A fundraising bowling competition helps a Tiffin child in need of a service dog

Iowa City, Iowa – A Tiffin family made progress on Saturday toward obtaining a service dog for their two-year-old son.

At Colonial Lanes in Iowa City, a bowling event was held to raise funds for Wyatt Irvin’s service animal.

“Wyatt is the sweetest little two-year-old boy you’ll ever meet,” Stacey Irvin, Wyatt’s grandmother, said. Wyatt also has a rare form of epilepsy.

“Wyatt has had between 15 and 20 seizures in his life,” Dylan Irvin, Wyatt’s dad, said. “Some of them have been as quick as four minutes and some of them have been long as an hour or more.”

Wyatt’s family wants to acquire him a service dog from Ohio-based 4 Paws for Ability.

“They are going to train that dog specifically for him to detect his scent of seizures,” Stacey said. “The dogs should be able to hopefully sniff it before it starts or maybe right as it’s starting and be able to notify an adult right away.”

Nevertheless, the cost of the service dog is equally high. The competition is a part of the family’s attempt to fund $20,000.

“Just makes me feel so happy that, you know, so many people are willing to come out today and support my son,” Dylan said.

You can make a direct donation using the Venmo account @Stacey-Irvin66. The phone number’s last four numbers are 1164.