I was watching when they made the announcement and I thought it was great.
I was surprised when the spokes-gal said that $100,000 would allow for them to train only 5 dogs.
From what I've heard from people who are involved in the process (volunteers that foster the dogs and are involved in their training for about the first year), that's about right. The dog itself is going to cost $1-2,000, plus another $1-2,000 for first year food, medicine (assuming nothing goes wrong), and supplies, and then they will probably work with professional trainers. Some of those dogs won't make the cut to go on to "college" to become a service dog (and I'd assume some who do won't graduate, but I've never been told that).
I’ve heard the Puppy Jake folks on the radio many times here. There are lots of expenses during the training...including some things that had never occurred to me.
One example: the dogs need to be able to go everywhere, so they have training “trips” where the dogs go on a plane, spend time in very large cities (like NYC), hotels, taxis, etc.
They basically have to experience as many things as possible during their training years before beginning their life as a service dog with their eventual owner/best friend.
I don’t know HOW the volunteer trainers do it...they spend a couple of years raising & training the dog from puppyhood until graduation. The dogs go everywhere with them; and then the doggie leaves for its permanent home. They know it going in of course, and say that it is very hard to let go. I’m not sure I could do it!