I would give them a zero if I could. I filled out the application. Then signed up for a discovery meeting. They sent me an email confirming the date/time for meeting and instructions to download “GOTO” a special app where we were supposed to have the discovery meeting. I downloaded the special app they required for the meeting and showed up to the meeting at the meeting code they gave at the day and time agreed upon on only to be disappointed that Paws4people never showed up!! At 11:02 (2 mins after the meeting was supposed to start) I started calling and emailing them attempting to find out where they were and I could never get a call back,,, just an email from someone at 11:20 am telling me to sign up *again for a different meeting and time!!!! I was so upset because they clearly didn’t respect me or my time, nor the meeting that was agreed upon where I showed up but they didn’t. Very disrespect and unorganized agency. Rude.
Working with paws4people/paws4vets has been a wonderful, life changing experience. The staff, trainers, and UNCW student trainers are amazing. After serving 20 plus years in the Marine Corps, I suffered from several physical and mental disabilities which honestly took possession of my identity. Through the paws4people process and matching with REBEL in May 2024, I have started the journey of taking my life back and not letting my disabilities define me. By trusting in the process and REBEL, my life has improved in all ways imaginable. Simply put, with REBEL I am happy to be the man I am today!
Approximately ten years ago I was introduced to paws4people from a friend I went to high school with. She shared how much an Assistance Dog would help me get my life back. I politely declined because I didn’t feel like I needed any help. It would be better benefit someone whose disabled. Fast forward ten years and my friend and her husband sat down with me and picked up where we had left off all those years ago. Since then my health had rapidly declined. I’m a retired disabled veteran. I used to be a go getter with a can do attitude. I’m blessed to have loved my job and looked forward to going to work. All that changed one day as a result of my declining health. It was so painful to walk, sit or stand on my feet. I had three spine surgeries with little to no longer term success. During this time period I suffered a stroke, had a PFO repair, spent six weeks in the hospital with Covid Pneumonia and was diagnosed with a bilateral massive pulmonary embolism. Clinical speaking so should not be here sharing my story. Back to
My friend and her husband who has an Assistantance Dog from “paws4people” showed me how “MO” changed her husband’s life. He was now able do be a part of society again and living the best life he can with “MO” by his side. He showed my how she helped him go up and down stairs, how she was able to retrieve things for him that had fallen on the floor and most importantly if he fell how she would get help for him. I was sold. I had became closed off. I no longer went anywhere because of fear of falling knowing I would not be able to get back up without help. I ordered all my groceries and necessities online and have them delivered. I would do all my doctors appointments be telephone. I’d become a recluse. I applied and was accepted into the the program and now have my Assistance Dog, TITO. He has given me my life back. He helps me stay balanced going up and down stairs, he retrieves items I dropped and those I didn’t even know that I dropped. He’s given me my confidence back just knowing if I should fall he’ll get help for me. I’m so grateful and thankful for “paws4people” and what they have done for me and what I know they can do for others with disabilities.
I have worked with p4p since 2022 when I received my amazing Psychiatric Facility Dog, Diego. I am a therapist who specializes in play and trauma. Diego assists me with comforting all ages with his decompression techniques and sometimes just his cuddles. This is amazing organization that truly changes people's lives.
I was introduced to paws4people in 2020 and was provided the opportunity to participate in their program to assist me with my mobility challenges with Multiple Sclerosis. LINDEN, my service dog, selected me during the "Bump" process and we worked together along with the talented group of trainers over the following nine months correctly communicating commands, how to consistently interact with LINDEN, and most importantly learning how unknown stressors affect me and how to rely upon LINDEN to help me work through them. The paws4people team patiently navigated me through unlearning what I thought I knew about dogs to recognizing how these specially trained service dogs work and how their behaviors assist their handlers. This organization is dedicated to providing outreach and quality of life improvements to those struggling but not sure where to turn.
Our family has been forever changed by paws4people. My son Amos depends on his service dog HONOR as best friend and playmate. HONOR offers deep pressure which relieves anxiety and behavior interruption which allows Amos to participate in the big world.
paws4people has been an incredible blessing to me. I am so thankful that they choose me to receive a service dog. Before having my service dog HAWK, I was unable to experience life and my world was very small. Now, with HAWK by my side, I am living life to the fullest!
Thank you, paws4people!
Paws4people has been incredible. We partnered with them at the Wilmington Fire Department to implement our K9 Crisis Reaponse Team. Over the last few years our team has grown to 5 Facility Dogs. The way paws4people supports our members and department is second to none. Top notch organization.
I started volunteering with paws4people in fall of 2021. Little did I know, my life would be forever changed through the last few years as a volunteer and now, as a client! paws4people has connected me with some of my closest friends to this day and dogs that will leave a huge impact on me, as well as many others for a lifetime. Last but not least, I found my furry soulmate through this organization and I am so grateful!
At first, I was skeptical about how well a service dog can truly help someone in my type of need and situation since I had grown up with a walk it off mentality. Eventually this had caught up to me while serving in the service and had taken the toll of a lifetime full of abrupt changes and a way of mentality that I had to learn how to learn how to swim in the abyss or be swallowed by the entirety of the abysmal darkness. Having the experience I have had with Paws has allowed for the best dog in the entire course of human history to be part of my life to help me adapt, transition back to civilian lifestyle, and overcome obstacles I once thought was impossible to even attempt. I may have been irritated at first working with them because it felt like a very slow process at first to bring the dog even home to be mine, but the structure and thoroughness the company has to ensure success for the dream team to ensure the safety of both members especially the dog. Having the focused point being the dog's well-being for example proper handling so burn out does not occur are very important components of the relationship between man and his best friend. Highly recommend this organization because it will truly change your life for the better if you work at it.
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When I was medically retired from the Marines in June 2020 I had struggled a lot. Suicide was on my mind all the time and I had determined I was going to kill myself by December of 2020. I had heard of this organization from someone at the VA. At first, I was very unsure what to think. how could a dog actually do anything for someone's mental health? My life was spiraling out of control and I had felt that it would soon be over, but I decided to try to get a service dog as my last resort. There is a lot of paperwork and a call interview to see if you can be a good candidate for a service dog. I was very skeptical when I got accepted and had my bump was in November 2020. Every dog they brought in stayed at their end of the leash and wanted nothing to do with me except one. CRIMSON! She was still very unsure if I was a good choice, but she still gave me a kiss. I was brought out of the room and went back to the others that did their bump with me. We were all called back to figure out what dog was picked to be ours. When I was walking up Cece stopped me and talked to me saying that everything about me was off to the dogs. She said that she was going to try out CRIMSON with me and if I burned her out within the first four trainings I would be given a different dog. I never really cared for a dog and didn't even know how to handle one. The first thing we did was walk with the dogs and I for sure did not have any clue what I was doing. Cece helped by guiding me through it and I was learning very slowly. I still had no hope in myself or confidence in what I was doing. After that day we had a seminar going over the bylaws of the dos and don'ts. They canceled the December training and so I really started training in January. I was really struggling with a lot of the commands and had forgotten a lot of them. CRIMSON also would not listen because I was questioning the commands myself. I had a lot of extra training with the trainers and they helped me understand my faults. In March or April, I was asked if I wanted to do extra training for a week. During that week I improved a lot and started feeling a little confidence in myself again. During this time I also learned how to improve myself for example leaving a toxic relationship. In 2020 I never thought that I could live by myself and I was terrified to be with my thoughts longer than a minute. After that week I kept training every month and eventually got my black vest. When I brought CRIMSON home it was like having every Christmas present I ever had wrapped in one. Soon after I brought her home I slowly stopped wanting to kill myself. I still did not feel like myself yet and I still don't, but I will tell you with the help of this nonprofit helped me start living my life again. Last year I had trouble forming sentences and thought that when I got medically retired that would be the last job I could hold and never even imagined I could go to college, but here I am able to attend with straight A's. I want to thank everyone at this nonprofit and could not ask for a better service dog organization. They don't just give you a dog they give you life!
I received my service dog, ALLY, from Paws4People in 2022, and it has completely transformed my life. As someone living with PTSD, their support was exactly what I needed. The staff was compassionate and knowledgeable, guiding me through the process of being matched with ALLY, who has become my constant source of comfort and strength.
Paws4People didn’t just provide a service dog; they gave me renewed confidence and a sense of calm I hadn’t felt in years. I can’t thank them enough for their dedication. If you're looking for an organization that truly cares, Paws4People is unmatched
I can't say enough great things about paws4people and how they changed my life. I now have a widespread family to share my triumphs and sorrows with as well as a dynamic support system that I never thought I'd have before. ASPEN has helped me grow as a person and helps with my daily challenges.
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I am a graduate of the UNCW Assistance Dog Training Program and am currently a volunteer staff member with paws4people. So far, I have trained with 5 successful Assistance Dogs that have gone on to change the lives of their clients for the better. ASPEN is the 6th dog I have worked with and it goes without saying that he has changed my life.
In 2012, I went through a bout of parvovirus B-19, otherwise known as "Fifths Disease". I didn't end up with the rash that is usually associated with Fifths Disease, but I have been left with Arthritis in all my joints, primarily in my hands and knees (a 15% chance of occurring). Due to the ever-changing weather of eastern North Carolina, I am usually in some form of pain, but choose to fight through to carry on a "normal" life. I also have been fighting through Major Depressive Disorder and Panic Disorder since I was 11 years old which makes interacting in crowded, public spaces a bit of a struggle.
ASPEN has definitely made my life much more bearable with his zany personality and fatherly concern over my moods. I thank everything I believe in that he chose me to be "his" person and I know together we can get through whatever life has in store for us.
I was not only a student of paws4people, but also a client of the life changing organization. Since 2023, my service dog, POPPINS, and I have quickly turned my life around for the better. Although not a cure, she had allowed me to enjoy life again and slowly gain back the things I loved about myself once. She is a constant reminder that everything will be okay, and that is all thanks to paws4people. They dedicate their livelihood to bettering others lives, and the dogs they train are amazingly resilient.
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paws4people is one of the most giving and friendly non-profits that puts 100% effort into each and every client of theirs. I am fortunate enough to be a client of paws4people, and I have firsthand experienced the immense amount of love and support they give to their clients AND their highly-trained and well-mannered service dogs. paws4people is a life changing organization that allows individuals to have a second chance at life with a new best friend!
