Demand for service animals and therapy dogs on the rise in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN)- The need for service animals and therapy dogs has skyrocketed.

Demand has risen so much, that a Lincoln non-profit has put a pause on adding people to their waiting list.

“We decided to stop our waitlist because we are already pushed out to people that are in our program waiting until 2025,” said Liz Higley, executive director of Uplifting Paws.

It takes about two years to train a service animal, and the cost is not cheap.

“It probably costs between 30 and $35,000  a dog between medical care, food, housing, labor, and that’s not including equipment or anything else that we need to get and we only charge our new clients 12 thousand,” Higley said.

Uplifting paws is able to cut the cost because of generous donations, as well as from the other services they offer like pet training, doggy daycare and boarding.

Despite the costs, the need for these animals continues to grow.

“We have a ton of people who ask about service dogs. I probably get five to 10 emails alone a week,” Higley said.  “That’s not including all the phone calls that we get. The need is very very high.”

The most recent client to receive a service animal is on the autism spectrum and will now be able to attend high school with friends instead of being homeschooled.

Others waiting for a service animal feel like the animal will help give them independence.

“It’s exciting to think about more freedom that I will have. When you’re an adult, you’re like well these are my restrictions, but the restrictions will be a little bit less hopefully,” said Liz Herrick, soon-to-be recipient of a service animal.

The non-profit is hoping to fill a need for our community by allowing others to live more independent lives with their service animals.

“I founded uplifting paws in part because I have my own invisible disability,” Higley said.  “At the time I was looking for the service dog, this was about 2015 2016 there wasn’t anything. When you have complex PTSD and you are not a veteran, there is not really anything anywhere near here. If they are near here it is a five, 10-year wait.”

Uplifting Paws is a finalist for UBT’s Big Give.  Take a look at all the finalists and cast your vote.