I met the founder, Terry, of 4 Paws 2 Freedom about 3 years ago at a Daughter's of the American Revolution luncheon. She did a 4 Paws 2 Freedom presentation and it was astounding. I am physically and emotionally disabled and hearing her story and her reasons for starting the non-profit for training Service Dogs was exactly what I needed. I became her mentor for DAR. She was joining our chapter. She sat at my table during lunch and we talked about our similarities and how a service dogs could make my life easier. I needed a puppy and to discuss it with my doctor. Terry told me she'd help me make all this happen. Our DAR chapter made a donation to 4 Paws 2 Freedom and has made a donation every year since. When I got home from that meeting I found I had a message from my cousin telling me her AKC Labrador had just given birth to a liter of puppies (12)! I told her about my meeting and how it was a coincidence her dog had that many puppies and since it was going to be trained as a service dog she would donate 1 to me, but I had to wait 8 weeks until the pup was old enough to leave her Mom. She is a top Breeder and has a waiting list for 10 of the puppies and possibly the 11th. I was ecstatic! 3 weeks in the 12th puppy died. She told me #11 may still be available if the lady didn't make a deposit by the 4th week. Then my cousin went to England 3 weeks. I was on pins and needles for the rest of the time. On the 8th week my cousin called and said #11 was never paid for and she is mine. I was so excited. I called Terry and told her I was getting a Lab. puppy. I called and talked to my doctor and we discussed what I'd need her to do for me. We talked about my balance, back and not able to bend over. She also needed to go get thing for me including my husband! We also talked about my PTSD. Terry told me she needed to be 10 weeks old before she could start school. Those were the longest weeks of my life! I was given a blue binder with the schedule of what she would be learning. I read it and thought How are we going to get her to learn all this? Her attention span was like a nano second and she is chewing everything she can get in her mouth. Finally school started (2nd picture) and she didn't listen and was the class clown. I ask how long before she listens to me. Our very patient trainers laughed and told me 3 or 4 YEARS! After lots of trials and errors she slowly began to respond to command words. Fast forwarding 2.5 years "Rosie" is everything I needed and more. She has made my life a Million times easier. 2 weeks ago she graduated Service Dog training and looking back at that blue binder I am amazed at how far she has come. Mr doctor says she is the best thing to happen to me. He is pleased with the progress both of us have made. I owe it all to 4 Paws 2 Freedom's Terry, Amanda, Steven and of course my cousin Marcy. I don't have the words to express how grateful I am to all that have made my life easier. I will forever sing their praises. They deserve a million Stars beyond 5. Please help them out by donating what you can,so others in need can live a better life. Thank you for reading my story.
30 years of being a police officer and detective took its toll and didn't know it. In the later part of my career, I transferred to the sheriff agency i always dreamed of to finish my career. 4 months on the new job. I was diagnosed with moderate ptsd. I basically was told I was done as a cop. It broke my heart and the depression set in. I had my horse at the time how was my buffer and helped with my depression but one nite, he became very sick and nothing could be done. I fell into a deeper depression and nothing seemed to help.
My wife found on fb that the county animal control had took a family of dogs in to safe keeping due to neglect and were going to come up for adoption. My wife suggested to me that I should get a service dog. Long story short, we went to AC and had all 4 pups in a room and the only girl came up to me and it was instant love. I had heard about 4paws from a police chaplain and signed up. I had a lot of anxiety to go to this class not really knowing who would be there but soon found friends and a purpose to keep fighting.
Soon I was making friends and being helped by the trainers at the same time without even knowing it. STEVE and AMANDA and what they do are nothing short of angels from above to get us in a place we all need to be by trying ous and our dogs to be there for us in more was the one.
I can't think them enough and my pup, Goody is my little angel. Thank you to 4paws2freedom for everything.
4paws is a wonderful organization and makes everyone feel like a big family with support and compassion. I am so thankful to them and the trainers Steven and Amanda for their dedication.