This organization literally saved my husband's life and improved the quality, not only of his life, but of our family and our marriage. He had struggled for so many years and had gotten to the point he was suicidal and would not leave our bedroom. This organization gave him something that I never could have and I will be eternally grateful. He no longer spends his day in the dark in the bed watching TV. The suicidal ideations are very few and very far between now. GREER is one of the best things in our lives. He was literally a GOD SEND and I will never take for granted what we have been given by paws4people.
My experience started 9 years ago as a volunteer for the organization and has grown to so much more! As a volunteer, I fell in love with the mission and culture of the organization. Not only the role of the dogs and impact they have on clients, but the implementation of inmate and student trainers to have a widespread hand in others being part of something bigger than themselves. After being around for a few years, my own mental health hit the lowest point it had ever been and I applied for my own service dog, never considering another organization, as I wouldn’t waiver on the quality of training for both the dog and myself that I knew was necessary for true success. I’ve now been part of my team with GILLIGAN for two years and it has changed my life more than I could ever explain. His presence plays a critical role in my ability to be a mother, wife, therapist, friend and overall person. He has given me my life back from the shell of it I had only a few years ago!
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After being on both the volunteer and client side of this organization, I cannot praise the work of paws4people enough. I have seen firsthand the impact their work not only with the dogs, but the incredible staff has had on the lives of veterans, civilians, children struggling with mental health and physical disabilities. As I have gone through the training process, I have been incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this community and family! They are truly changing lives in the work they do!
paws4people has been life changing for my daughter! The staff has been nothing but kind and helpful with the whole process. It is a long process but worth it. They make sure that you are well prepared to bring home and care for a service dog. The staff is available around the clock to help with questions, additional training, if needed, support and anything you may need to help make sure you and your service dog are successful when returning home. It may seem like a lot of paperwork, time, trainings, money and so forth but they truly care about their animals and making sure that you as their client are matched just right with your service dog and will be a successful team! DEAN is more than just a service animal to our daughter and family, he has fit in and made our family even better! Even our other 2 dogs have picked up on his good habits and behavior! He has given her a new outlook on life, purpose and a fur-ever friend. We are beyond grateful to paws4people and are always happy to share her and DEANS story, fundraise and help whenever we can to support this amazing organization!
I am a client of P4P, their training process and my dog have helped me to change my life.
I would recommend the organization to anyone struggling with PTSD or medical issues. They are a great organization.
10/10
paws4people changed my life 4 years ago when they gave me my Assistance Dog, GRADY. Their training process ensured I was ready to take my best friend home. They truly believe in their work and it shows. We couldn’t be more grateful for all they’ve done.
I first became involved with paws4people, as a client, 5 years ago. This is an amazing organization. They spent weeks trying to find the right match for me and what I was looking for as a teacher of children with learning differences. I teach in a small school where all of our students come to us because they have “failed to succeed” in a typical classroom. The Canine Assisted Education Facility Dog, DECLAN, they placed with us has been truly amazing. She helps children to calm themselves when they are feeling anxious or stressed. She is able to motivate children to do their best and to persevere on challenging tasks. Everyone who walks through our door is greeted by a sweet golden retriever who loves to love and be loved. She touches so many lives on a daily basis. I am amazed at how she can find a child in my classroom who is struggling on a specific day, and just lean, cuddle, and redirect their feelings. I continue to be amazed at the dedication, thoroughness, and continued support that is given to their clients, handlers, and dogs, long after the training and placement has been completed.
I have been connected to paws4people since 2017 when i received my first Facility Dog, COLLIER who worked daily for six years helping support our curriculum and enhancing the social and emotional development of the preschoolers at Jenkins Preschool Academy. When she passed unexpectedly in the fall of '23, it left a giant void in our program and our hearts. After realizing what an integral part of our daily program COLLIER had been, I requested a successor dog from paws4people. We were lucky enough to be matched with FORBES in March 2024, and she has joyfully followed in the pawprints of her predecessor. The children love her, and she is the biggest motivator for them to try new skills. Her presence relaxes children, soothes their big emotions, and enhances our daily activities. The staff, children and families of JPA love the amazing dogs from paws4people. The organization was also extremely supportive during the medical crisis and loss of COLLIER. It really is a wonderful support system for all clients. We are so grateful to have FORBES and the continued quality training and support from paws4people!
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I am the owner/director of Jenkins Preschool Academy. We are fortunate enough to have COLLIER as our Facility Dog from paws4people. COLLIER is into her second school year with us, and we continue to reap the benefits daily! COLLIER helps create a warm, homey atmosphere as she greets the children and families each morning. Every child has formed a bond with her in one way or another such as helping to walk her to class (reducing the child's anxiety about separating from mom), coming to visit her when he/she is sad, welcoming COLLIER into the classroom to help with daily lessons and many other ways. Having our own Facility Dog is a wonderful experience for the children, families and staff at JPA. The children love to follow COLLIER on instagram @preschoolpup_jpa!
Paws4people changed my life. They provided me with a service dog that has made every day life so much easier. They are a wonderful organization, with amazing staff and trainers.
I got involved with this nonprofit as a college student at UNCW. I started as a student in the courses they offered, then became an intern, and stayed on as a volunteer in my free time until I graduated. When I graduated from the special education program, I applied for a dog for my classroom. I was paired with FOREST who became my Canine Assisted Education Facility Dog. For 6 years we worked together in a self contained classroom for students with autism. He made a huge impact on many students with sensory needs and communication disorders. He allowed them to decompress from overstimulating situations by petting and cuddling him. He motivated them to communicate through verbal and nonverbal output. He was the greatest asset to our classroom!
I applied and was accepted as a client with paws4people in 2021. The application process was timely, thorough, and appropriately sensitive to the needs of someone who had not previously worked with service canines. The training process, once I was accepted, was one of the most fulfilling and worthwhile experiences I have ever had. The dog I paired with, CASH, is a brilliant and beautiful golden retreiver who can sense and alert to my medical condition as well as perform psychiatric intervention. Life with CASH is immeasureably better than before, and paws4people trained him to be an incredibly reliable and consistent partner, a testament to the effectiveness in their training methods. Throughout the process of training, re-certifying, and learning more about post traumatic growth with a service dog, I have made new lifelong friends and can finally navigate my job, being in public, and attending events without constant anxiety. This organization creates a positive, life-altering opportunity and if you put in the work the benefits are everything I could have expected and more.
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I have been a client with paws4people since March of 2022. Throughout the application and initial acceptance process, I received both excellent client services and a genuine demonstration of human concern. The staff guided me through all the steps to apply to be a conditional client for a medical assistance dog, provided advance notice of scheduled training and testing requirements, and ultimately paired me with an incredible service dog who is specifically trained and attuned to my needs/condition. The training process is challenging and complex, but the instructors are highly qualified and committed professionals dedicated to setting clients up for success. The entire experience with paws4people has been transformational and it is without any exaggeration I can state my daily life has improved ten-fold since being accepted into the program. Everything they do at p4p is focused on transparency, client service, and post-traumatic growth. This is an incredibly special place and program. Succinctly, working with p4p has given me back a life I could have only dreamed of a few years ago.
paws4people/paws4vets is an amazing organization and I would highly recommend them to any Civilian or Veteran who is interested in getting a Service Dog.
I have chronic lung damage due to an accident I was involved in while on Active Duty. Over the years, I applied to several Service Dog Organizations and they all denied me because they did not know how to train a dog to assist me with my day to day living.
I gave up on trying to get a Service dog until a family friend told me about her experience with paws4people. She recommended I reach out to them to see if they could help me and it was the best advice I could have ever received.
paws4people was the first organization that said we do not know how to help you, but we will work with you to figure it out. My family and I were so relieved that someone cared enough for me that they would work with me to get the assistance I needed to improve my quality of life.
In November, it will be four years since NOBLE and I bumped. What a blessing this boy is to our family and to me. I work from home and having NOBLE with me gives my family some peace of mind because they know he is there to help me if I need medical attention.
NOBLE is more or less a Medical Alert Dog for me when I have problems breathing and can't talk or text. NOBLE is trained to press one or two medical alert buttons we have in our home, When he presses one of the buttons, it notifies emergency personnel. He is also trained to alert other people if I am in need of medical attention. On more than one occasion, having NOBLE has helped ease my anxieties when I am in the middle of a breathing attack, saving me a trip to the hospital.
I can't thank the people at paws4people/paws4vets for all they have done for me and my family over these past four years. Having NOBLE has helped improve my quality of life to where it was prior to my injury.
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While a Marine on Active Duty, I was involved in a training accident, which led to a diagnosis of Chronic Reactive Airway Dysfunction Syndrome. I experience difficulty breathing, in which any number of irritants will cause my airway to constrict, of which no inhaler will help. When the attacks occur, I have to lay down until I can calm myself and recover. On occasion, these attacks have caused hospitalization. Having NOBLE helps my anxiety level when I experience a breathing attack, and gives my family some peace of mind, should something happen while I am home alone.
NOBLE bumped and I bumped in November 2020. NOBLE helps me by alerting others when I am having breathing issues, or have fallen and needs medical attention. NOBLE has been trained to press a medical alert button in my home that will call for emergency personnel. He will also brace to help when I have trouble standing, and cuddle when I am anxious due breathing difficulties.
I applied to several other Service Dog Organizations and was never accepted. The different organization said they did not know what to do to help me with my condition. I lost hope and chose not to apply to any other organizations. It wasn't until my friend told me about paws4people/paws4vets and her experience with them. After learning about my friend's experience, I decided to apply one more time and if it was meant to be it will happen. paws4people/paws4vets told me that my situation was a challenge they wanted to take on. Needless to say my morale was high.
paws4people/paws4vets is a first class organization. I have been treated with nothing but respect from the moment I first talked with a member of their staff. As a Retired Marine, I appreciate the way they run their organization. They tell you what you can expect from them and what they expect from you as one of their clients. They set high standards for their staff, dogs, and clients. If you are struggle struggle to meet their standards, as a Client, the staff will go the extra mile to help you get where you need to be.
