PawPADs

Pawpads' innovative programs demonstrate a symbiotic approach of addressing multiple needs within diverse populations including, but not limited to, youth at-risk, veterans, school-children, university students and people with disabilities. Participants in our programs develop life-skills such as emotional regulations, self-control, communication skills and empathy through working with Pawpads Dogs. Individuals partnered with the Dogs' experience increased independence, safety and overall better well-being. Facilities partnered with Dogs' experience healthier overall attitudes, increased attendance and a valuable resource. Interns in our Assistance dog education program and training (adept) internship program are provided an in-depth educational experience on the training and placement of Assistance Dogs. Additionally, they are active in advocacy activities to educate businesses, schools and the public about the laws and etiquette surrounding service Dogs. We are happy to say that 2022-2023 brought us up to, in general, pre- pandemic activity. Our activities included: -offering the adept internship as a stand-alone program for uwrf students and resuming all in-person activities and training. -expanding the advocacy activities on campus, educating others about the americans with disabilities act (ada) and state laws surrounding the training of Assistance Dogs. -continuing to train and prepare Dogs for placement, including service Dogs for individuals with physical disabilities, diabetic alert Dogs and facility Dogs; -successfully facilitating several school resource dog workshops for participating schools/teachers; began expansion into two new school districts. -hosting an intensive 3-day jump start training workshop for adept interns. -placing 2 service Dogs in partnership with a counterpart organization. -placing a successor diabetic alert dog and a successor school resource dog. -bringing 6 more puppies into the program to begin training 2 rescues and 4 purpose-bred.