My Nonprofit Reviews

We acquired a beautiful service dog from ECAD in New York for our son, Nathaniel, in 2008 and it has been the best thing we've ever done for him. Nathan, now 11, suffers from mitochondrial disease, a life-threatening illness that robs the body of its ability to create adequate energy from food. The result is a general deficiency in nearly every system in the body-muscular, respiratory, immune, digestive, etc.

Nathan's beautiful golder retriever, Chief, from ECAD helps Nathan on a daily basis with the everyday functions most people take for granted. He helps Nathan dress by "bracing" for him so Nathan can have something to lean against and maintain balance. He picks up clothes and toys off the floor and brings them to Nathan. He helps hold Nathan's legs up to get his leg braces and shoes on. He alerts my wife and me at night if Nathan's breathing is irregular or if he's kinked his O2 tube. Above all, though, Chief is a faithful sentinel and friend at all hours, day or night. Hospital procedures are more bearable when a warm fur coat and cold nose are close at hand to give a nudge of encouragement as only a faithful dog can do.

There is a reason our family decided to drive all the way to New York from Michigan to get a service dog, and that reason is ECAD. The dogs' breeding lines are strictly maintained and the training is thorough and unparalleled. We sometimes see so-called service dogs from other organizations in our area when we're in public and they behave so poorly that we're quickly reminded again why we choose to go to ECAD for help.

I recommend them unreservedly and hope they will continue their success for generations to come.

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