Toddler with epilepsy not eligible for service dog despite fundraising efforts

One rural Manitoba family is heartbroken after finding out they will not be receiving a service dog after fundraising for a Purina Walk for Dog Guides, an event organized by the Lions Club in Ste. Anne, Man.

Jackie Barbour's 3-year-old daughter Keanna has a form of epilepsy which can cause her to have about 10 seizures a week. Barbour had been under the impression that being involved in the walk mean her daughter would receive a service dog within a month. 

• Manitoba family wants service dog to help watch over daughter with epilepsy

The fundraiser, which is held in communities across Canada, raises money to provide trained dogs for people with disabilities, free of charge.

Misunderstanding about eligibility

But the Lions Club of Canada Dog Guides said the family misunderstood. The organization has a pre-existing minimum age requirement of six, due to the complexity of the dog handler's training. 

The handler is required to be the person that suffers from epilepsy, Jenny Gladish, a representative from the organization, told CBC. The recipient of the seizure response dog cannot be a parent or caregiver.

"There is a certain level of understanding and responsibility the handler must assume as they learn to work with their dog guide," Gladish said in an email.

All recipients are required to spend three weeks in Oakville, Ont. to be matched and bond with their dogs, something that isn't feasible for a three-year-old toddler, Gladish added. 

Private fundraising efforts will continue

"We went and promoted the walk and right now online I have $1,285 that was raised through me," Barbour said. 

The Barbour family is now facing a bill of roughly $25,000 to purchase a dog on their own. Barbour's friends and family have already spent a great deal of money supporting the Purina Walk for Dog Guides since they believed it would result in Keanna receiving a dog, Barbour said. 

"I cried my heart out, her grandma cried her heart out. Now we're planning a garage sale to help raise funds, we're planning a social and I am making a Facebook page," Barbour said. 

Gladish added Lions Club doesn't require applicants or recipients "to raise any funds whatsoever." 

"Dog guides are provided free of charge to qualifying applicants," she said.

Barbour said her daughter needs the dog mainly because of the threat to her health at night. She said about 80 per cent of Keanna's seizures happen while she is sleeping. 

"If she had a bad seizure at night, she doesn't wake up and if she doesn't wake up I have to give her a rescue drug and if I don't get there in time it could be fatal," Barbour said. ​