Kerian McCormick and 8-month-old Ruth, a service dog in training. (Photo courtesy Brendan Miller)

By Brendan Miller

Medicine Hat man seeks donations for service dog following life-changing brain injury

Jan 27, 2023 | 4:21 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A life-changing head injury last June left 21-year-old Kerian McCormick with mental health and mobility issues.

McCormick’s injury also left him with a non-epileptic seizure disorder called PNES. Due to his injuries, McCormick was forced to quit his job as a child caregiver.

“The biggest issue that I have is with muscle weakness and balance and that was from my brain injury in June so then she’ll actually be able to support me as a mobility aid as I need it,” said McCormick.

Despite his struggles, McCormick continues to fundraise for his own service dog. Since December, he’s been raising funds to pay for training sessions at Paws 4 Resiliency.

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McCormick has been matched with an eight-month-old service dog named Ruth.

Ruth’s trainer and foster caregiver Kristine Russell is a director with Paws 4 Resiliency, a non-profit that trains service and therapy dogs in Medicine Hat.

Russell says that there are several barriers that can make it difficult for people in need to pair up with a service dog in Canada.

“The demand is extremely, extremely high. So a lot of programs aren’t even offering enrollment into their programs so sometimes the wait list can be extremely high as well,” she said.

Ruth still needs several training sessions that could take up to two years to complete and cost up to $6,000.

Some Canadians can pay up to $30,000 for a trained service dog.

“For someone that has extreme complex needs, that can be mobility issues along with seizures and physiological needs, the dogs then need to be trained specifically for an extensive period of time,” said Russell.

McCormick has taken to social media and has been looking to the community for support.

A GoFundMe has been set up with a goal of $7,000 to cover the cost of Ruth’s training and other expenses like food and toys. So far McCormick has raised $1,500 through donations online and a bottle drive he held earlier this month.

“I know when he takes her he’s overjoyed to have her and so I think it just pulls at the heartstrings a little bit that whenever he has to bring her back he’s a little bit sad so I mean she’s in good hands where she is but I’d be really happy, we’d be really to see she go to him and be able to stay with him,” said Russell.