I served in the USAF, in a nuclear laboratory as a Chemistry Technician 1965-1970. I was contaminated with ionizing radiation in an "Incident" in 1970. A few years later I developed a large brain tumor. After four neurosurgeries over three years I lost a lot of neurological abilities. When I could no longer safely walk, the Master Trainer of the founder of this group provided me a Standard Poodle and three years of training to develop a Guide Dog. That dog saved my life and restored a quality of life I had lost during my military service.
When 4Paws2Freedom asked us to submit a review for this year, I was hesitant to do so. We no longer have a relationship with this organization and are not able to give a favorable review.
4 Paws 2 Freedom is run by dedicated, compassionate dog trainers who help fellow first responders and veterans heal from PTSD. They train handlers of Service Dogs to use specific techniques to help compensate for their disabilities. As a result, these veterans and first responders have increased quality of life and become less isolated. The staff is amazing, helpful and extremely experienced in training Service Dogs.
I have been involved with 4P2F since 2014 and recently became a student in the program. They provide service dog training to disabled veterans, first responders, and the general public for those coping with Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) and other invisible disabilities. The classes for veterans/first responders are at not cost to them. Here is a picture of my service dog in-training, Annie. Please support the important work they do by donating to them so they can continue making a difference in the lives of those people who serve our country
4 paws is excellent!
They care about you and your relationship shop with your dog.
The trainers stay current on all related to dogs by attending seminars and classes.
You can be sure that you are in good hands with any 4 paws trainer.
Even as a civilian this organizations' guidance and support changed my life!!!
My personal pup was a candidate from the start and with work and perseverance, we have made it to full servicedom!!!! We have traveled to Hawaii and several states on mainland and having my pup by my side has offset medical situations that would otherwise have been quite different!!!
The trainers are passionate and caring but direct with praise, guidance and observations to help create by investment of time and energy the best possibilities for the candidates to succeed! Every dog can be a pet, but not every dog makes it through the focused training for services that include but not limited to medical alerts for a variety of health conditions, PTSD and mobility challenges.
I have developed a great respect for their dedication to their clients. The clients that come from many walks of life, civialian, military, and first responders and could even be you! They do assess each person and pup!!
Please support them with their endeavors as they are soon to be recognized as an international training organization and with that merit, it changes how the V.A will offset expenses for our military personnel with service dogs.
Those same men and women, those first responders, who've sacrificed for our freedom, often come back challenged and with a highly trained service dog by their side they obtain a new found freedom and support to offset their challenges brought on by the price they paid for this great country we live in.
4 Paws 2 Freedom has been a littoral life saver for me.
A couple of years ago, I was diagnosed with PTSD after losing our golden that knew more about me than I did. We found another golden and 4Paws2Freedom. This organization has been a great help in not only training Fergus but training me.
It is with a grateful heart that I recommend 4Paws 2Freedom Organization. The training techniques are clear and effective. It has never been more apparent than when our highly trained Service Dog, Buddi, answered the call of duty in December 2020. The knowledgeable and devoted staff have made a tremendous impact on my life and many others. I thank you for your dedication and mission to improve the lives of Veterans and First Responders.
Larry Warren
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I have been a volunteer with 4Paws2Freedom since 2014 and a Board Member for 4 years. I foster puppies and dogs for 4Paws2Freedom prior to their being placed with a Veteran or First Responder.
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I became a Board Member with 4Paws2Freedom approximately 3 years ago. I luckily met Terry Sandhoff, Master Trainer. Terry is an amazing person and her knowledge of dogs and dog training is phomenal.
My father served for 33 years in the Air Force. He flew in the Berlin Air Lift and was on one of the last planes to leave Vietnam.
I am proud to have been a Miltary "Brat".
My love for my father and military life enabled me to developed a special place in my life for Veterans and have been an animal lover all of my life - . Making 4Paws2Freedom the perfect match for me.