I would highly recommend paws4people/paws4vets to anyone who feels they could benefit from having a Service Dog.
Paws4People literally gave me my life back, without the help of them and my dog SILAS i wouldn't be able to do most of what i can now. They really care about their mission and have made a huge difference in more than just my life! They also really strive to get you to face your fears and work on yourself even before your dog comes home with you and encourage you to continue therapy.
paws4people has absolutely changed my life for the better. I wouldn't be able to work or live a normal life without this group of incredible people. I was matched with a service dog in 2018 and my life has vastly improved. The volunteers and staff work so hard to provide service for clients. From training, checking in, helping clients, and providing assistance when it's needed, they always go above and beyond. This is truly a wonderful program and group of people.
Since ROSIE and I bumped my world has changed. She has opened my world up. If it wasn't for paws4people I would still feel like a prisoner in my home and to afraid to go anywhere. The training Paws4people has provided ROSIE and me is invaluable. I cannot put a thank them enough for giving me my life back.
paws4people changed my life! Their organization, mission, and staff are exceptional. The training is thoughtful, intentional, and client-centered. paws4people provided me with more than a Service Dog, they gave me the tools and confidence to live a life I didn’t know was possible.
The team at paws4people is outstanding. They are truly dedicated to their cause and are changing lives every day. I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to work with them as a client. My life has forever been changed by the organization and by my boy ACE. If I could give extra stars I would!!
This organization is phenomenal! They have changed my life and the lives of the people I work with! The amount of care they give to their animals is amazing! They really are trying to make a difference and I love supporting them!!
If I could give paws4people another star I would. The dedication to the program and clients is unmatched. From being a student trainer learning how much clients lives were transformed, to a client getting my sweet Wayne. The paws4people staff goes above and beyond to ensure each part of the process is setting you up for success. They gave me, my best friend. He truly has changed my life and I wouldn’t be as confident as I am without the support and aid of paws4people.
Paws4people transforms so many lives and I have been lucky enough to be apart of it and witness clients match with their forever Assistance Dog.
Paws4people is a fantastic organization that truly puts their clients and dogs first. They have not only changed my life but saved it. Their staff and volunteers and some of the best people I have ever encountered and they truly care about each individual and their families. I am not sure I will ever be able to truly express just how truly grateful I am for VERA. She has helped me battle epilepsy, TBI and more and I am living a life I once thought was lost. Paws4People leaves no stoned unturned ensuring all your needs are met as well as your families. I often tell people getting VERA was one of the best things that ever happened to me and my family!
Forever grateful,
Bryan Callahan and VERA
I became aware of paws4people when I volunteered to drive some of their Veterans and their service dogs around our nation's capitol. I got to see then firsthand the difference these service dogs were making in the lives of these Veterans. Fast forward 2 years and I applied for a service dog with paws4people and was accepted. The training these dogs get prior to selecting their client is about a full year and they are trained for approximately 130 commands. The training the client and their service dog go through is certified by the assistant dog international (ADI). My service dogs name is SCARLET and she helps me with my mobility.
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I have had the opportunity to be selected for a service dog at paws4people, specifically paws4vets. I have mobility issues and my dog, SCARLET, assist me with going up and down stairs, can retrieve items I cannot bend over and pick and she will brace if I need assistance get up from a fall. It is truly amazing what these dogs have been trained to do along with unconditional love. Check out their site, you will feel the love just watching the videos.
paws4people has changed my life in the best ways possible. I started with the organization as a student trainer and realized how much I needed to pursue getting a service dog of my own. I applied for an AD2, an in-home assistance dog, through paws4people and was placed with my best buddy, HENDRICK, who is my psychiatric assistance dog. He has been there for me in my lowest moments and has created some of the best memories of my life. paws4people blessed me with the experience of a lifetime as a trainer, but has granted me the gift having a best friend that loves me unconditionally and has been trained to pick me up out of my anxious or depressed moments. He wakes me from night terrors, cuddles me back to sleep, and disrupts crying spells/nail biting/leg skaking. I couldn’t imagine living life without this sweet boy, and I’m forever thankful to paws4people for HENDRICK.
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I have been a part of this organization for the past three years, and it has been one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life. I have worked with them as a student and alumni trainer. The staff at paws4people truly cares about the well-being of their clients and that is so well represented by how they go about their training and placement processes. This organization lives out its mission well by using assistance dogs to transform the lives of their clients. These dogs have changed my life for the better and I could not be more thankful!
paws4people (p4P) is an outstanding organization. They provide top quality training for all of the assistance dogs they provide. The staff truly cares about the clients, their wellbeing as well as the dogs. You never have a question go unanswered as they ensure all clients are comfortable in handling and understanding how your dog is able to help you, and the care of your service dog. The process of the "bump" is nothing like what I have heard of for other organizations. Your dog picks you!!!
YETI and I have been partnered together for a little over a year now and I cannot explain what a difference he has made for me. Before YETI I was going deeper into a dark place. With the help of p4p and YETI my life has dramatically changed for the better, with my family, work, friendships etc.
I will be forever grateful for YETI and paws4people.
paws4people has transformed my life by providing me my teammate and Service Dog, ARROW and teaching me the skills to utilize him. ARROW assists me with medication reminders, anchoring, waking me from nightmares, and by “paying attention.” The trainers and staff at paws4people are amazing, and they go out of their way to assist with questions and training. Thank you paws4people!
RHETT and I work at Arbor Landing at Hampstead in their Memory Care Unit. RHETT helps comfort the residents in stressful situations such as transition from home to facility. His job is truly just to make people happy. He has boosted the morale of our community and has brought so much joy to our residents and staff. He also comforts residents when they are on hospice. paws4people has given my community so much joy and you can really see the impact they are making.
I have volunteered with paws4people for about 1.5 years, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it! As a volunteer I feel like they appreciate my time and contribution. I think paws4people helps bring so much value and care to both people and the local community as well. I also very much appreciate their commitment to maintaining a high quality of life for the dogs they train. I’m very grateful to be able to volunteer with them!
-Travis Voorhees
This is the most amazing organization! Their leadership and teams are dedicated to ensuring all of the animals are well cared for and well trained. I "bumped" in September of 2022 and met my very special, dedicated golden retriever, Gibbs, who has changed my life. He matches my pace perfectly improving my mobility. If I drop my cane, other items, or his leash Gibbs retrieves them for me. He has aided me in remembering the commands, patiently waiting until I give him his command in the correct way as a statement instead of a question. He has his zoomies but he is usually very calm and patient. My anxiety is reduced because he is with me. I expected help from a service dog but never dreamed I would have a companion as in tune with me as Gibbs' already is after a little over 6 months of working together. I look forward to our continued partnership.
Paws4People has made this possible. They consider every aspect of care and growth of the puppies and dogs. They even have a plan for dogs who need a different career path. Addie's Way is a wonderful complex for puppy development, training, and just fun for the dogs. The directors and most of the staff have their own assistance dogs so they live the process.
paws4people has changed my life by providing me my Assistance Dog, ARROW, and the highest level of training with him allowing me to utilize him to his full potential. He helps with my disability by providing me more confidence, medication reminders, and by completing other tasks that assist me with being more social and independent. My overall mood, and my involvement in the 'Pay it Forward' program has given me a feeling of belonging that I had missed for a long time. The work that paws4people does for people with disabilities is top notch, and I can tell you that from personal experience within myself, and from my observations of the other people working towards the same goals within the program.
A great organization that is very passionate and attentive to detail. They have helped transform my life by creating a road to independence that I thought would never exist. Along the journey to receiving my service dog they helped me overcome many obstacles that were created due to my physical limitations. UTAH and I love P4P!
paws4people changed my life! My time living and training at the ADDIE’S Way campus helped me overcome fears and find independence I didn’t know possible. My service dog, BROOKS, assists me daily by interrupting my night terrors and panic attacks, alerts me during dissociation, retrieves my medication, and so much more! With the help of my service dog and the passionate team members at p4p, I learned to reintegrate into the world with confidence having my four legged best friend by my side.
The commitment, love, and dedication from p4p is palpable. The powerful work they do is truly incredible and I couldn’t be more thankful.
After being a volunteer for a few years, and seeing first hand the impact this organization and their dogs have had, I finally made the decision to apply for a service dog. I’ve struggled with my mental health and ability to function for quite a few years, and this dog has changed not only my life, but the fact that I’m alive. This organization has given me my life, my family, and my career back. I am so incredibly grateful the amazing things they are doing!
We get tremendous satisfaction knowing we are a small part of an organization that is known to save someone's life through the work we do at the Puppy Development Center. We have gained knowledge from the volunteers and staff. We give kindness, tolerance, strength, playfulness and love to the PUPPIES enabling them to grow to their full potential and pass this on to those they serve. This is truly a wonderful cause for us to contribute our time.
Upon my early retirement 9 months ago I heard about P4P and immediately knew I had to be a part of it after diving into their website and learning how it all started and how it came to be. Its an extremely inspirational story you must hear! I volunteer with both the puppy and client training and it has been extremely fulfilling and so much fun!!
Paws4people is an amazing community to be part of. They genuinely care for both their dogs and their Veteran and disabled children recipients. In addition they are a warm welcome to the community. Paws4people welcomes community involvement with open arms through “puppy handling” and various fun events throughout the year such as, “The Highland Games” and “Puppy Derby.” Paws4people, you do amazing things and I’m grateful for the opportunity to volunteer for you!
paws4people is an amazing organization. We are very lucky to have the Puppy Development Center located so close to Wilmington. All of the volunteers and staff work very hard to take wonderful care of the puppies who are in training to be assistance dogs. They are very supportive of the local community as well through puppy outings. They have a partnership with an organization who supports adults with disabilities in which they have the opportunity to come and help as puppy assistants, which is extremely meaningful.
This is such an amazing organization, that gives so many different ways for people to get involved. You can volunteer at the Puppy Development Center, help at different Paws4People events, or do puppy outings. Paws4People has the kindest staff, caregivers, and volunteers they all truly make everyone feel welcome.
