Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs)

As an intern, I am so grateful for all that PawPADs has taught me. Going into the internship, I thought I would just learn about dog training, but I have experience so much more than that. PawPADs helped me grow personally in confidence, knowledge, and how to advocate for myself and the dog I'm training plus so much more. For that, I will always be grateful for this organization and all that it does.

I've also seen the great lengths they have gone to train these dogs and make sure they go to the proper home, not just for the person, but also the dog. It is amazing work that they do and I'm happy to have been apart of their journey.

As a volunteer at Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs), I've had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the incredible impact this organization has on both people and dogs. From the moment I joined, I felt welcomed into a community that values compassion, dedication, and the transformative power of assistance dogs.

The team at PawPADs is exceptional, comprised of professionals who are not only knowledgeable but also genuinely passionate about their mission. One of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering here is seeing the bond that forms between the assistance dogs and their handlers. The dogs are meticulously trained to assist with a variety of tasks, and watching them work is nothing short of inspiring. The joy and independence they bring to their handlers' lives are truly heartwarming.

Moreover, the organization's commitment to ethical training practices and the well-being of the dogs is commendable. Every dog is treated with love, respect, and the highest standards of care. It's clear that PawPADs prioritizes the health and happiness of their dogs, making it a fulfilling place to volunteer.

Volunteering at Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs has been an enriching experience that has deepened my appreciation for the incredible work done by assistance dogs and their trainers. If you're looking to make a difference and be part of a wonderful cause, I highly recommend joining the PawPADs family. You'll not only contribute to a noble mission but also gain invaluable skills and memories that will last a lifetime.

PawPADS is a Life Changing Organization!

PawPADS goes much deeper than training dogs. They put a lot of time, effort, and thought into pairing each dog with each recipient, creating a life-changing partnership.

Six years ago, I became Benji’s Primary Handler where Benji serves as a School Resource Dog at JFK Elementary. Throughout this entire time, PawPADS has provided continual training to me and all of Benji’s handlers and has been available to assist every step of the way.

The magic happens when the dogs begin to do the work they were trained to do! I’ve been fortunate to witness this firsthand with Benji. Watching an anxious child’s body instantly calm or kids with ASD make personal connections with Benji. Bringing comfort to a child dealing with grown-up problems or simply being there for them during a tough day. These are some of the examples of things that happen on a daily basis and are made possible because of the vision and dedication PawPADS offers. Who is to say how many lives have been affected by this life-changing organization? I know this corner of the world is much brighter because of the work they do.

Linda and Randy and the volunteers at PawPads make it the best service dog training and placement organization around. They are SO patient. We got our first and only diabetes alert dog through them. She was so well trained that she alerted us to other diabetics all the time. They never stop working with the dogs and the families that they help out. We were so blessed.

PawPADs truly changes people's lives. I have volunteered there for 8 years. This has been the most rewarding volunteer experience because the administration and staff there are so hard working and forward thinking. They do an excellent job at placing dogs with those who need them, training everyone involved with the organization and following up on a regular basis. You don't feel like the people who work there are just "mailing it in" like at many organizations. They truly care and make the most of resources in a helpful, upbeat manner. Very proud to be associated with Linda, Randy and everyone at PawPADs.

During my senior year of college (2018-2019), I was an intern with the Assistance Dog Education Program and Training (ADEPT), a partnership between PawPADs and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. As an intern, I gained immense experience in service dog training/handling, participated in community education, attended ADEPT class, and led special projects in the topics of School Resource Dogs and Animal-Assisted Intervention. This experience was life-changing and the highlight of my college career.

ADEPT is a revolutionary partnership in the field of experiential education and higher education. There is no other program like ADEPT in the United States. It manages to spread the word about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Disability acceptance, animal ethics, and the power of positivity all while its student interns receive college credit toward their degree. Meanwhile, high-quality assistance dogs are ethically trained that will enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities or in group settings such as schools and assisted living communities. Student interns will also go on to graduate and continue to be advocates in their respective fields. So many lives are changed because of this program. With continued support and advocacy, ADEPT will pave the way for experiential education and utilizing the human-canine bond to enrich lives.

I became an ADEPT intern just over one year ago, and today I couldn’t imagine my life without ADEPT and PawPADs. Coming into the program, I had never owned a dog and had absolutely no dog training experience. Over the course of my first year in the internship, I learned more than I could have every imagined about training and about the assistance dog world in general. My college experience has also been enhanced because of the PawPADs dogs. I interact with my professors, other students, and members of the public more, and I feel like I am a bigger part of the campus community. I’ve made countless memories and lifelong friendships thanks to ADEPT. These dogs have changed so many lives in such special ways and I couldn’t have asked for a better organization to be a part of.