It is rewarding meeting and working with Veterans, both male and females of all ages and their Service Dogs in training.
I have fostered one puppy and another older dog, in my home. Both were placed with Veterans to train as their Service Dog with 4Paws2Freedom. The puppy was particularly hard to let go, but knowing that he had a “job” and that he would improve the veterans life and become half of an amazing team made the loss less traumatic.
I look forward to continuing my commitment to 4Paws2Freedom for as long as I’m able. 4Paws2Freedom has also enhanced my and my own dogs lives.
LindavGrindstaff
This program has helped me not only connect with my pet on a different level but my confidence in all other aspects of my life have started to increase dramatically. The instructors really care about what they're doing and they care about the well being if all animals involved which speaks volumes to me as a pet parent. I'm looking forward to continuing my journey in this program and seeing where it leads!
Four Paws To Freedom is a wonderful organization. The trainers are very smart and helpful. They are also very understanding with the difficulties of learning something new with mental health issues and TBIs. Training my dog to help with my disabilities has allowed me to start living a semi normal life again and giving me back some freedom.
4 Paws 2 Freedom wants the best success possible for each dog and person that walks through our door. While our programs and mission are to help people with PTSD heal through the use of well trained dogs, everyone comes to us with their own story, and we are there to aid in their success. That includes treating people and dogs with dignity and compassion, listening and encouraging people to build positive relationships their dog and each other.
As the Master Service Dog Trainer and Program Developer here at 4 Paws 2 Freedom, my goal when creating classes is to include enrichment and fun in as many different ways as I can think of to keep students and dogs engaged in learning. Therefore, the classes evolve as I come up with new ideas that might improve their experience. In today’s divided world, it is even more important to have a safe place where humanity and dogs share the simple joy of learning together in a non critical environment.
If you have not had the opportunity to participate in one of our classes, I invite you to sign up for one at www.4paws2freedom.org or volunteer with us. We look forward to meeting you!
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I have been a service dog trainer at 4 Paws 2 Freedom since it started in 2014. I have watched this organization grow over the past years from teaching one service dog class at the Rocklin Dog Park Special Needs area, to offering service dog classes in Roseville, Placerville, Sacramento, American River College, Beale Air Force Base, and Rancho Cordova. We now have 5 dog trainers on staff to meet the needs of all the classes we teach.
What makes 4 Paws 2 Freedom a Great Nonprofit is the organizations commitment to offer respect and kindness to everyone who walks through the door. These values are held by the staff and each and every volunteer. As dog trainers we understand that every person in our class comes from a different life situation, even if all of the humans are veterans with PTSD. We know that the means by which we learn will be different from person to person, dog to dog and situation to situation. To help each team meet their goal, we must address each individually.
Week by week, as we get to know each team, we assess their skills and help them grow. Because we spend time with them we are aware when they are having ups and downs in their lives. We are there to help them work with their dogs through the rough times and to celebrate the successes. Training a service dog is time consuming and requires a great deal of patience and repetition! But it is through the training that the healing begins to happen.
What I can tell you about this work and this organization is that I see more miracles in a year than most people see in a lifetime. I have seen lives literally saved by these dogs. I have seen lives changed for the better, again and again. The ways in which these dogs can help people is beyond measure. But it takes a team like 4 Paws 2 Freedom to put it all together; a group of knowledgeable, kind, compassionate people, who work tirelessly to better the lives of others.
Terry
Let me tell you about the care this program has for its students.
I had issues with my last service dog and unfortunately had to retire him. However Terry, the founder and head of the origination, helped me find my current service dog in training. The dog was donated to me and is currently in the program now.
So here I am for a second time with a new dog and things are running smoothly. Steven and Amanda work with not only the dogs but with us as student trainers. They genuinely care about us as students and how home training is going at home with our dogs.
This program has changed my life! Having a service dog has boosted my confidence and helped my independence tremendously. I now am comfortable enough to go into public ,grocery shopping or going about day to day activities that made me anxious previously.