Fantastic people doing fantastic work to help society. There is nothing like the love from a dog, and dogs of service are exceptional and special, all thanks to the wonderful staff, volunteers and interns at Paws4People who pour their hearts, time and effort into making sure these dogs are highly trained and available to the special needs of others.
Paws4people is a great Organization that trains Pups to be Service Dogs. Working with the pups at the beginning of their training journey is a joy. The Pups give back in more ways than one! Having the National Headquarters in Castle Hayne is Awesome! The UNCW Service Dog Trainer Certification Minor is the only one in the U.S., another perk!
Paws4people is a great Nonprofit organization all the work and all the time and effort they put into helping people and the beautiful puppies training To make a difference in someone’s life. I love volunteering for Paws4people.
This nonprofit truly changed my life! They helped me find a purpose and calling in a time when I was not sure what I wanted to do with my life. Their dogs and the people’s lives that they change gave me a whole new outlook and appreciation for the little things in life.
This is a wonderful organization and I love what they do for anyone who needs a service dog. I especially love their variety of programs, student interns, prison training program, etc ..they've got friendly and professional volunteers as well as the staff members. They are all very educated and knowledgeable in their field.
I am a live in caregiver at paws4people. I live, sleep, and breathe puppy. I know these dogs are given so much care, and are loved beyond measure. These assistance dogs truly change the lives of their clients, and seeing that first hand is something I am beyond fortunate to witness.
paws4people.org has given me and my practice an amazing opportunity by providing me with a new member, DIEGO, to my team. DIEGO will and has been providing my clients with comfort and anxiety relief while in therapy sessions. For my trauma clients, he is outstanding at providing "cuddles" that give them the support they need to work through trauma processing. For kiddos, DIEGO is excellent at teaching gentle hands, soft voices, and patience. For my teens, he is wonderful at making them comfortable to be able to open and share while he is "cuddling". DIEGO is going to make a world of difference for my Clients. paws4people is changing lives one pup and one human at a time!
I became an official client with paws4people on March 15, 2022 when I was matched with my teammate GARTH an attentive and loving Golden Retriever. Through this amazing opportunity given to me by paws4people I will for several years to come have GARTH to assist me with the challenges caused by PTSD related to a 34 year law enforcement career and early-onset Parkinson's Disease. My new teammate will be a two pronged benefit to me by assisting me both emotionally and with my mobility disorder.
From the very beginning of becoming engaged with paws4people they have treated me fairly and with a high level of professionalism. Prior to selecting paws4people as the organization that I would apply for and pursue a service dog I did my research. I immediately recognized their professionalism, caring for their clients, and accountability. One must only look at their website to get a snapshot of the aforementioned.
I would highly recommend paws4people to anyone who is seriously committed to more independence and better quality of life through the utilization of a service dog!
I wish I could give Paws4People the full 5 stars, but they’re not deserving of such praise. This is an organization that will lead you on with false promises of help and then just pull the rug out from under you when you need them the most. There is no compassion or evidence of wanting to help their clients after the “honey moon” phase after you are placed with a ball of love (dog). They will make up any excuse to remove a placed dog with a client just for fun.
Again, I wish I could have given these people a better rating, but the wounds and injuries that they cause are still fresh and taking their toll.
FYI: Most positive reviews on this paws4people page are written by paws4people.
As a student in college I learned about this nonprofit organization and the client's they serve. I was immediately interested and excited about the idea of taking assistance dog training classes and working hands-on with the dogs and clients. My eyes were opened to all the possible ways a dog can change someone's life for the better and I was able to see first-hand the positive impact paws4people has on their clients. As I continued training, I knew I wanted to one day incorporate a Facility Dog into my work as a therapist in the mental health field so I could help more adults and children with mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, etc. paws4people worked with me extensively to reach my goals and were supportive and encouraging throughout the entire placement process. Staff members were always available to answer my questions, ease my own anxieties and worries, and help me incorporate my Psychiatric Facility Dog's (PFD) commands and skills into my daily work. In the few months that I have been a team with my Psychiatric Facility Dog, I have seen clients open up, grow, and develop necessary skills for managing their mental health in ways they never thought possible, all through the support and love from my PFD. paws4people has made my dreams and goals a reality, and I am so thankful for all the hard work they do!
I cannot thank paws4people enough. I have Multiple Sclerosis and, at times, it is difficult for me to move around my house. I have difficulty picking things up off of my floor and sometimes my body aches and it is hard to get out of bed. ZIGGY has changed my
Life! He not only retrieves items for me, he is also my mobility assistance. I have a special harness that I use for him so I no longer have to use a cane in public. ZIGGY also will alert family members if I fall down in my home. He has become an invaluable part of my life. He not only is a medical necessity, he has become such an emotional support as well. His amazing personality has brought such joy to our home! I now can’t imagine life without him.
We originally visited paws4people looking for a nonprofit to volunteer with. The staff immediately recognized how a medical assistance dog could help me with my disability and have since made it possible for me to meet and work with an amazing dog who has already helped me in more ways than they even described. The staff has not only been extremely professional and thorough, but they have all gone above and beyond in more ways than I can count. I now that the staff at paws4people is in it for the right reasons....they truly care about helping clients have a better life through the help of a medical assistance dog.
paws4people is one of the best things that has ever happened to me! My life has completely changed since I have received my assistance dog DAKOTA. I’m happier, less stressed, more social, more active, more confident, and more secure! There are just no words to describe how much DAKOTA has changed my life and how much he means to me. Knowing that he is always by my side makes getting through each day so much easier! I have made so many amazing friends and we are able to encourage and support each other through anything. I am so grateful to paws4people for so greatly improving my life!
This organization is a great organization. I am a disabled veteran that struggles with issues from my military service. MCLELLAN has helped me and my family in ways that I cannot describe. Me and my family are so thankful to paws4people and paws4vets. My life has changed so much and its still changing so much everyday. Every place that MCLELLAN and myself go everyone says that he is the best trained dog they have ever seen. It makes me smile and I know that it is paws4people that made this happen. This organization is not only very professional but everyone is family. I cannot thank enough to this organization for giving me and my family this opportunity and also for wanting to help better my life and my families life. Thank you so much. I highly recommend this organization to anyone that is looking for not only a service dog but a family.
paws4people is an amazing organization. I started the program in 2017 as a sophomore in college. After I graduated from the UNCW Service Dog Training Program, I continued as an alumni trainer because I loved it so much. I was given many leadership opportunities, the opportunity to work with clients, and trusted with lots of wonderful service dogs that I helped train! My favorite part of being an alumni trainer was working with the clients and their service dogs, and seeing their bond with their dog grow. The staff works extremely hard to make sure these dogs are specially trained for the clients, and puts a lot of effort into helping clients become the best trainer they can be as well. I am now on the client side of things, as I have received a Rehabilitative Facility Dog to utilize in my career as a recreation therapist. I have experienced both sides of the program- being a student as well as a client, and I can truly say this organization is amazing! They give back to the community in so many ways, and changed my life for the better. The staff cares about all the students, clients, and dogs, and everybody I've met through the program has been nothing short of amazing. I am very thankful for this organization and highly recommend it to anybody looking to volunteer or receive a service dog!
Paws4People has changed my life in ways I’ve never imagined. I have a rare genetic disease called Trigeminal Neuralgia. It is considered to be the most painful condition known to medicine. I went from being a jet pilot and an active mother to having my life changed overnight. Over the past few years I have felt as if my independence was slipping away due to the pain and the side effects of the medications. While desperately trying to find a way to hold on to parts of my old life, I stumbled upon Paws4People and was welcomed in to their program. It is so much more than being matched with a dog. Paws4People cares about your overall well being, welcomes you in to their family, and gives you tools to adapt to your personal challenges. I was matched with an amazing dog that chose me. In addition to her extensive command list, she can bring me my medication bag, alert a person, and push a button to call my husband. More importantly, she is constantly by my side and gives me the extra confidence I need to continue to do activities on my own. I am forever grateful and honored to be part of the Paws4People family.
I am truly thankful for all the support Paws4people has given me. Paws4people is truly a top notch organization. They have helped me throughout my whole journey. I can not put it into words how grateful I am. I highly recommend this organization to anyone looking for a awesome service dog.
I am a disabled veteran who currently suffers from mobility and mental health issues. In a conversation with a mental health provider, she suggested I look into getting a psychiatric/mobility service dog. She told me many people were applying and to be careful where I was getting the service dog from. I began my research and saw some information about the paws4people foundation, their accreditation with the Assistance Dogs International (ADI), and the founder moving story about how she started the paws4people foundation.
I submitted an application and to my surprise an email response came from the paws4people foundation. I was desperate, I had tried every medication you can think of to make my anxiety less troublesome, pain killers to ease the pain, and when that email came it was as if a new life was given to me. After submitting a series of documents and going through a very structure application process I was approved for a service dog. The paws4people foundation coordinated for me to visit a location where I was going to meet several service dogs and one of those dogs was going to choose me as a handler. Forward some time, and I now have GEORGIA a female chocolate labrador with me at home.
The staff and volunteers at the paws4people foundation have a heart for people who like me are in need of help. Their compassion, professionalism and commitment to their dogs and clients is superb. GEORGIA is changing my life and so is my relationship with the paws4people foundation. I call them family, because that is how we all treat each other. Their service dogs are incredible well trained, I get compliments every day about how well behave GEORGIA is. I take walks with her, we go to supermarkets, stores and she is even with me at church. I am a small church pastor who was missing most of the church services due to anxiety, since having GEORGIA with me I have missed none. The people at the church love GEORGIA and see the positive impact GEORGIA is having in my life.
There are no words to describe my gratitude for what the paws4people foundation do for me and the other members of what I called my family.
Attached are a few images of GEORGIA and me. See my face? I look happy now!
Volunteering with Paws4People has been a life changing experience. Not only do they transform the lives of their clients but also their volunteers. I started off taking the classes at UNCW, became a puppy assistant, a puppy intern, and now am a puppy caregiver. I still work with the assistance dogs in training and can't think of a better organization to be involved in. Being apart of a like minded and family-like organization is such a unique opportunity. Being a student trainer is both rewarding and challenging, but the staff, alumni, and volunteers are absolutely remarkable people. I will forever be grateful to be apart of such an amazing nonprofit organization.
paws4people is exemplary in every way. This organization is an industry leader in not only raising and training service dogs, but training clients to utilize them to transform their lives. The staff truly cares about the success of each client-dog team, and will stick with them as long as it takes to ensure that they’re as successful as they can be. Their mission of transforming lives through service dog partnership is not a platitude-they really do save lives, families, and relationships.