I love this organization and everything it has done for me. I was an intern through their college program at UW River Falls. It was the best two years of my life. Before the program, I was just friends with people who were in my major and mainly just stuck to what I knew, not going out very much to do different events. The program helped to become an advocate for myself, the dogs, and people with disabilities. I became friends with and got to know so many more people through the program than I ever thought possible. I was able to educate so many people on service dogs and training of dogs in general. The program helped me to grow in so many ways, I can’t even begin to describe it. I’ve made so many life long friends and it’s all because of the amazing work that PAWPADS does and continues to do. They truly care about everyone and are trying to change the world one dog at a time.

As I reflect on my time at UW-River Falls, I can’t imagine not being in the ADEPT program, the impact it had on me is hard to put into words. I not only had the amazing opportunity to train four assistance dogs and see two of the dogs that I trained through to placements with clients, but I also made lifelong friendships with my fellow ADPET interns. Being an ADEPT intern was challenging but so incredibly rewarding, each dog teaching me something new and bringing a new set of challenges and opportunities. To this day I am so proud to be able to share with others the amazing work PawPADs and the ADEPT program is doing and my experiences from the past two years. From the beginning I said that these dogs are life changers and I know that is true because they have forever changed mine.

I am a middle school special education teacher, and my school suffered three tragic losses in the spring of 2017. Resource and therapy dogs were brought in from the community to support staff and students during this difficult time. The following year, coworkers and I wrote a grant to obtain a school resource dog for our building to have the level of social-emotional and academic support in our building for students at all times. PawPADs made this happen! This summer, we welcomed Dani into our school community! PawPADS has been so professional and wonderful to work with, and they bring up amazing dogs. The impact that Dani will bring into our community can never be repaid.

I learned about PawPADs almost five years ago when I was working in the Lakeville School District. Kali was the dog we were blessed with at our school. She was so amazingly well-trained and affectionate with everyone. I have been a weekly volunteer at this fantastic organization for four years and have enjoyed every single moment there.

The dogs come first at PawPADs. The volunteers receive extensive training so that the dogs are exposed to only positive experiences. The standards are extremely high, and the results are superior and evident in the way the dogs behave. I have never met anyone who is more caring, concerned and generous than Linda and Randy. They use the resources of the organization very responsibly, but at no time is anything put before the well-being of the dogs or the clients they serve.

I would give PawPADs TEN stars if that choice was possible. Like the dogs they train, I have never felt anything negative about the organization, the way it is run, the volunteers that serve there, or the stellar effect their dogs have on everyone they come in contact with. Thank you, PawPADs, for making Lakeville and all the communities you serve a more hopeful, safe, inspired and awesome place. You are truly making a difference in this world!

PawPADs in an amazing organization that makes a positive and powerful impact on our world. Hero was born in 2010, trained by PawPADs staff and volunteers, and has been working at Eastview Elementary School as our School Resource Dog since 2014. In short, Hero makes life better! When we started the School Resource Dog program we were intentional about not using "therapy dog" or "facility dog" as we wanted a program that was versatile, flexible, and adaptable. Of course, the naming of the program was a small part. of this, and the dog and the support are much bigger parts. Hero is everything we could have hoped for and PawPADs gets all of the credit for training him and providing constant support for us. With the support of PawPADs we have expanded the program, continue to positively impact the Eastview community, but have also been able to grow the program to 6 School Resource Dogs in our school district. None of the positive experiences our dogs have delivered to the members of our communities would have been possible with PawPADs and the people who choose to support this powerful and impactful organization.

I am a Type 1 Diabetic and I was looking for a diabetic alert dog. When my family was researching we wanted to make sure we didn't get a scam. Then we came across PawPADs. They treat everyone of their dogs and clients like family. They put the dogs best interest at heart by training them to be service dogs and alert dogs so the dogs could go the route they enjoy the most. They also made sure that the dogs were a perfect match to the clients. They had us bond with our dogs and trained us to be in public with the dogs. I would not want to get an alert dog anywhere else. It also really helped that the dog wasn't nearly as expensive as most organizations. I would not have been able to raise enough money to get the dog before college if they were not nonprofit. All in all PawPADs is amazing and now I am a part of their family.

I have been a volunteer at PawPADs for about 2 years now and I absolutely love it! I had been wanting to find a dog organization to volunteer at and I randomly saw a sticker in someone’s car window advertising PawPADs! Even though the way I found out about it was very random, it’s definitely not a coincidence I saw it! I so enjoy getting to know each individual dog that comes and I am so happy and proud every time they get placed in their perfect role and home. Getting to be apart of such an amazing organization is so very special to me!

