Volunteers needed to raise service dogs for PAWS
PAWS With A Cause, a national nonprofit headquartered in Wayland, Michigan, enhances independence and improves the quality of life for families in the Chicago area through custom-trained assistance dogs.
Eric Woodruff, 11, is a client of PAWS who has a service dog for children with autism (SDA) named Nieko.
"When I applied for an SDA, I did so out of my desire to help Eric, but what I had no way of knowing is that Nieko would actually help our entire family, not just our son," said Eric's mom, Sarah Woodruff. "He has been an enormous light in all of our lives, and we are so grateful for the team effort it took in placing him with our family."
PAWS breeds, raises and custom-trains future assistance dogs. From 8 weeks old, their dogs are raised by PAWS dog volunteers for up to a year.
"We could not place assistance dogs with families in need if it weren't for the commitment of time, energy, love and support of these volunteers," said Julie Thorington, National Foster Puppy Coordinator.
PAWS is currently seeking volunteers to raise a puppy in the Chicago area.
Foster puppy raisers care for and teach the puppy basic commands. They attend training classes at a PAWS puppy club led by a PAWS field representative. These puppies are raised with the goal of becoming a PAWS assistance dog for a person with a disability.
A PAWS assistance dog helps a person with a disability to complete essential tasks.
By helping to open doors, pick up objects, pull a wheelchair or alert them to sounds, barriers are overcome. The assistance dog acts as a constant companion allowing them to gain confidence while bringing peace of mind to their loved ones.
As a national nonprofit organization, Paws With A Cause relies upon the generosity of donors who support the organization's mission. PAWS clients pay no fee to apply for or to receive their assistance dog. To date, more than 2,800 PAWS assistance dogs have been placed nationwide since 1979.
For more information on becoming a PAWS dog volunteer, call (616) 877-7297 or visit www.pawswithacause.org/i-can-help/paws-dog-volunteer.