"Tell your Story." Ten years ago I would not have been alive had it not been for STEWART and the paws4people organization. I am a Former Medically Retired First Responder, with CPTSD, Sexual Trauma, Bipolar 1 and Dissociative Disorder Disease (which is like Multiple Personality Disorder) STEWART was born in September 2010. When we bumped in 2011, my life had changed as I had never knew it could. I continued to have hospitilizations, self harm issues, but paws4people and STEWART
never left my side When I would be released, he would be standing there like let's get back to work. It has been five years, since I have had any self harm issues, mental health hospitalizations, and any additions to my personalities. My family, friends, and others can testify that he and the organization or what kept me alive. paws4people do not just drop you, they check in with you and do other things that make you feel like family. Plus, I like having to keep our certification up because it continues to make us the best.
The support and knowledge they give about the program and dogs is amazing! Personally being a client training with my dog has been a life changing experience! All for the better! They are teaching me ways to cope and learn that what I’m going through is hard but also I now have a companion to always be there to help with the bad times! Cannot say enough good things about the organization and the employees and volunteer trainers/instructors! So knowledgeable and caring!
Before paws4people/paws4vets I was struggling with PTSD for nearly 10 years. In those 10 years, I was a wretched husband and father. I would lash out in anger towards my family, I wasn’t supportive or loving. I was just numb, I had no real feelings. Now 3+ years after getting involved with p4p/p4v, my life is a complete turnaround. I’m not the same person I once was. I’m a better, more loving husband and father. paws4people not only change my life but it has a impact on the people around me.
This nonprofit helped change my life! I was a first year university student when I first became aware of paws4people, and the next year I knew I had to join in on their mission. 6 years later, and my life has completely turned around. The dogs and people I have interacted with have made my quality of life so much more than what it used to be.. I have an ESD through paws4people, and I don’t know where I would be without my dog or this amazing group of people. This nonprofit TRULY transforms lives!
paws4people changed our lives in ways beyond measure by providing a service dog for my daughter. We can never thank them enough for all of the amazing work they do every day.
I am a Type 1 diabetic who no longer feels when my blood sugar drops. This can be highly dangerous for me. paw4people trained and provided for me a Diabetes Alert Dog. He is my constant companion and my safety net. Even though I wear a an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring system, they are not always accurate. BENSON, my beautiful black lab, is much more accurate and often times alerts me before I am actually at a low level because he can smell the difference when my blood sugar is dropping. He has woken me from a deep sleep numerous times alerting to a low, and I have no doubt he has saved my life on more than one occasion. He is also such a gentle, sweet dog with the best personality. I can' t imagine my life without him. I cannot thank paws4people enough for my furry best friend! I love him so much! I would also like to add to add that p4p doesn't just provide service dogs to people in need; they provide a family. The way they stay invested in their client/dog teams is amazing! They are there for you when you have a problem or question, and I love the fact that they have us test and rectify every year to retain our public access. This just to show how high their standards are how much they care for their client/service dog teams! Thank you paws4people!
paws4people is an awesome organization! The attention to detail in breeding, puppy development, selection and assignment of their dogs is unmatched. My son was matched with a dog, which has turned out to be such a blessing for him and our entire family. This dog has allowed him to establish independence and complete tasks which otherwise he would be unable to do. This dog has also become a friend and companion who is nonjudgemental and sees no disabilities when looking at my son. He only sees friendship and looks for ways he can make my son's life better. By allowing us to have this dog, paws4people has improved all our lives!
I had applied and interviewed with four Service Dog groups in 2017. I chose Paws4People and have never second- guessed my decision. I initially had many doubts as to my success due to my age ( 72) and having never owned a dog.
I was diagnosed with PTSD in the early 80's and saying my dog, EMBRY has been an utter wonder might be the understatement of the decade!! She has helped mitigate my symptoms and has totally changed my overall life.
The training was excellent as was the entire staff. They are not just with you during training but even afterwards as well. I feel as if I have joined a family who truly care about its members. I cannot envision my life post-Paws4People being any better !!!
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I am a combat-decorated Vietnam veteran and am 100% Service connected disabled due to PTSD, profound hearing loss and various joint problems.
I was first diagnosed with PTSD in 1985 and afterward just dealt with it- or at least
as much as possible. It returned with a vengeance three years ago due to the death of my best Nam buddy. I could not visit him in his last days due to some of my own health problems at that time.That exacerbated my survivor guilt and other issues as well.
I became even more hyper-vigilant, thinking people were breaking into my home. I keep imagining I was hearing sounds even though "intellectually " I knew there weren't. I set up Nest Cams throughout my house and garage to view all entrances and was able to view them on my iphone. It was extremely worse at night- and compounded with nightmares and flashbacks ( or as one psychiatrist told me : " Intrusive thoughts " ) does not make for a restful night ! At times, I didn't even trust the cameras and wound up physically checking my surroundings.
After talking with my latest therapist he and I both felt having a Service Dog would help me feel much more secure especially one capable of alerting me when there are sounds ... or someone inside, " My perimeter ". We also felt a Service Dog would calm me throughout the entire day and night in dealing with several of my " Triggers ".
I applied to four Service Dog groups and was accepted into all. That is either a comment on my luck or how "messed up " I was. I visited all four and after listening to Terry Henry ( of paws4vets ) describe the program I immediately knew this was THE ONE for me.
Initially I was extremely nervous since I never had a dog and at my age then ( 71 ) how would the training go ? The training is VERY thorough and hence, stressful. I was allowed to take EMBRY home after six months and red- vested in eight. They always emphasize they are all about the DOGS. However, the program is more like a family. They are always with you and I am as close to some other clients as I am to friends I have known far longer.
What has EMBRY done for me ? Several years ago i physically attacked my girlfriend while in the throes of a flashback. THAT hasn't happened since . I no longer check my security cameras where in the past I sometimes did six times every night.
I am a lot calmer and do not blow up as I once did.EMBRY keeps me calm by anchoring me during the day and at night has awakened me before a nightmare gets going, EMBRY is very much tuned to me and as an example I was on my laptop two weeks ago with the V.A. ( which by itself is very stressful ) and she literally jumped into my lap and wound up blocking the screen. I took her " advice " and took a break:-)
There are no real words to describe the bond EMBRY and I share. I feel as if I've had her for far longer than the five we've been together. I feel as another veteran said, " It's like having someone in your fighting hole !"
This group is amazing and the charge for these miraculous dogs .... not one penny. This group changes lives... and saves lives !!!
Nick Travis
Several years after running over a landmine in Iraq, sustaining a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), my wife pushed me to get a service dog to help me.
With the help of Paws4people/Paws4Vets, I was able to get BARROW, my service dog.
BARROW and I have been a team since August 2019. My family and friends have said many times that they see a huge difference in me.
Thanks to companies like RBC Wealth Management and The Linn Group, who make donations, I as well as others are able to have a better life with our service dogs.
Thank you Paws4People/Paws4Vets for giving me hope and a better life.
Daryl and BARROW
Memphis, Tn.
I am currently in my eighth month working with my medical assistance dog, LINCOLN. He is a black Labrador Retriever. He has changed my way of life in words I cannot describe. Instead of being a couch potato, I am now up and about. I can go anywhere. Instead of being a couch potato, I am now up and about. I can go anywhere. Great Organization!
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Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): paws4people, a nonprofit organization, is quite simply the finest program I have ever had the opportunity to work with. They have litterally changed my life for the better. I am not sure where I would be right now without them.
paws4people link veterans and civilians up with trained medical assistance dogs in an attempt to make that person’s life more manageable and livable. Without their help, I am sure I would be in a very dark place as I am writing this testimonial right now.
I have been paired up with a black Labrador Retriever by the name of LINCOLN. He is my trusted companion and provides me with unconditional love. He asks for nothing back except for the same love and gentleness. I was paired with LINCOLN back in July 2018. Ever since then, I get to train with him four days a month in Wilmington, NC. paws4people, in conjunction with the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, trains him to learn approximately ninety commands that I will learn before I can take him home. These commands will enable me to teach LINCOLN what I need and also help protect me in case an event occurs that I am not comfortable with.
LINCOLN is not an emotional support animal. He is a certified medical/psychological assistance dog. That means he falls under the rules of the federal Americans With Disability Act. LINCOLN can go with me anywhere I can, to include plane rides and restaurants.
I am so appreciative of the volunteers at paws4people. Had it not been for them, I would be in a lot of trouble. My Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is very hard to deal with. Seeing a Psychologist helps, but it’s not enough. I still was not able to leave my house or go out shopping because of my mental illness. Now that I am training with LINCOLN, I am able to leave the house and go places that I never would have done before. My life is a lot more normal now and I’m hoping to make my life even better with the help of LINCOLN.
I highly recommend that veterans and civilians alike, give paws4people a chance to help them. Also, a donation of any amount to this nonprofit is an easy way to “Pay it Forward” for people who have read this testimonial.
Today I went out to eat at a local diner. I happened to run into a couple friends, who invited me to join them. I was happy to accept their invitation and we had a good time.
At first glance the whole situation seems painstakingly ordinary, just three friends sharing a meal. Yet under the table lay three extraordinary service dogs. At the table: taking a sip of his coffee was a 70 something year old USMC Vietnam veteran, sprinkling salt on her potatoes was a twenty something year old sexual assault survivor, and wolfing down his sandwich was a 30 something year old USMC OEF veteran. Perhaps unlikely friends, but fate and a special organization called paws4people brought us together. Today we are simply three friends, eating breakfast. Conversation is generally light hearted. Yet, at one point I find myself saying, "I don't know where I'd be if I had never found paws4people." In the silence that follows, the older marine states, "I know where I'd be without my dog, six feet under." My buddy looks out the window and nods in agreement, as I reach down to pet my dog.