I have had the pleasure of witnessing the amazing work that PawPADs has done with their dogs they have placed. The difference that the dogs make in the lives of individuals is amazing! We are blessed to have this organization in our community.

I was invited to join PawPADS board of directors. It's been a very uplifting experience along with being very informative. PawPADS is One of the best service dog/nonprofit that is out there. Prior to getting my dog I researched all of the service dog agencies and PawPADSrose above all the others

As a long term volunteer and current Board President I can't say enough good things about this fantastic organization. I have had the great pleasure to see just how this organization changes lives through their innovative programs, as well as the clients with whom our dogs are ultimately placed. PawPADs has touched so many lives in so many different ways thanks to the leadership and vision of Executive Director, Linda Ball. I am proud to be part of an organization that strives to make the lives of others better, four paws at a time.

PawPADs has been changing lives of their clients for more than a decade. From army veterans to children with diabetes. The dogs they train are life changers enabling independence and freedom. Their client stories are heartwarming and bring tears to everyone who has the privilege of supporting this organization.

PawPads is an amazing organization that I have had the pleasure of working with for the past year. I am an intern in their ADEPT internship program at the Univeristy of Wisconsin- River Falls. Throughout this we learn how to train these amazing service dogs, communication skills, about laws, and about all these animals do for society. I am so thankful to be apart of this wonderful team and organization!

I am proud to be involved with such an amazing organization doing such amazing work! PawPADs has touched so many lives and I would highly recommend PawPADs as the non-profit of choice for anyone looking to donate to a worth while organization.

Great organization and great people. The dogs make a difference for so many people.

Compassion, love and kindness is what I would describe PawPads. I wanted to join a community of volunteers that made a difference. I sure found that with PawPads, I've been volunteering for Pawpads for approximately 10 years and I've learned so much. Not only from the dogs but the humans that love and cherish them as well. It's not about numbers here, it really is about the dogs and it's not work.it's pretty much play time most of the time ;). To the in depth four hour volunteer training program and the placement of assistance dogs their is always compassion, love and kindness. We're not just an organization we are family!

Paw Pads is an amazing program that can help people and animals in ways I never thought were possible. Not only do they provide the training and love for the assistance dogs they also provide a loving home or environment for other animals that may not have gotten a second chance. From "grandpa" the rescue dog that was to old to find a home in a rescue to the new miniature horse that they saved last minute they have so much love and care to give as an organization.
The dogs they train to be service dogs are the most well behaved, loving, and smart dogs I have had to privilege to meet. They can do things that I never thought an animal would be able to do. PAW Pads is really an outstanding organizations going above and beyond to give back to the community and the people/animals they help!

I became a donor for PawPADs because it is deeply committed and true to its mission. I first met some of their volunteers when I was shopping at a "Chuck and Don's" pet food store here Minnesota and then leanred more in-depth by going to one of their information meetings. The compassion and joy that's obvious in everyone I met moves me every time. They truly make a difference in the lives of the families they serve.

A great organization to donate to or volunteer for. I've met some of the people who had paw Pads dogs given to them and it's sort of a miracle how their lives have been changed. They're very concious of your donation and don't waste it on anything. I love them.

Hi. We all know that dogs have special powers over the humans! PawPADs has tapped into this for a wonderful community service to help others. It's been a really joyful experience to watch the dog my child works with in the "yes" school program help him gain confidence and faith in what he can do. PawPADs is a kind, joyful organization and I am grateful for what they've done for us.

I was truly humbled to be welcomed as a Board Member for this great organization, PawPADs. PawPADs holistic methodology in the process of training, educating the public and thorough partner placement and continued lifetime follow up sets them apart from many other organizations in this extremely beneficial canine service world. Having watched the amazing confidence that not only a canine partnership provides to a client but to the lives that PawPADs touches through the training process and the purpose that it brings to those having difficulties, I continue to be honored to help this organization advance and spread support.

One of the best service dog organizations around. Minnesota is lucky to have them! They do it the right way. Everyone there - the staff and volunteers - work tirelessly every day to find, train, love and prepare dogs for a life of changing lives! They take the time to make sure every dog in physically and mentally prepared to go out to a loving home so they can make a difference in the life of a disabled person. I've been donating to them for several years now and have attended their "graduations" and have seen first hand the results. A fantastic organization full of compassionate, caring people. I’d give them 5 Stars but I want them to work even harder! ;o)

I have been a volunteer with this organization for the past 5 years and on the board for the past 3 months. I have seen many lives changed with the placement of dogs with people with physical disabilities to diabetic alert dogs and school resources dogs. I think what impresses me the most is enriching lives with the training is just as important as the placement of the dog and the willingness to train rescue dogs. This is truly a wonderful organization with a Director that knows everyone by name and your not treated as just another volunteer.

