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Local Non-profit Provides Service Dogs For Children, Veterans

4 Paws For Ability provides highly trained service dogs to children and veterans with disabilities.  They’ve been providing them since 1998—the organization began in Cincinnati but is now located in Xenia.

Kelly Camm is the development director of the organization. In this interview, with WYSO's Jerry Kenney, she explains how 4 Paws is unique because they don't operate under any age or geographic restrictions.

Then, in part two of the interview you'll hear from Tina Yoder, the the mother of 12 year-old Zachary Yoder. Tina says her family has been trying to raise enough money to get Zach a service dog. 

Service dogs aren't inexpensive – they can cost as much as $15,000.

In May and June, the Yoder family held several fundraisers for Zachary but they are still a long way from their goal. In the interview, she talks about the challenges they are facing and how a service animal could help her son.

Copyright 2021 WYSO. To see more, visit WYSO.

Kelly Camm is the development director of the organization.
Jerry Kenney /
Kelly Camm is the development director of the organization.
Zachary, his mom, Tina Yoder (center), and Aunt tour 4 Paws for Ability.
Jerry Kenney /
Zachary, his mom, Tina Yoder (center), and Aunt tour 4 Paws for Ability.
4 Paws for Ability breeds their own service dogs on site at their facility in Xenia.
Jerry Kenney /
4 Paws for Ability breeds their own service dogs on site at their facility in Xenia.
Training
Jerry Kenney /
Training
Services dogs provide increased independence for children and veterans, and assistance to their families.
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Services dogs provide increased independence for children and veterans, and assistance to their families.

Jerry Kenney was introduced to WYSO by a friend and within a year of first tuning in became an avid listener and supporter. He began volunteering at the station in 1991 and began hosting Alpha Rhythms in February of 1992. Jerry joined the WYSO staff in 2007 as a host of All Things Considered and soon transitioned into hosting Morning Edition. In addition to now hosting All Things Considered, Jerry is the host and producer of WYSO Weekend, WYSO's weekly news and arts magazine. He has also produced several radio dramas for WYSO in collaboration with local theater companies. Jerry has won several Ohio AP awards as well as an award from PRINDI for his work with the WYSO news department. Jerry says that the best part of his job is being able to talk to people in the community and share their experiences with WYSO listeners.