For healthy individuals, it can be easy to take for granted mobility and independence. With up to one in four U.S. adults who have some type of disability, there are many who don’t have that luxury.
Paws With a Cause (PAWS) has made its mission to enhance the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities through custom-trained assistance dogs.
For more than four decades, the nonprofit has been at the forefront of enhancing the lives of thousands through their custom-trained assistance dogs, providing not just practical support to those with disabilities, but also companionship and a renewed sense of dignity.
Transforming lives through assistance dogs
PAWS specializes in training assistance dogs so they are tailored to meet a variety of needs, including physical disabilities, hearing impairments, epilepsy and autism spectrum disorders. These remarkable dogs are not just pets; they are highly skilled partners that can perform essential tasks that empower their human companions.
- PAWS service dogs are trained to assist individuals with physical disabilities, such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, rheumatoid degeneration, ALS, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries and many other conditions that affect a person’s mobility and strength. The dogs do this by aiding with tasks like opening doors, pulling a wheelchair, retrieving objects and even providing stability if their partner falls. The dogs can also turn on lights, pick up items as small as a dime and offer invaluable support throughout daily life.
- Hearing Dogs are custom trained to assist people who are deaf or hard of hearing by physically alerting their partner to common sounds like a smoke alarm, doorbell, alarm clock, telephone ring or child’s cry. A hearing dog nudges or paws its partner to alert them to a sound and then lead them to its source. Hearing dogs can also be taught to respond to American Sign Language for people who are non-verbal.
- Seizure response dogs are custom trained to assist people who have epilepsy with tasks such as activating a life-alert system, finding someone to help, retrieving a phone or stimulating a person during a seizure. As a person recovers from a seizure, a PAWS dog can retrieve medications or food, act as a brace to help them up and provide comfort. These dogs are not trained to protect or predict seizure activity.
- Service dogs for children with autism act as constant companions to children with autism to help them improve social interactions and relationships, expand verbal and nonverbal communication, teach life skills, increase interest in activities and decrease stress within the family. A PAWS dog doesn’t pass judgment but breaks into the world of autism and becomes a crucial part of the family’s life.
Beyond these individual partnerships, PAWS also trains facility dogs, which serve multiple individuals in environments like schools and hospitals. The dogs offer emotional support, motivation for recovery and a sense of security to those they interact with, which makes a positive impact on entire communities.
The journey to becoming an assistance dog
PAWS goal is to ensure each assistance dog meets the specific needs of its future owner through rigorous training and careful matching. It starts with PAWS in-house breeding to ensure the best qualities for an assistance dog, followed by volunteers who help whelp puppies. Then the dog is placed with a volunteer foster puppy raiser who provides a nurturing environment and basic obedience training, which prepares them for their vital role. Dogs then undergo specialized temperament tests and comprehensive health screenings before they enter the PAWS training program, and they are matched.
Sara Osterman, PAWS board chair and a dedicated foster puppy raiser, emphasized the importance of this early development phase.
“Our first question to a client is always: ‘What can a PAWS dog do to help you become more independent?’” Osterman said. “That’s because we understand every disability is different, which is why each assistance dog is matched and custom trained for a person’s unique needs.”
Upon completion of training, PAWS brings the assistance dog directly to the client’s home, where they undergo further training together as a team. This personalized approach ensures that both dog and owner are comfortable and confident in utilizing the dog’s skills in various environments.
Supporting PAWS’ Mission
PAWS relies heavily on the support of volunteers and financial donations to continue their life-changing work. As such, there are plenty of opportunities for those looking to get involved, whether to foster a puppy, host a breeding dog or assist with day-to-day operations. Volunteers play a crucial role in expanding PAWS’ capacity to serve more individuals in need of assistance dogs.
More than 400 qualified individuals apply for their own PAWS assistance dog each year, but that is far beyond what the nonprofit can currently serve. Recognizing the growing demand for their services, PAWS will be making renovations to their facilities, with groundbreaking scheduled for Aug. 27. These updates will enable them to enhance their breeding program, optimize training spaces and, ultimately, increase their ability to transform more lives through their exceptional dogs. While some of the funding for the renovation was raised through a capital campaign, PAWS now needs the help of the community to raise the remaining funding to expand their inspiring work.
Through dedication, compassion and the extraordinary bond between humans and dogs, PAWS With a Cause continues to redefine what it means to live with independence and purpose. Each assistance dog they provide not only changes the life of its recipient but enriches entire communities with their unwavering loyalty and invaluable service.
To learn more about PAWS, explore volunteer opportunities or donate to support their mission, visit PawsWithaCause.org.