Help Me Regain My Independence with a Service Dog:
Living in Crisis and Fighting for Stability
Hello. My name is Glen Brereton Jr.
Imagine waking up every day in a world that doesn’t feel real. A world where your mind plays tricks on you—where the colors of reality shift, the ground beneath your feet seems unsteady, and even the simplest tasks become overwhelming obstacles.
For my entire life, I’ve battled invisible forces that few understand. At just four years old, I began seeing thousands of tiny red dots that weren’t really there. By six, I knew something was profoundly different about me—I struggled to grasp unspoken social rules, felt crushing anxiety and depression, and wished, more nights than I can count, that I wouldn’t wake up.
But I did wake up. Every day. And I fought.
For 32 years, I hid my symptoms from the world. I pushed through life, standing out like like an Eskimo in the Sahara, but desperately trying to survive. Until the weight of it all shattered me.
In 2015, at 36 years old, I suffered my first nervous breakdown. My life came apart at the seams. Several months later I lost my job, my stability, and eventually, my home. Later, I lived in a tiny subsidized housing unit—just a bedroom with no access to a kitchen—surviving on sandwiches, microwavable meals, and sheer willpower.
I’ve been fighting to rebuild ever since.
But the fight never really stops; it keeps getting more difficult week by week. My daily reality is a relentless storm of mental illnesses, neurodiversities, neurological conditions, and physical conditions.
These aren’t just diagnoses. They are my constant companions. Some days, they are unbearable.
Neurodiversities:
Autism
ADHD
Dyslexia
Sensory Processing Disorder
Dyspraxia
Mental Illnesses:
Bipolar Disorder 1
Depression
Anxiety
Somatoform Disorder
OCD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Visual Snow
Hallucinations
Depersonalization/Derealization (DPDR)
PsyNS episodes (psychoneurosomatic episodes)
Phobias
Neurological Conditions:
Complex Migraines
Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures (PNES)
Physical Conditions:
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) [Acid Reflux]
Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Bilateral Carpal Tunnel
Bilateral De Quervain's Tenosynovitis (similar to Carpal Tunnel but tendons for the thumb instead of the wrist)
Achilles Tendonitis
Tendonitis on left elbow
Heart Murmur
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Circadian Rhythm Disorder
Insomnia
High Triglycerides
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Arthritis
Constant Back and Neck Pain
Others:
Arched Toes
Walk with feet pointed out
Sometimes still walk toe to heel
Poor fine motor skills
ARFID (an eating disorder that is more common in autistics)
Alexithymia
Why a Service Dog?
Because I need help.
A properly trained service dog will give me back the independence that my conditions have stripped away. This isn’t about wanting a pet—it’s about survival. A service dog will:
🐾 Ground me during dissociative episodes when I lose awareness of my surroundings.
🐾 Interrupt panic attacks by applying deep pressure therapy.
🐾 Comfort me after seizures and help keep me safe.
🐾 Guide me to a safe place when my symptoms become overwhelming.
🐾 Block strangers from getting too close when my PTSD flares up.
🐾 Help me determine reality from hallucinations by greeting new people.
A service dog isn’t just a companion. It’s a lifeline.
The Challenge:
Service dogs cost $20,000 to $30,000 or more when trained by professionals—far beyond my reach. (And that doesn't include all of the other costs incurred over the dog's lifetime. One time expenses: crate, transporting dog to me, spaying (I will only get a female so I don't have to deal with dominance issues.),
Ongoing expenses that recur or things that wear out over time and need replacement: food, routine and emergency vet care, treats, training treats, dog bed, collar, leash, service vest, brush, toys, flea collar, poopy bags, grooming, dog licenses, occasional boarding (I visit the closest zoo several times per year and it takes four busses one way to get there and four busses back home. I only get 3 hours at the zoo before I have to head back. Most importantly, zoos are exempt from the ADA rules regarding service dogs as the presence of a dog will alter the calm demeanor of the animals on exhibit. Dogs will traumatize animals that view dogs as predators and kick in hunting instincts for animals that view dogs as potential prey.)
Programs that allow owner-assisted training require thousands of dollars and frequent travel, which I can’t afford.
There are charities that will provide a dog at no cost to a disabled person, but they require frequent travel to their facility during the training process, which I can’t afford.
But I refuse to give up. With the help of a friend, who has experience in basic dog training, and extensive research using expert-led training resources, we will personally train my future service dog. This is the most affordable and realistic path forward, but it will still require funds for:
✅ Adopting the right dog (A breed with the right temperament and health for service work)
✅ Veterinary care (Vaccinations, check-ups, emergency medical care)
✅ Training equipment (Service vests, leashes, collars, and training aids)
✅ Dog food and daily care essentials
✅ Specialized training resources
Even with this DIY approach, the costs will add up quickly. Ballpark total costs for the 3 different options are:
1. utilizing a service that trains service dog for you: $20k to $30k+ depending on which company you choose and which breed of dog and the difficulty of the particular commands required. Let's estimate the initial cost at $25k and training time at one year. Maintaining everything a dog needs for the remaining 9 years is roughly another $25k. So ballpark total costs are $50k.
2. Utilizing an assisted training service which Let's you choose your own puppy and you go to there location once or twice per week to receive hands on lessons from an experienced trainer. The training typically takes 1 year to a year and a half (two years if you require mobility training, or two years if you can’t go as frequently as recommended). Estimating on the low end for assisted training at $3k, but it's probably much higher. The closest Programs that I'm aware of are an hour drive away and I don't own a car or have someone close who is able to take me back and forth on a regular basis. Car rental is roughly $150/ day and taking an uber this distance is $150+ one way.
Ballpark for total costs are $40k for paid training in person. assuming car rental once per week and training towards the low end.
3. Getting a service dog via a charity would be difficult at best especially since I need the service dog trained in 3 separate areas: guide, ptsd civilian, and psychiatric. Estimate $30k plus
4. Self training of dog....... Ballpark $20k
How You Can Help
I am asking for your kindness and generosity to help me raise $20,000 to bring a service dog into my life. Every dollar gets me closer to safety, independence, and a future where I am not constantly at the mercy of my conditions.
If you can donate, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you can’t donate but want to help, please share this with others who might be willing to contribute.
Your support means more than words can express. You aren’t just helping me get a dog. You are giving me a chance to reclaim my life.
With gratitude,
Glen Brereton Jr.
