectrum Disorders (Autism, Aspergers, etc.)
- Pervasive Developmental Disorder
- Episodic Disorders
- Psychological or Psychiatric Diagnosis
- Brain Injury
- Dementia
- Neurological Disorders (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, etc.)
- Stroke
Wilderwood is located in Maryville, Tennessee.We are:
How do I pick up my dog once one has been trained?
- 3 hours east of Nashville, TN
- 5 hours west of Charlotte, NC
- 3 hours south of Lexington, KY
- 3 hours northwest of Atlanta, GA
Wilderwood offers two different types of training camps (graduations)
- The family will travel to TN for seven days and attend a training camp or
- We offer “offsite gradations” where a trainer will come with the service dog to your home and train the family there.
In both cases, the family must pay for all travel costs and the price of each type of grad is within a few hundred dollars of each other.
How do I get an application?
To receive applications call us at 865-660-0095 and talk to one of our trained staff members. Or download our online adult or child application
and collect all the required information.
How long will it take to get my service dog?
Wilderwood trains its dogs from puppy hood. We train each dog specific to each client. For this reason the waiting list is a year to a year and a half. Most OTHER organizations' waiting lists are 2-5 years!
What type of dogs do you use?
Wilderwood uses a combination of rescue dogs, owner surrendered dogs and AKC registered dogs. 70% of our dogs are rescue or owners surrenders. 30% of our dogs are AKC registered. We use a variety of breeds and size of dogs to meet the individual needs of our clients.
What are the age limits of an applicant?
Provided there are caregivers involved Wilderwood will place a service dog from ages four and up.
If I live in an apartment can I still have a service dog?
Provided there is adequate room and the financial means to continue the care of the dog, our dogs can be placed in almost any living situation. Fenced backyards are a HUGE plus and convenience, but are not required.
Where can your service dogs go?
Our dogs are certified working service animals. They are protected under the ADA and are allowed in any and all public venues, including schools.
Is there a fee associated with Graduation?
Each family is responsible for their travel expenses, hotel expenses and food expenses for the 7 days you will be in Tennessee for graduation.