Paws4people is the most amazing service dog organization I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with. Their staff is professional and treats you like family. I don’t know where’d I’d be today without their help. They really are lifesavers, and their training program is the most efficient one I have come across. Their screening process makes sure that the right clients get into the program, and once you are a client they will never give up on you. Whom ever is struggling with issues that could benefit from a service dog, Paws4people is on par with excellence.
I most likely would have ended my own life if it had not been for this sweet girl. I have agoraphobia and chronic severe depression. WINDE brought me hope and a new life. She taught me how to live in the moment instead of in my head. She got me out of my house and outside again. Paws4people was with us during the whole training process but also anytime I needed to reach out. I am forever grateful that my life was led to them and WINDE. Paws4people is more than an agency, they become an extended family and are made up of some of the most wonderful people you can know.
ATKINS is a Rehabilitative Facility Dog utilized to prevent and mitigate the symptoms of dental anxiety in our dental office. The incredible training that she received from paws4people enables her to assist with adults and children to create a great dental experience. It is estimated that 40 million Americans don't receive dental care because they suffer from dental phobia. Dental phobia prevents them from going to the dentist at all. We have had several patients with dental phobia seek out our office because of ATKINS and the Animal Assisted Therapy she provides. These same patients have improved their quality of life because they were able to have dental treatment completed. Thank you paws4people for committing to transform lives!
I was introduced to paws4people by being a student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where their on campus dog training program is located. I was having a rough time in life dealing with recent trauma, which made me want to give up on a lot of things. My friends didn't understand the hardships I was facing, so they were starting to leave me out of things, I couldn't focus in school and began failing classes, and I just overall didn't feel like myself. However, instead of trying a million medications or giving up, I sought the help from paws4people. I was introduced to TOBY in October 2017 and my life quickly changed. He was exactly what I needed to complete my life and push me forward. I found confidence in myself again; I began passing all of my classes again; I wasn't as afraid to go out in public anymore because I always had my buddy with me; and I was able to reconnect with lost friendships. I also met a lot of people who understood what I had been through, which was huge for me. I could talk to people who knew what I had been through and who I could relate to. I've made some of the best friends I could ever ask for, heard incredible testimonies, and attended meaningful events all because of paws4people.
I am incredibly grateful to be apart of this community. I was welcomed in with open arms and I have felt nothing but support from the staff since the day of my bump. I currently do not have my dog, BARROW, home with me yet, but as we continue to grow together as a team I'm sure he will be home in no time! Since joining Paws4People, my spirits have lifted, it's easier to get out of bed, it's easier to socialize, and the biggest gift of all that was given to me is that I finally have hope for my future. This organization truly is for the people and want nothing but the best for their clients and their dogs. I can't wait to have BARROW home and I am forever thankful to call myself a member of the Paws4People family.
CREEK has changed my life in ways I cannot express. He has brought a sense of peace to me and has allowed me to live a better life! I feel like I am living again for the first time in years and I believe it will only get better! I am forever grateful to paws4people/paws4vets.
Anthony R.
DELLA has definitely made a positive impact on mine and my family's lives. She has given me a reason to keep trying and to not give up. We go to work at a public job 5 days a week and other people see us together and I think it makes a positive impact on their lives as well. Thank you so much paws4people/paws4vets...when the chips were down you came through for me.
Forever Grateful, mark and DELLA
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My experience with paws4people has been awesome. I have started a new journey that I never knew existed. I would never have thought that I would have people helping me that didn't even know me. These people actually care about helping people get their lives back and on the road to recovery. I will forever be greatful and do my best to give back to them to help save other Veterans from traveling down a dead end path that no one comes back from.
Thank you paws4people for caring and for introducing me to DELLA.
Sincerely, mark
They are great! Since teaming my dog, BOAZ and me together, I'm able to go out more often and with less anxiety. Also my nightmares have diminished. paws4people/paws4vets is more than an organization; they are a family! Thank you paws4people. We look forward to seeing you again.
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They have connected my husband with a great friend, his dog, BOAZ. He has enabled him to go back out into the world; to get out of the house and to enjoy some of the things he use to before his accident. Also paws4people/paws4vets is more than an organization, they are a family...
This is my daughter and her service dog, SULLIVAN. We met SULLIVAN in March 2017 after being accepted into the program with paws4people. SULLIVAN gave Hannah her life back She is there for her when she is anxious; she gives her the courage to leave the house; she provides comfort when she has awful nightmares; most of all, SULLIVAN provides unconditional love to Hannah. We are so grateful for paws4people. Without their program and generous support, I don't know where we would be today. paws4people is amazing.
paws4people has changed my life. I was afraid of going into public settings; panic attacks plagues me; and I was battling crippling depression. After I met BLU, my life changed forever. I know have the freedom that I didn't have before and I am living life again. Thank you paws4people.
-Jeff and BLU
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paws4people has changed my life! I was suicidal, depressed and could not function. paws4people came in and guided me on the path to happiness. I was matched with BLU and my entire world changed forever. I am now able to begin living the happy life that I so much yearned for. A fantastic organization!
My life was falling apart. I had been compliant with my medication and with therapy but my life was still falling apart. When my doctor recommended a service dog I was skeptical. I didn't think I'd qualify for any programs since most are veteren pr children only. When I found paws4people I was sure that I wouldn't be accepted but my fiance convinced me to apply anyway. Less than 20 minutes after sending the initial email I was asked to fill out a full application. I couldn't motivate myself to do it and dragged my feet. They called to check on me. That's when I realized what kind of organization this was. Every organization member I spoke to on the phone was kind and professional. When I was accepted their deputy executive director called me to tell me personally.
I was matched with a dog in July and was a mess during the entire event. They took their time to speak to me, reassure me, and let me know that they were going to help me.
This is an organization that is full of the kindest and caring people I have ever met. They're invested in helping me and every other client. They are not only available if we need them but actively reach out as well.
I am a special education teacher, and paws4people gifted me with the best tool I could’ve ever asked for. His name is FOREST! FOREST is a facility dog in my classroom. I teach 12 students on the autism spectrum. They have many different abilities and needs. FOREST has been a huge asset to all of us. He is there to comfort my students when they are upset, he motivates them to talk and play with his spunky personality, he assists them by picking things up for them, and he bonds with them in a very special way. Not only does FOREST serve my classroom, but he serves the whole school! All of the students, and even the staff members look forward to seeing him everyday. Students throughout the school who may be going through tough times at home, have the opportunity to come in and love on him. You can tell it just brightens their day. He also boosts students’ confidence with their reading skills by being the best listener during read aloud time. All in all, FOREST is a huge blessing to my students, my school, and myself! I am so grateful to paws4people for gifting us with this sweet, perfect boy.
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paws4people is an amazing non-profit! I discovered this organization through the Service Dog Training Program classes offered at UNCW in 2015, and I absolutely fell in love! Since then I have stayed actively involved in this organization. I strongly believe in the mission, and the positive impacts their dogs have on so many people's lives. I have personally been touched by not only the dogs, but the people involved in this organization. paws4people makes everyone feel like family, and they are always there to support anyone in need. All in all, paws4people does outstanding work for the community and all people involved by educating everyone on the amazing things that service dogs can do, and by placing highly trained service dogs with so many people in need!
Without Paws4People I would not have been able to function. I knew I needed help when I was diagnosed with heart disease. It was debilitating on a good day and even though I believe in the power of prayer I wasn’t getting better. It wasn’t until I met URBAN Dec 2017. He empowered me to “do” again. Gave me purpose through freedom from my crippling disease. Gave my family freedom to live their lives and know I was in good “paws”. Thanks to URBAN I can LIVE again. Thank you Paws4People for being the miracle God intended for me.
My experience with paws4people has been absolutely amazing!! Every single person within the organization regardless of if it is staff, volunteers, or other clients are always there to welcome you with open arms. You definitely get an extended family when you are a part of paws4people. Thanks to them I have my 4 legged best friend CLAUDE who is there right beside me every step of the way no matter what. I know that no matter what I face or what is going on that he is right there with me ready to help and support me. Having CLAUDE has given me back a lot of the independence that having a physical disability and using a wheelchair takes away from you. Having CLAUDE there to help me with whatever I struggle with on my own even if it as simple as picking up something that I dropped, means that is one more way that I am now independent. Thanks to paws4people and CLAUDE I feel like I am finally able to live and pursue the independent life that I have always strived for. There is not enough that can be said about paws4people and the amazing work that they do, it is truly life changing.
CANYON has changed our lives by calming his boy during meltdowns and has brought so much joy to our lives. We love our boy!!
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paws4people and paws4vets for me has been a life-saving Foundation. They have went beyond all of my expectations to provide all the support I could possibly need. They bend over backwards to help any and all clients involved in their programs. They never give up on an individual. Their Annual re-certification program puts them head and shoulders above all the rest. I have been part of a team with my dog MERCER since 2015. paws4people and paws4vets saved my life by helping me. They have helped hundreds of people both veterans, civilians, first responders and others. They are on a different level all to themselves by the support they provide their service dogs, clients, and all invoolved.
My daughter was in the Assistance Dog Training Program at UNCW. Through her I witnessed first hand how the paws4people Assistance Dogs transform lives. I was so impressed with this non-profit that I applied for a Facility Dog to work with me in my dental office. I am now in training with my Facility Dog, ATKINS. All the staff that I work with at paws4people are great at what they do! In my opinion the paws4people mission to be the best in the industry has already been achieved. Their love for their dogs and for the people whose lives they are helping transform is evident in every aspect of the organization!
paws4people saved my life. LITERALLY. What’s even more remarkable is that paws4people didn't just save my life. They’ve saved hundreds of lives and they continue giving people their lives back - one Assistance Dog at a time. This organization all began with a 12-year-old girl's vision: to use dogs as a means of helping people through empowerment and transformation. This vision became a reality in the form of paws4people foundation.
paws4people foundation is a non-profit organization that raises, trains, and places Assistance Dogs with children, veterans, military dependents, and civilians living with disabilities at NO COST. Yes, that's correct; this organization provides highly-trained, specifically-individualized Assistance Dogs, worth over $60,000 each at NO COST to individuals in need. This is the definition of selfless giving. I believe that this organization truly exemplifies what a great non-profit is comprised of: a FAMILY-LIKE group of UNDERSTANDING individuals who are WHOLE-HEARTEDLY, DEDICATED TO SAVING LIVES OF THOSE IN NEED.