Kali is a School Resource Dog who assists me in my role as a Licensed School Counselor in 2 elementary schools. The knowledge that Randy and Linda have about their dogs is incredible. The skills that PawPADs has taught her are amazing. Kali helps kids going through divorce, grief, anxiety, conflict resolution and she gives students something to look forward to. Thank you for all you do!

PawPADs is such a great organization. They are wonderful to work with, are truly passionate about their cause, and really make a difference for people!

Milo has changed my life. It's so wonderful to have help with my diabetes. With a combination of his alertness to my blood sugar changes and the technology of my continuous glucose monitoring system, my low blood sugars are caught before it becomes necessary to get medical help. We're a great team!
People always say what a good dog he is, how mild mannered he is, and how beautiful he is, so he's a wonderful help to me by just hearing all the positive things people say about Milo. All the smiles he brings my way wherever I go are just another way he makes my life awesome!!

PawPADs is so much bigger than the individual humans who run it! The dogs change lives through their training -- from the youth at-risk and inmate trainers who have learned valuable lifeskills such as emotional regulation, self-control, giving back to the community and communicating effectively to the individuals whose lives are made better through the partnering with a service dog or a diabetic alert dog! PawPADs is not a numbers-focused organization, it's not all about how many assistance dogs can get placed -- it's about what's best for each individual dog, what's best for the program participants and, in the end, is the person they are being matched with the best possible match! The future looks exciting as PawPADs facilitates the magic of the human-canine bond in innovative and special ways!

I am a disabled veteran and Pawpads went out of their way to find the right dog for me that would help. I have only had him a few weeks, but already he has helped me so much with so many little things that are so hard to do on my own. He has made my life so much easier. Pawpads also offers support whenever we need it.

My husband is a severely disabled veteran and a client of PawPADs. He sustained significant brain damage that has left him paralyzed on his left side, unable to care for himself, and with a seizure disorder. Because of these issues, my husband requires full-time care and supervision. There is no way to sugar-coat the losses he and our family have suffered. It's hard, draining, and, at times, very ugly. The realities of war live with us every day and no aspect of our lives goea unaffected.

PawPADs came into our lives at a time when I was feeling extreme fatigue and doubt as a caregiver. Our local veteran community referred us to PawPADs and our lives haven't been the same since. Despite years long waits for a service dog at other organizations, PawPADs was able to get my husband into their training camp within just weeks of us starting the application process. The staff IMMEDIATELY made us feel like part of the PawPADs family and of something very special. Since Ranger was placed with my husband, our family has changed in ways I never imagined possible. Because of the supervision and assistance Ranger can provide, my role has been scaled back. For the first time since his injury, I've been able to leave my husband home alone and know that he's safe. I've been able to let him go out into the community on his own and know that Ranger is beside him to help him. I've seen Ranger in action and know that if my husband falls, Ranger can either help him up or he can go get help (both of which he's done on multiple occasions). I don't think we've ever gone somewhere (and we go a lot of places) without getting comments on Ranger's remarkable demeanor, his impressive obedience, his obvious intelligence, and his instantly loveable personality. He's truly a remarkable dog but PawPADs turned him into an invaluable companion.

Without Ranger, my husband wouldn't have the independence he has today. Neither would I. Ranger adds a level of safety and security to our lives that I am immensely grateful for. He is my husband's safety net and my peace of mind. I cannot imagine our family without him or where we would be if he didn't come into our lives. Thanks to PawPADs and to Ranger, I get to spend more time being a wife instead of being a caregiver. There are no sufficient words to thank PawPADs for giving back to us some of what war took.

I was a volunteer on a canine care team for two years and have been a board member for four months. It has been highly rewarding expanding my role and helping PawPADs meet the needs of our clients, dogs, staff and donors. For dog lovers, I can suggest no more important volunteer opportunity. For potential donors, your money will be wisely used to raise and train wonderful canine partners for our clients. We, dogs and staff, are a big, happy family (I know it is a cliche....but true). It has been the best volunteer gig of my life.

