North Star Services

The following services are broken down into three distinct levels. Every inquiry we receive is treated individually regarding the wants, needs and abilities of all family members to better provide you with the most customized service possible.
All of the following levels of service begin with one free 30 minute telephone consultation or real-time* on-line consultation (via Instant Message) with Executive Director Patty Dobbs Gross to assess your needs. If we determine that North Star services are not appropriate for your family, we will help you identify resources within your own community or refer you to other organizations that might be more appropriate for your specific situation.

All levels of service begin with a $50 donation to North Star, which will entitle you to receive THE GOLDEN BRIDGE and your choice of either NORTHERN LIGHTS or RAISING YOUR NORTH STAR (both the book and videos are described in greater detail on our Tape & Library page, along with information on how to order them).  These materials were designed to help document the work we are doing at North Star, and we feel that educating you is an excellent place to begin our process of acquiring an Assistance Dog for your child

SERVICE PACKAGE 1:
This is our least intensive level of service.
It includes help to evaluate a current pet within the home for suitability of advanced training and/or helping to locate an appropriate puppy or dog to be trained within the home to work with a child. Charges will only accrue in direct service; inquiries done by phone and/or email are billed on the very low hourly rate of $25, as we see intelligent selection of an appropriate candidate for service work as crucial to creating a safe and effective placement. Our experience shows that it is usually a four hour process to determine both the appropriate candidate as well as to begin the process of acquisition. Considerations include the degree to which inclusion of animal for child is intended (in home only up to full and total public access). We have access to a wide array of breeders, trainers and other related non profits, and we are experienced in helping to guide you on your journey toward acquiring an Assistance Dog to work with a child. A retainer of $100 in the form of a donation to North Star Foundation is required to get this process started. (Please click on the donation page for more information on how to donate to North Star).

SERVICE PACKAGE 2:
This package includes all services listed in package 1, but has a more intensive level of service added to it. Prices begin at $250 for the following service, with additional fees listed as indicated. A retainer of $200 is required to begin this package.
With this option, we will help you develop an understanding of how best to identify and then train a dog for function to meet the needs of the individual child, taking into account the other members of the family. (IF you want to consider using a preexisting pet, we help you evaluate whether appropriate or not which is usually accomplished through a telephone or email evaluation).

This level includes direct service (face to face): This service is provided for families that live within 30 miles by car from Storrs, CT (additional distance can be arranged at additional charge for mileage). This service is customized for each family and it includes:

Initial evaluation/training session:
Formation of a training plan, evaluation of temperament type(TT)/learning curve (LC), understanding of where dog is socially/emotionally, and how to train knowing the dog's TT/LC.
Discussion and inclusion of any siblings within the home in all aspects of placement
Discussion and development of foundation behaviors:
Sit, down, stay, come, loose leash walking, general public access manners
Discussion of more advanced behaviors specific to needs of child(ren).
Discussion of how to train specific advanced level skills such as Search & Rescue, retrieval of items, etc.
Development of more advanced training plan and help in identifying and securing local trainers to help accomplish these goals, if required.
This level of service includes ongoing and unlimited email and telephone support, access to resources, handouts, and supportive services.
Optional link to other families using assistance dogs if desired (this requires internet computer access).
Any additional direct service work after initial consult is billed at $75/hour rate.
This includes participation in treatment team meetings (IEP's, therapy appointments, etc.). .

SERVICE PACKAGE 3:
This is our most intense level of service and it includes the entire North Star package, including a carefully selected puppy from our breeding program (or from an equally high quality program such as Guiding Eyes for the Blind) that is raised and trained specifically for a child with a challenge. This service includes all options listed in packages 1 and 2; in addition it contains a more intense schedule of visits, interactions, and follow up services. The fee for this service package is $2,500 in the form of a donation to North Star Foundation; this money can be obtained through fund-raising efforts spearheaded by the parent(s) of a child and supported by us in the form of donated materials. Donations made in the name of a specific child will go directly toward supporting their placement.

A sliding scale fee is utilized when funds are available. This level of placement includes the following:

1. A well bred/well socialized puppy (these puppies are specifically selected for the children they will serve, and they range in age from 8 weeks to 12 months at acquisition) North Star dogs usually come from our in-house breeding program, however we occasionally go outside our breeding program to better meet a child's specific needs (ie., purchasing a high quality standard poodle puppy for a child who is allergic to dogs, as poodles have hair instead of fur and are far less likely to trigger allergies.) When we step outside our breeding program, we are very careful to seek our breeding programs that are equal to or superior to our own (such as the labs we receive from Guiding Eyes for the Blind's breeding program in Patterson, New York.)

2. The following expenses are covered as part of a North Star placement at this level: Medical expenses through 6 months of age (including spay/neuter, puppy shots, heartworm and flea & tick control products, etc.). North Star's saddle for public access, and all consultant fees with North Star staff as well as any outside professional brought into our team to help enrich the placement.

3. North Star Foundation's information package: This includes the videos "Raising Your North Star" and "Northern Light", along with a hardcopy version of the book THE GOLDEN BRIDGE.

4 Ongoing and unlimited training support in person, on phone, email, instant message, etc. until the North Star dog is six months of age. Our ongoing support continues after the North Star dog is six months old on an as-needed basis, with our role taking a backseat to the incorporation of a local approved trainer (if desired). This trainer will be funded by the family in question; however, our services will continue at no further charge. This continued involvement includes attending meetings with ancillary therapists and educators, with occasional home visits to monitor progress and troubleshoot on an as needed basis.

Please feel free to contact Patty Dobbs Gross at northstarfoundation@charter.net for more information.