I owe so many thanks to this organization and to Terri for helping me be myself again though having a service dog. I greatly recommend to any veteran or first responders. Your confidence is right around the corner.
I am a disabled Vietnam combat Veteran who served as a ground and Dust Off Medic for 17 months in the Delta area of Nam. Since that time, I have experienced physical disabilities related to Agent Orange, PTSD and other fine gifts from war. I realized from what my doctors were telling me that I would need a service dog to help me with everyday routines and the emotional support that automatically comes with having a K-9 friend. It took us years to find an animal that we could take as a pup and start training to become a service dog.
When we found "Karma", I immediately fell in love with her and knew she would be the ideal helper for me. I then just needed to find someone to help me with her training. That's where 4paws2freedom came into play. Once I was able to sit down with Steve and some of the other trainers like Amanda, we decided to go with4paws for Karma's training.
It takes a serious commitment on the part of the K-9 handler, but the training and the people of 4paws are some of the best in the business. Karma just turned a year old at the end of July and has been training since she was four months old. To see her progress, her maturing into a dedicated service animal has been both rewarding and a great joy. If not for Steve and Amanda and the others at 4paws, this never would have been realized. I could never begin to express my heartfelt thanks to these great people. I know that my physical needs will become greater as time passes, but I am so deeply comforted that I will have one of the best service K-9's to help me with my obstacles thanks to the people at 4paws. You guys are the BEST, hands down! Thank you for everything just does not seem to say it!
I am a disabled veteran with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), resulting with my being blind and deaf on my left side, damage to the left side of the brain stem, and loss of the left lateral portion of the cerebellum. Disabilities were with vision, hearing, mobility and balance. I trained with the veterans the Master Trainer of this non-profit trained for 3 years. She is very good, and the service dog I got was as good as the Guide Dog I now have that was trained by a National Guide Dog Foundation. Today I still help this non-profit help disabled veterans be provided a service dog. I know how priceless that gift really is.
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I am a disabled USAF veteran from the 1960's. I have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that results in disabilities affecting vision, hearing, mobility and balance. I used a cane for 30 years, until my shoulder was failing due to the use, and the VA Physical Therapy could not help. I fell perhaps 2, to 3 times a week. The predecessor to Four Paws to Freedom, Four-Paws For Vets, and the same Master Trainer provided me and a service dog training that enabled the dog to assist me with all those disabilities. I can truly say that such a gift is priceless. It restores a freedom lost in the service to my country.
4 Paws 2 Freedom has impacted my life more then words can describe. I couldn't go out alone, I wouldn't leave the house much at all and life all around was a struggle for me. Since I got my dog Mac fully certified and even in training my quality of life has improved drastically. I am now able to go out and go grocery shopping with Mac by myself which, believe me when i say was impossible before. Steven has been there through all the hurdles we had to overcome, including my test anxiety (sorry Steve! lol) But we made it through! Terry is a sweetheart and really does care about the well being of veterans, they all do. Amanda is an awesome trainer and was there for the first few months of our training sessions, she is always so patient and understanding even when I and Mac where having a bad day. I truly am blessed to have the opportunity to go through this training, (I thought I was never going to get this opportunity, the lists are always so long), my life has changed for the better. Thank you so much Terry, Steven, Amanda and the whole 4 Paws crew for giving Mac and myself the opportunity to go through the training. You have helped both of us more then you know!