Personally, paws4people has provided me with a very special Psychiatric Medical Alert Assistance Dog named BRODIE, in an effort to help me control, mitigate, and regulate various symptoms caused by my Psychiatric diagnoses. Through BRODIE, this foundation has given me a constant companion, a sense of security, and a new found purpose. paws4people hasn’t just handed me a dog and said “good luck with the future!” This organization has provided me an irreplaceable gift…A MIRACLE - the will to live. paws4people has given me LIFE, with nothing more than a sincere “thank you” appreciated in return. There are no words to describe just how much of a difference paws4people has made in my life and many others in our community, nor could I ever find words worthy enough to thank this organization for giving me my life back.
When an organization consistently reaches out and changes lives, they set themselves apart from the "herd" of those companies whose talk is pretty, but their results are cheap. paws4people has been an answer to prayer for me and my family. Every client I've me over the last year has the same testimony. Their singular focus on helping those of us with PTSF and disabilities is an answer to prayer. We all know that the staff is focused on clients healing, because we see it every time we speak to them. A dedicated management team makes sure every penny of donation goes to caring for a veteran or a person with a disability. I'm pleased to tell folks that I'm a client and a volunteer with an organization that changes lives every day.
paws4people is the best medication for a Veteran dealing with PTSD and a TBI. This Veteran
had been through different kinds of therapy for PTSD and the interventions did help. However, there was still something missing. I really did think about it, talked to my wife about it, and prayed about it too.
I was selected to get a service dog and participated in some intensive training. I did my story board with my service dog and the bonding began. paws4people supported me, and helped my face my demons, nightmares, and negative thoughts. This agency is the real deal, what they teach and encourage, it works. I am very thankful to have paws4people in my life and they are family. Thank you, paws4people.
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paws4vets is a awesome organization
for Veterans, people with disabilities, and individuals who have Type One Diabetes too. This organization has made my life better in ways no other medication or counseling could have.
There are more Veterans out there who need this of kind of healing to move forward in life.
What is paws4people, paws is an amazing organization that saves lives and restores independence to clients. My experience has been nothing short of miraculous. After 20 years in the Marines my experiences were vast and to me left no scars or marks. However, after about 5 years in retirement I found myself becoming a recluse and distant from my family. This was extremely bothersome to me but I could stop. Noise and nightmares began and I just could get rest I was becoming more restless. I couldn't be around my grandchildren for extended amounts of time. I also battled shaking hands after church which may not bother some, it bothered me because I am the pastor.
In Febuary 2017, I bumped with CUMBERLAND and it was instantaneous how we clicked and seemed to bond. As we began going through the process of training we only grew closer together as a team as well as with other clients. Through more training you also find a support group and friends that can aid you through your post traumatic growth. What was the result being able sit with my grandchildren once again, being the pastor to my church that I aspired to be. Finding a true safe place to share feelings and it doesn't ever leave CUMBERLAND. CUMBERLAND provided a way for one of my one of my grandsons diagnosed autism to jump in my lap and say for the first time on his own, I love you papa and CUMBERLAND! It brought me to tears my grandson was 9 years old and non-verbal.
What is my experience with paws4people they have brought peace to a storm that was only getting crazier. Did they save my life, yes without a doubt!
If I could give 100 stars I would.
My paws4people Service Dog MORGAN has given me my freedom back by giving me the ability and confidence to go out in public knowing I have my battle buddy with me. MORGAN provides mobility assistance for me which allows me to better contribute to my household. I also know that if I fall she will get my wife for me. Furthermore, she retreaves and carries articles for me when I am unable to such as my cane, groceries, her leash, helps me undress by removing my socks, pulling off my pants, etc., and puts them in the dirty close. She also turns on lights and opens doors for me.
When paws4people says they save lives, that is exactly what they mean, they save lies EVERYDAY! This organization is truly god sent and a tightnit family.
paws4people is an amazing organization that has changed my life in so many ways. I first became interested in volunteering with paws4people because they helped individuals with developmental disabilities such as autism. As a recreation therapy major the UNCW SDTP was the best of both worlds for me. After volunteering with the puppies and in the SDTP for about 2 years I suffered an accident that has left me with physical mobility issues. Without missing a beat paws4people staff wrapped me in their arms and bumped me with an amazing dog WALLIS. WALLIS has made my life so complete. He is always right there to pick up things I have dropped, bracing so I am able to get up and uses the "go alert" command to get someone if I have fallen at home or in public. He has put my world back together when I never thought I could be whole again. The paws4people staff, especially Kyria Henry, are wonderful. They are so supportive and are always there to hold you up and make you feel like part of a family. I don't know where I would be without this amazing organization!!
I began training with FRANKLIN as of December 2018. FRANKLIN is a Facility Crisis Response Dog that provides therapeutic interventions and de-stressing. I’m a police officer ( Officer Ray Rodriguez) with the UNC Chapel Hill Police Department Community Service Unit. FRANKLIN and I passed our first test in April 2018. As of April 2018 I was able to take FRANKLIN home and begin working with him. In the past 11 weeks FRANKLIN has been involved in 10 therapeutic interventions. These are students, faculty or staff in crisis that FRANKLIN was able to calm, help think clearly and heal the human spirit. It’s been such a pleasure to watch FRANKLIN working to reduce stress, calm the human spirit and provide interventions. FRANKLIN and I have had contact with over two thousand people individually or in a group setting on or off campus at de-distressing events, day care centers , pre schools, community events, boyscout meetings and other events. Everywhere FRANKLIN goes he touches someones heart. paws4people provided this dog to me to enhance my daily work experience at no cost to me, the UNC Chapel Hill Police Department or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. paws4people provided me with a support group to include a trainer, an advocate and some of the best training I’ve been involved in. My personal life and career have been enhanced because of my relationship with paws4people. I envision the relationship between paws4people and law enforcement expanding because of bridges built between law enforcement and the community they serve. I’ve been a police officer most my with local law enforcement, state law enforcement and now in a University setting. Working with paws4people and FRANKLIN has truly been the most gratifying part of my law enforcement career. I’ve have never touched so many lives in such a short period of time. I look forward to a continued partnership with FRANKLIN and paws4people.
Officer Ray Rodriguez
UNC Police Department
Paws for People helped us train our puppy to be a diabetic alert dog for our son Christopher. It was hard work but our trainer was amazing!!! It took about a year and a half and so worth the time and effort. Our Sugar has saved Christopher so many times!!! They have such a special bond. Besides alerting Christopher during the day Sugar has woken us up in the middle of the night several times to alert us of low blood sugars.
paws4people is an amazing foundation and I will forever be grateful for having met them. They dedicate countless hours and energy to help both myself and the other clients. Questions are answered in a timely manner and all staff is wonderful. From the first day I met them via communication and in person, they have done everything possible to help me feel welcome and cared about; I cannot wait to see how much they grow, they're destined for great things. This foundation is the top of its class, creating new pathways for success in the Assistance Dog world and in their community.
Great organization, Provides Service Dogs to Vets with PTSD and TBA also provides dogs in other areas of people needing assistance.
A totally unique service dog organization. Most organizations just give you a dog and say good luck. This one makes sure you are getting the most help out of your dog. It totally changed my life and makes my independence possible!
I have always wanted to incorporate a dog into our daily preschool activities. Receiving COLLIER from paws4people has been an amazing gift that enhances our program. The children are learning about caring for an animal, what service dogs do in our community, and many other valuable lessons. COLLIER puts anxious children at ease and motivates children to try new skills. She also encourages the development of empathy, cultivates cooperation, and helps children learn to identify feelings. The children also learn about caring and sharing as we host fundraising events for the paws4people organization. I can not even put into words all the positive ways paws4people is impacting the students at Jenkins Preschool Academy with the gift of our Faciity Dog, COLLIER.
CAROLINE loves working in the schools by helping kids with various disabilities! She does this through the support of Paws4People!
Working at a juvenile detention center can be a very stressful job and a scary encounter for the youth that are detained. Being an animal lover I've always thought having a therapy dog at our facility, New Hanover JDC, would have a positive impact for everyone, but attaining the dog with all the certifications was going to be a challenge. God was working on my side when I was able to meet paws4people at a conference 2 years ago, and from there a weekly program began with the help of paws4people. Staff and kids learned about assistance dogs and how they helped their clients Our kids were also exposed to learning about giving back to others, compassion, and the responsibility of taking care of a dog. Watching smiles emerge from staff and kids, along with some laughter from interacting with the puppies and trained assistance dogs I knew we needed our very own dog for NHJDC. With the help of paws4people I was able to get SAYLOR who is now our facility dog, and the first therapy/crisis response dog to be placed in one of juvenile detention center's in NC. My experience with paws4people has been amazingly positive, and you truly become part of their family. I continue to have ongoing support from a client advocate, and my facility dog trainer, and EVERYONE IS ALWAYS SO NICE AND CARING. These folks truly care about transforming lives and making a difference for others. I will forever be grateful for receiving SAYLOR because she brings rays of sunshine to our facility with her happy bouncy demeanor. I've only had SAYLOR for about 2 months and in that time she's already making a difference. Thanks paws4people, you truly are a blessing.
Sincerely,
Sherry Cain, Center Supervisor NCDPS-New Hanover JDC
NIKKI and I have been a paws4people team since 2008. I am a physical therapist and work in the public school system with children with disabilities. She and I have worked with many children motivating them to meet their IEP goals. We also work in our local hospital visiting patients. NIKKI is a wonderful dog who loves people and has impacted many lives. She is now nearing a well deserved retirement. I am grateful that paws4people gave me the opportunity to use this beautiful, well trained dog. Together we have touched so many lives. My life would not have been the same without NIKKI and paws4people.
paws4people changes lives! I am so excited to start my training with my Diabetes Alert Dog, BENSON! Having him will make my life so much better, and give me a sense of security I didn't have before!!!
