W.A.G.S. 4 Kids

Making a Difference From Prison

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 10:04:35 -0700

At W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, we believe that everyone has the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of others. It's because of this belief that we're especially proud to work with the inmates of the Ohio Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (ODRC). Since 2007, our team has partnered with the ODRC using an award-winning, accredited Service Dog Training Program, allowing us to apprentice inmate trainers who then train W.A.G.S. 4 Kids service dogs. As these men prepare to re-enter society, they're learning a skill that can be used later in life, as well as learning what it means to change the lives of children with special needs.

Our inmate trainers work with their service dogs in training for months, teaching them many of the essential skills they will need to serve their child partner so that upon graduation, their dog is ready to be placed with its family. For 13 years, this graduation has included a ceremony celebrating the accomplishments of each dog and all of the trainers involved in their upbringing. Each family is invited into the correctional facility, and as we hand over the leash we ask "who here has had a hand in raising this service dog". To see all the hands go up is a moment no family will ever forget. This is a moment of pride for every man in that room to take ownership in knowing their efforts are about to change the whole world for one child and their family. 2020 has taken these precious moments away from us and away from them, but it can never take away the pride felt by the men who live with, raise, and train these priceless service dogs. The W.A.G.S. 4 Kids service dog to most recently graduate from her training is Linda. When Linda and her trainer, Shaun, parted, Shaun wrote a letter to Linda's new owner, Ben. It is with his permission that we share those words with you.

Shaun's letter to Ben:

We're immensely grateful for trainers like Shaun who have dedicated so much time and effort into...Read More

22 Years of Impact—and What Comes Next

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:13:28 -0700

Dear WAGS 4 Kids Community,

As we mark 22 years of W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, this moment offers an opportunity not only to reflect on where we’ve been—but to clearly define where we are and where we’re going.

Where We Are

Over the past year, our organization has continued to operate from a position of strength, stability, and growth.

In 2025, we placed nine service dogs with children and families across our service area—each partnership representing not just a milestone, but the beginning of a long-term relationship built on training, trust, and support. Since our founding in 2004, that number has grown to more than 150 placements, each one reinforcing the impact of this work and the need for it to continue.

Our reach remains strong across 38 counties in Ohio, with continued demand from families seeking access to service dog programs that meet them where they are.

And it is shaping how we think about scale, access, and sustainability moving forward.

The Work Behind the Work

We continue to invest in the full scope of our program—from the earliest stages of puppy development through advanced training and long-term placement support.

This work requires time, resources, and a level of consistency that can only be sustained through a committed and engaged community.

And that community continues to show up.

In 2025, we saw that commitment reflected in powerful ways—from the continued success of our community-driven events to the emergence of new leadership through initiatives like Hope Heroes.

What began as a student-led project became a $50,000 investment in our mission—reinforcing the idea that impact is not defined by age, but by action.

Meet Atlas

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:48:36 -0700

Atlas is a bright and determined 6-year-old boy with a deep love for learning, discovery, and hands-on exploration. He is especially drawn to science and enjoys figuring out how things work. Atlas has hyperlexia, giving him an incredible ability to read and a natural fascination with letters, numbers, and words. He also loves to build and create, especially with LEGO, kinetic sand, and clay. He moves through the world with curiosity, creativity, and a perspective that is entirely his own.

Atlas is autistic and also lives with Spina Bifida and epilepsy, which affect his mobility, balance, and endurance. He wears leg braces and uses a wheelchair for longer distances. Atlas also has a severe speech delay, which can make it difficult for him to express his needs, especially when he feels overwhelmed or is in unfamiliar environments. In those moments, frustration and anxiety can build quickly, leaving him feeling lost in a world that often moves faster than he can communicate.

A service dog through W.A.G.S. 4 Kids will provide Atlas with mobility support, including bracing and stability, while also offering constant emotional grounding and reassurance. His dog will be a steady, calming presence, helping him feel safe, understood, and more confident as he navigates school and everyday life.

Atlas has the sweetest soul and a quiet strength that inspires everyone around him. He experiences the world in his own beautiful way, and when he feels safe and supported, his personality shines: playful, loving, and full of wonder. A service dog will be so much more than a helper. It will be his stability when his body feels unsure, his comfort when the world feels overwhelming, and his loyal best friend through it all. With a service dog by his side, Atlas will have greater freedom, confidence, and independence to keep exploring the world and growing into the incredible boy he already is.

Having a trained service animal will play a vital role in supporting Elena’s emotional wellbeing and independence. We feel as a family that the dog will help provide calming support during times of anxiety or sensory overlapping, allowing Elena to better regulate her emotions. The animal will also be most helpful with transitions or unfamiliar situations.

In addition, the service animal will enhance Elena’s ability to safely participate in daily activities and community outings by offering support and companionship. The presence will help with confidence and security, helping her explore the environment around her with greater independence. This partnership will be an important tool in helping Elena reach her fullest potential and improve her quality of life. Thank you so much for reading about our girl.

You can also mail a check or money order to:

W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, 112 East Center Street, Berea, OH 44017

Thankful Thanksgiving 2025: Anna & Leo

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:18:56 -0800

Every November, we pause to share stories of gratitude — stories that remind us why this mission matters and the quiet, powerful ways a working dog can shape a child’s world.

