Washington family raising money for service dog

WASHINGTON — The Blauvelt family is about halfway to their $20,000 fundraising goal in an effort to afford a service dog for their seven-year-old with Doose Syndrome Epilepsy. The rare disability represents about 1-2% of childhood epilepsy cases, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.

Zeke Blauvelt started having seizures when he was two years old, according to his mother, Jessica Blauvelt. She said the chronic condition could cause several seizures a day at times, as well as developmental delays that result in behavioral disorders. It’s also resistant to medication, in most cases.

Blauvelt said a service animal would help in numerous ways, trained to alert family members before a seizure, offer balance, and disrupt behaviors.

“This will be life-changing to him,” she said. “The service dog will be a friend, but also help build friendships for him.”

The money, once raised, would go entirely to breeding and training the dog, a process that takes around two and a half years and is not covered by insurance, according to Blauvelt. The family is working with 4 Paws For Ability, an Ohio-based nonprofit.

The endeavor is highly organized. Blauvelt said her family had pulled together people for a four-person organizing committee, members of which have arranged various farmers market fundraising booths and contributions in the last three months.

“We received one grant from the Washington PEO … and a church in Fairfield, they did a collection that brought in $2,000,” she said. “Most of the rest has been through a Facebook link.”

The fundraiser is also partnering with various restaurants in the area, which have agreed to split a percentage of their revenue with the cause. Examples include Unc & Neph's (Sept. 19,) Pizza Ranch (Oct. 2,) and JP’s 207 (Oct. 12) among others.

Otherwise, Blauvelt said community members could contribute by writing checks to 4 Paws For Ability with “Ezekiel Blauvelt” on the memo line, or following a QR Code posted to her social media.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com