It’s hard to put into words the impact the trainers and the program at 4 Paws 2 Freedom make. We started the program with Loki being donated to us on Christmas Eve...I’m not exaggerating by saying Loki was the best present my husband has ever received. I knew having Loki and working with him every day would help my husband, but I didn’t expect to see the change and improvement so rapidly. Going through the training has given my husband his freedom back. Is his PTSD still there? Of course it is, but having Loki there rubbing up on him, tracking people, and just keeping him in the present has allowed him to go back to doing the things he loves. None of this would have been possible if it was not for the trainers! They get it! They get that you’re going to have good and bad says, they get that at some point your PTSD is going to take hold and you’re not going to be able to learn that week’s command. But you know what...they’ve been there, and instead of making it into a big deal, they work with you. They point out how your dog is signaling you and trying to alert you to what’s going on. They help you refocus and learn with your dog for what works for you individually. Our only regret is that we didn’t know about them sooner!! We cannot sing their praises high enough!!
Very Knowledgeable and compassionate staff. Great to work with. This is one of the few organizations that provide this type of service that are legitimate and care deeply about their mission. It is a privilege to be on one of their classes and contribute to their cause.
This non-profit has helped to change my life And Driver’s for the better. After serving in the military certain tasks of daily life where difficult. I often would find myself freezing in big groups, being so anxious that it was hard to think. Not only has working with 4Paws2Freedom helped build a special bond with my service dog, but they gave me the tools I needed to overcome my fears and a friend to do so with. She is soft and fluffy and golden and helps me not only in feeling comfortable out in society but also at home By aiding me I. Getting up and down at the end of the day when your just a little to soar from the days activities. My service dog keeps me grounded, calms me and loves me just the way I am and I love her too. Thank you for the tools support and help to succeed you have given me 4Paws2Freedom. -E.C.
Apparently when I tried to post this, it only showed 1 star. It was supposed to show 5.
Have known their Master Trainer, Terry since 2007. She has helped me train 2 service dogs. The one pictured at his 2nd graduation, we jokingly said he had doggie adhd.
Terry is a vivacious, caring, patient person, with oodles of knowledge on training, dog behavior, and tips.
Any new trainers will have a sound basis in dog training with the instruction they receive from her.
The organization is much more than dog/people team training. Many events for veterans, fundraising, community support are also either supported with booths and volunteers, or put on by them.
In my opinion, this is definitely an organization for which to give of your time and financial backing.
It has been a pleasure to watch them grow over these past years.
Andrea and Bently
I am a board member of Rocklin Residents Unite For Fido/Healing Heroes. We provide the funding for some of the veterans in the classes that Four Paws to Freedom provides. We have worked with Terry, the founder, for about 5 years, and have had heartwarming results. Terry has the amazing ability to pair dogs to veterans, and to know if a veteran will benefit from her classes. She, and her other trainers, teach the veterans how to train their own dogs...a very successful process. I have personally seen veterans who wouldn't/couldn't interact with others becoming able to give a talk in front of strangers about their experiences...thanks to Four Paws to Freedom.
THe impact that a Service Dog has on a Veteran with PTSD is amazing, I have seen many lives change, That is why I chose to support 4 Paws 2 Freedom.
4Paws2Freedom is an amazing organization. As a Desert Storm Veteran I am aware of the effects of living with PTSD. This organization is instrumental in helping Veterans and First Responders receive and train the dogs that can help those living with PTSD live a more normal and fulfilling life. I highly recommend and support this cause.
I found 4 Paws 2 Freedom through my church. I was looking for a volunteer opportunity and found that they needed office help.
It's fun to come to work where there are dogs!
I'm impressed by how knowledgeable the dog trainers are. And they are such nice people.
My husband is a Vietnam veteran. My father was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force for over twenty years. So I feel at home with the veterans who come here. It's such an honor to do my small part in helping them.
Before 4paws2freedom I was honestly a little lost. I had done all the therapy. I’ve had been using my wife and daughters as my service dog. Then I decided to make the next step in growing from my PTSD. Trying to go to college. So I found 4paws thru the American River College Veteran resource center. I was all in. We start training my dog to be my service dog. I’ve never looked back. Working with this organization has given me my life’s work. I’ve joined the organization as a service dog trainer and board member and couldn’t be happier. If you need a service dog give us a call let us help you. You won’t regret it. I don’t.