U-Take The Cake, 897 Busti Sugar Grove Road, Jamestown, is selling cupcakes to assist the family of Dominick Ferraro. Submitted photo

Officers with the Jamestown Police Department and a local bakery are helping an area family cover the costs of a seizure dog for their son.

Dominick Ferraro is a 4-year-old with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex — a rare condition that causes benign tumors to grow in different vital organs. It has affected Dominick in the skin, heart, kidneys and brain.

U-Take The Cake, 897 Busti Sugar Grove Road, Jamestown, is selling cupcakes through this Wednesday. All proceeds from the sales will go to the Ferraro family toward the purchase of the dog.

On Friday, the police department announced that a $2,000 check from the Kendall Club Police Benevolent Association was donated to the family. Money was raised from officers growing beards.

Dominick’s mother, Jaclyn Haskell Ferraro, said her son’s condition was known before he was born.

“During my 26-week ultrasound appointment, benign tumors called rhabdomyomas were found on Dominick’s heart,” she said. “After dozens of tests and scans, it was confirmed that Dominick had a genetic condition called Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. … This brain involvement has also contributed to an autism diagnosis, sensory needs, and behavioral challenges.”

Ferraro said after a big scare for the family in October, they began to work to get a seizure dog for Dominick.

“Dominick suffered from a terrible, long seizure in October that caused him to be put on a ventilator,” she said. “This was a seizure we never saw coming, resulting in urgent transport to Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital, days of anti-seizure medication with terrible side effects, and a scare to all who love him. This event was a catalyst in our desire to be one step ahead of future seizures by foreseeing and treating them before they get out of hand, which is all possible with the help of a highly trained seizure alert service dog.”

Seizure response dogs are trained to know that a seizure is coming before it does. The animals are trained to lay next to their owners during seizures to prevent them from injuring themselves and are also trained to press alarm buttons and stand next to their owners to prevent falls. They are often trained in mobility assistance, such as helping their owners get up and walk to a safe place before or after a seizure; Ferraro’s service dog will also be trained in behavior disruption — interfering in and distracting Dominick during periods of difficult behavior.

Ferraro said getting the seizure dog for Dominick will be helpful, but also very costly.

“We are currently in the process of obtaining a seizure dog for Dominick through Dulebohn Service Dogs,” she said. “This process will take approximately 12 to 15 months. The cost is $17,500 plus expenses for a weeklong training session in Wapakoneta, Ohio. This fundraiser is to help find Dominick his perfect match. Every dollar donated will be applied to Dominick’s seizure dog account to cover the costs of the vetting and matching process, the advanced training specific to Dominick and his needs, and the weeklong class attendance before receiving his dog.”

But, most importantly, she said the seizure dog will help the family to know that Dominick is being watched over all the time.

“This will give us peace of mind that Dominick will be monitored … and especially at night while he sleeps,” she said. “The fear of a nighttime seizure has prevented a sound night’s sleep since his birth.”

For those who would like to donate without buying cupcakes, there is a link that can be found on U-Take The Cake’s Facebook page. Cupcakes for Dominick are available during the business’s open hours.