I am a client with p4p and bumped with my dog in July 2017. I am very thankful for all that they do and excited to begin our journey together. I look forward to hopefully volunteering with the puppies and giving back to this organization as much as I can in the coming years.
paws4people has not only saved my life, but enriched it. From the moment I became part of this organization, I also became part of the paws4people family. Before I was part of this experience, I was in an excruciatingly dark place. I was ready to give up on myself and on life. As a sort of last resort, I applied to receive one of paws4people's service dogs. I thought of it as just another treatment plan and I didn't give it much of a chance. I quickly realized that this organization is so much more than 'treatment'. It is unconditional love. It is patience and kindness. It is family. It is HOPE.
My service dog from paws4people has saved my life so many times in so mamy ways. Also, the bonds between members of the paws4people family are something to be cherished.
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This organization gave me a chance when no one else would. Although I fall outside paws4people's typical client model and about 30 other service dog organizations had refused to work with someone with my disability, paws4people decided to take a close look at my application to see if they could help. When they realized that they could, they matched me with the love of my life, an uber-fluffy golden retriever named AIRLIE.
Before I got AIRLIE I was slogging through college. I was hospitalized more than once and on more than one occasion my doctor seriously considered that I should drop out of school. After I got AIRLIE I walked the stage at graduation.
Before I got AIRLIE I could not leave my house because of the crowds. I bought everything I needed off Amazon and even had groceries delivered. Now, I was able to spend this past weekend celebrating a lifelong passion in a crowd of over 14,000 people.
In addition to the lifesaving service dog they provided, the staff of paws4people has created an organization that considers every service dog handler, every staff member, and every volunteer, to be family.
My time paws4people has been absolutely amazing! My journey started with not being able to spend a full day with my grandchildren and becoming a non-social person. Through their family values and methods of training they have equipped me to spend full days with my grandchildren and not hide in my office.
If it wasn't for paws4people and the community they provide I would be lost today. Being paired with CUMBERLAND has made life much easier on me as well as those around me.
Paws4People is an amazing organization that provides wonderful support to people who need it. From my experience with them however, they lack good leadership which is a shame. The people in charge of and those who run Paws4People are very unprofessional from my experience. My child was involved with them through a school and they pulled out before the program ended. I already had a bad experience with the women who lead this organization but wanted to give them a second chance. I am once again very disappointed with the people who run this organization.
At 31 wks into my 3rd pregnancy I noticed a marked decrease in fetal movement. I went to the doctor thinking they would send me home and tell me everything was OK. On ultrasound it was obvious that the baby was in severe distress and had some abdominal distention- possibly a diaphragmatic hernia. His BPP only scored a 2. He was very near death and hadn't even been born yet. An emergency c-section was performed and a very sick little boy was born. His apgars were 0 & 4--not too promising. At 5 days old he was taken to surgery to remove his gangrenous small bowel. He was diagnosed with a midgut volvulus (developed in utero for no apparent reason). He lost approx. 60% of his sm bowel, had an illeostomy and also had a central line placed. During the first 2 weeks he also suffered 2 lung collapses and chest tubes and a grade 2 IVH. He was diagnosed with SBS, malabsorption, GERD, laryngomalacia, airway edema, sepsis, and failure to thrive. Later he was also diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency. Little did we know how long and hard his battle would be. At 6 mos. old and weighing 9lb 1oz he was finally released from the hospital and felt the sunshine on his face for the first time. The breeze took his breath away. At home with his family he began to thrive and grow in spite of all his problems and need for constant care. At 13mo he was diagnosed with severe to profound hearing loss for which he received a cochlear implant. He still requires 12hrs a day of enteral infusion feeds, many medications and constant care. He is progressing VERY WELL and God has been very GRACIOUS to us. He is 12 years old now and spite of it all he remains a happy boy with loads of personality and a smile to melt any heart. He is a true JOY and inspiration.
When Joshua was 6 yrs old he saw a Service Dog helping a blind handler. He asked me if a dog could help someone to hear. This led me on a search for an organization that would place a dog with a child...it lead me to paws4people! Josh was accepted into the program and we met MASON, the best Service Dog ever. We trained with MASON and brought him home in August of 2013. The past 3 years have been the best 3 years of Joshua's life with MASON by his side continually through each and every day and each and every clinic visit, hospital stay, and each procedure.
MASON is very highly trained and is not afraid of any situation we go through at the hospital or daily life. He does hearing and medical alerts for Joshua and goes with us everywhere. We always get compliments on how well behaved and well trained he is! Not all Service Dog organizations can compete with how well paws4people trains their dogs specifically for the individuals needs. This dog has totally changed daily life for our whole family, not just Joshua. The organization has a family approach to mending broken lives with their dogs. A life of medical complications, daily struggles, and deafness is certainly NOT what I wanted for my child, but paws4people and MASON have come to the rescue and brought an added measure of joy to this amazing little boy's life and we are forever grateful!
Paws4people has helped me slowly get pieces of my life back. With the help of my dog FLINT I have been able to live a more normal life. FLINT and I have been a team since September 2015 and he has been home with me since Feburary 2016 since then he has helped change my life. He gives me a reason to get up in the morning because I have to take care of him. He has also already helped me through some difficult times. Thanks paws4people!
In December 2015 I met SALVI, a fun-loving black lab. SALVI will be able to provide assistance with retrieving items for me, helping me with dropped items and carrying things for me. SALVI will also help alert to anxiety and will assist with mobility when needed. SALVI will help improve my day to day quality of life. paws4people / paws4vets is the best!
R/ Rick & SALVI
The whole paws4people organization has changed my life and the lives of my family. I served in the Army as a Combat medic of over 11 years. I served two combat tours to Iraq totaling 19 months boots on ground. As a result of my combat time I developed PTS on my return home as well as other disabling issues. My life was becoming unbearable and I didn't know where to turn or what to do to fix my issues. I turned to self medicating with drugs and alcohol. My anger and depression was consuming my life to the point I was isolating myself in my closet and bathroom all day. My doctor had mentioned a service dog to me at one of my many doctors visits. I decided to start looking for organizations that could fit my needs. A list of organizations was given to me by a friend of mine. I went down the list and did a little research on each, paws4people caught my eye. I completed the online application and within days the organization reached out to me personally. After speaking with them it was decided that I needed to fill out a long application. I swiftly returned all documents in a very short time. Once all the paperwork was done, I was invited to the bump. Thats where the potential clients get to meet the dogs and possibly have a dog pick you. I was lucky and bumped with TANNEN that day. TANNEN is a beautiful female golden retriever. I trained with TANNEN for a few months, then she was placed in my home. She has been in my home for over one year now and the difference she has made is my life is explainable. I feel alive again! I feel purpose and have a reason to live now. As before suicide weighed heavily on my mind. TANNEN is able to calm me down faster than any medication ever has and without the side effects. I'm able to enjoy myself in public again with my family. TANNEN interrupts my night terrors. The list goes on and on. My family and I are truly grateful to paws4people and paws4vets for providing us with this lifesaving dog. They truly are an amazing organization. They care! Brock S.
Paws 4 people has changed my husband's life! In early 2015, we were simply co-existing, sharing the same air. His ptsd had crippled him and robbed me of the husband I once knew. I was worried every time I left the house that I would return home to find my husband dead, by his own hands. And then we found paws 4 people, and life changed -- all on that day when he was matched with CHAMP, his service dog. And now, he has come back to us! There are still bad days, but now we are better equipped to deal with them. He and o can spend quality time together doing the things we both enjoy. He attends our kids games and recitals -- something he never would have done before. And it's all thanks to Paws 4 people, the potential they saw in my husband, and the love and support they have provided throughout this journey. These people are not simply a "group" to me -- they are truly family!
My name is Matthew Currin I served in the Marine Corps from January 2006 to June of 2010 when I was medically retired. Some of my medical diagnoses are severe hearing loss, PTSD, major depressive disorder, degenerative disc disease with facet arthropathy, and forth nerve palsy of the right eye. I came to know my Paws4people through my best friend Charles Ladd. My days were dark and numbered before Charles came back in my life. At my lowest suicide seemed to be the only option. Charlie pulled me out of it and got me involved with Paws4people. I soon realized my life was going to change in a BIG way. This change I'm talking about came in the form of a little brown lab named CHAMP. CHAMP and I have inseparable since we met. He helps me mitigate my symptoms of PTSD, he also helps with mobility and hearing alert. He's more than just a medical tool he is my best friend. This past year has been so crazy I've made some new friends through paws4people. Actually more like family we've laughed together we've cried together. We are all here for one another. I couldn't ask for a better group of people. Paws4people isn't just a life changing organization they are a life saving one. They don't just give you a dog and send you on your way. They give you all the tools necessary to succeed and they never ever leave your side. Once you come into this family you remain part of it forever. I love my new family they gave me a reason to keep going and for that I'm forever grateful.
This charity saved my life, it re gave me purpose made me feel loved and cared about again. When they took me as a client I had already tried to take my life several times from suffering from major depression and ptsd from things I dealt with overseas and saw and the why not me scenario, they gave me something to believe in again and fixed my relationship with my daughter which is the most important thing to me, paws4vets gave me a second chance at life and helped me care about life again. I can't think them enough or the impact the have made.
You won't be getting just a dog, you'll be getting a family, support system, and friends for a lifetime! Hard working staff who will expect you to work hard as well c
Truly amazing organization. The support to their client reflects there love for what they do. The dogs that are trained through this organization truly are the best, which is a blanket statement to make, however when you walk around with a service dog all day, and you see the behaviors of service dogs from other organizations, you realize how well trained your dog is in comparison!
Paws4People is a wonderful organization that trains and provides service dogs to children, veterans and others in need. They do this in a very cost effective way by enlisting inmates to train the puppies.
There is also an army of volunteers who have trained their own dogs as social therapy and educational assistance dogs to visit senior living homes as well as schools in the community.
This is such an amazing charity - the constant updates and news Kyria shares with me - and others - is integral in keeping animal rights top of mind for me and my circle of friends.
Where does she find the time!!
Loretta
The paws4people foundation is an organization operated by volunteers that train service dogs. I believe that the most important aspect of this program is the enhancement in the lives of those who are disabled by using well-trained dogs taught with specific skills. These trained dogs are a companion and assistant, and offer those in need with a better quality of life.