This year, we’re giving special thanks for one of our Central Ohio families, a region whose stories don’t always get the spotlight they deserve. But Anna’s story is one worth returning to. Many of you first met Anna three years ago, when her family shared what daily life looked like for her before a service dog was even possible.

Where Anna Started

When Anna’s parents first shared her story with us in 2022, they described their daughter as sweet, social, and full of heart — and struggling in ways that shaped nearly every part of daily life.

Around 12 months old, Anna began losing the words she had gained. She stopped turning to her name. The sparkle that showed up so easily in social moments didn’t translate into communication, and everyday sensory input — sounds, textures, food, clothing — started stacking against her.

By age two, their calendar wasn’t just busy; it was built around therapy.
Speech. OT. Specialists. Evaluations.
Again and again, they heard, “She needs more support.”

By age three, her parents made a major decision:
They packed up their lives and moved to Columbus because they knew she required services they couldn’t access where they were living. They didn’t move for convenience. They moved for Anna’s future.

The diagnoses followed: autism, generalized anxiety disorder, ADHD, auditory processing disorder, and expressive/receptive speech delay. None of these labels defined Anna, but they explained the pieces her family had been holding together for years:

Anxiety that made transitions overwhelming
Sensory overload that turned simple routines into battles
Communication delays that made expressing needs difficult
Challenges navigating environments that “should” have been...Read More

Meet Joey

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 07:59:42 -0800

Meet Joey. Joey is a sweet, joyful young man who loves dogs and music, and whose smile and laugh can brighten any room. When Joey does something, he does it with his whole heart—whether it’s singing at church, helping others, or talking about his favorite thing: 101 Dalmatians. Joey loves working with the dogs at his vocational training program and can tell you all their names!

Joey’s joy and gentle spirit are even more remarkable given everything he has overcome. He experienced significant neglect early in life. When he was just five months old, I received a call that he needed a foster home. They told me Joey didn’t cry or make eye contact, but when I went to pick him up, he looked at me, smiled—and cried the whole way home. At that time, he was far behind on developmental milestones and had a blank facial expression. With patience and love, Joey began making slow but steady progress, though he continued to face challenges.

Joey was adopted at age two and a half. By the time he was three, he had several diagnoses: autism, anxiety, intellectual disability, and a genetic microduplication. Through years of love, therapy, and hard work, Joey made incredible progress—especially in speech, managing sensory input, and connecting with others.

As he got older, new challenges emerged. Joey was diagnosed with Cherubism, which caused abnormal bone growth in his jaw and required multiple scans under sedation, along with frequent doctor’s appointments. Several years ago, Joey also began developing tremors that cause his hands to shake when he tries to do anything and make his speech halting and difficult to understand. In January 2025, the tremors began to affect his legs and balance. He became afraid to walk down stairs for fear of falling. While he’s doing better on stairs now, the tremors still impact his daily life—affecting everything from writing and buttoning clothes to making a sandwich or carrying on a...Read More

Meet Reed

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:51:52 -0700

Reed is a bright and imaginative 7-year-old in first grade who lives life with curiosity and joy. Though he is non-verbal autistic, Reed communicates in incredible ways—especially through his love of movies, animals, and dinosaurs. He often scripts scenes from his favorite films, like Mr. Peabody and Sherman! His memory is astonishing: if he sees a new animal or dinosaur, he’ll memorize its name and search for it on YouTube hours later, spelling it perfectly.

Reed’s favorite place is the Cleveland Zoo, where he visits elephants and other animals he adores. He also loves green screen videos, car rides, going to church, and spending time with his big brothers Tristan and Garrett. Reed is full of laughter and wonder, but he faces challenges that require constant care—he’s an eloper, meaning he may wander off unexpectedly, which makes safety a top priority for our family.

That’s why we’re working to get Reed a service dog. A trained companion will help keep him safe, provide comfort during sensory overload, and support him through transitions at home, school, and in public. Reed recently went on his first real family vacation to cabins in Maryland, where he played at the beach and made joyful memories. He’s come so far, and we’re excited to see how much more he’ll grow with a service dog by his side.

You can also mail a check or money order to:

W.A.G.S. 4 Kids,

112 East Center Street

Berea, OH 44017

35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law that continues to shape the lives of millions of Americans.

At W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, these two occasions are deeply connected.

The ADA: 35 Years of Equal Access

Signed into law in 1990, the ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life: schools, workplaces, transportation, and anywhere the general public is allowed. It’s a promise of dignity, equity, and full participation.

But the ADA isn’t just policy. It’s deeply personal. It means a child with mobility challenges can go to school with dignity. It means a teen with autism can enter a grocery store, a restaurant, or a movie theater without fear of exclusion.

Service Dogs: Walking, Working Civil Rights

While ramps and elevators make buildings accessible, service dogs make life accessible.

Each W.A.G.S. 4 Kids service dog is specially trained to assist a child with physical, behavioral, or developmental challenges. That might mean providing deep pressure therapy during a panic attack, retrieving dropped items, or acting as a calming presence in chaotic environments.

The...Read More