I am currently serving as the secretary on the Board of Director's at PawPADs. My first opportunity as a Board member was to coordinate an appreciation dinner for the ‘backbone’ of the organization: the volunteers. At the event, I was able to meet many of the volunteers and I was amazed at their dedication to the mission of PawPADs – to train service dogs for people with a variety of disabilities. Under the guidance of the Executive Director, Linda Ball, the volunteers keep the dogs fed, groomed and socialized every day of the year. In addition to meeting the volunteers, I have also had the pleasure of meeting clients who now have a service dog and the benefits the dog has brought to their lives. For example, the diabetic alert dogs are able to tell the person when their blood sugar is low, giving the person the chance to check their blood sugar and treat it without having to resort to emergency measures. The dogs accompany the clients everywhere: home, school, work, etc. It is truly amazing what these dogs are capable of, and I am so proud to be a part of this organization!

My husband is a wounded warrior...he lost a leg in Afghanistan and struggled with a lot before we got in touch with PawPADs a couple years ago. We were eventually partnered with Barkley just over six months later. Barkley is a dog who was rescued from a shelter and trained in a prison by PawPADs. Barkley changed our lives. There is not a piece of medical equipment on the planet that can do what this dog does for my husband. Barkley has given him a best friend and companion to share not only his struggles and hard times but his successes too. PawPADs has given us something we hadn't had in a few years and that's encouragement. Barkley can turn on the lights and pick things up but the best thing he does is watch out for and take care of my husband. The support we have received from PawPADs is beyond anything we have ever known. This is a nonprofit that is not only changing lives but changing the world while helping wounded warriors like my husband. I would give them more stars if I could.

Wow, what an organization! PawPADS has touched so many in the community and we are happy to be a contributor to this fabulous organization. Both Randy and Linda share their devotion, commitment, and hardwork for getting dogs in the hands on those who need it most. It's amazing seeing what how two people and several dogs can create a large community of supporters. We love PawPADS and enjoy their continuous growth and movement.

Hero is the School Resource Dog at Eastview Elementary School. Hero was trained as a service dog by the staff and volunteers at PawPADs. The amazing work that they did with this dog is now enabling Hero to enrich the lives of our students, make tough days better, help to make reading a little more exciting, offer a unique motivational tool and make our wonderful school even a little bit better! This is a small, but wonderful organization that helps to transform the lives of dogs and the people they interact with.

My name is Chris Barncard and with the help of service dogs and Xcel Energy voluntary employee contributions, veterans can receive the therapy they need to focus on positive interactions. Recently, General Counsel’s Legal Services Engagement Committee ran a campaign to raise donations from its employees to engage with and support Xcel Energy’s commitment to helping our armed services veterans.

The campaign started with an in-house presentation of the Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADS) program on Aug. 11, 2014, with the campaign ending on Sept. 11, 2014, commemorative of this significant date in U.S. history. Co-founders Linda Ball and Randy Patrick, along with two of their dogs in training, Breezy and Coco, came to Xcel Energy to give a presentation of their nonprofit organization through videos, demonstrations from the dogs, and by providing information of all of their programs and taking questions from the employees who attended the presentation.

The Legal Services Engagement Committee’s goal was to reach $1,000 of donations, as well as to use Xcel Energy’s “Matching Gifts” program. The Legal Services committee not only reached its goal, but went over it. With the generous donations of $1,095 and $800.00 in matching gifts, a total of $1,895 was raised for this worthwhile organization.

As the initiator of this campaign, I would love to encourage other corporations, companies, families etc. to organize a fund raiser as we did in our Legal Services Department at Xcel Energy, Inc. in Minneapolis, MN. Linda Ball, Randy Patrick, Patrick Ziegler and their dogs are a wonderful visual for potential voluntary donors to educate themselves of this amazing organiziation through visuals, listening, education and an open forum for questions. PawPADS and their founders (and dogs) are amazing and I highly recommend supporting our armed services veterans and these beautiful, intelligent and amazing dogs who provide such the help and companionship needed.

Chris Barncard

There is nothing worse than finding someone you love in a state in which you are so helpless. Having been a diabetic for nearly 40 years, and over the last few years having episodes of extremely low blood glucose levels to the point of being found unresponsive. My wife and I finally decided it was time to look into a Diabetic Alert Dog for her.

Because most of our research had to be done on-line we had to sort out which reviews where honest reviews from people and which were put up on websites because it's just good marketing. During our long 6 months of searching we found plenty of operations that had what we thought we wanted, but discovered that they didn't really have what we needed. We found plenty that will give you their next available “puppy” no matter how far away you are, and with books and a general lessen send you on your way to complete the training and a couple times a year they might check on you to see if the dogs training is going ok. Then there were those that will give you a dog that is older and has more training. But again distance was no big deal for them. After speaking with a couple of these places we felt more like a number not people. Others even had pretty big ego’s and wanted us to know how good they were and how many dogs they place every year. Either may have gotten us a D.A.D. which is not what we needed.

We finally found PawPads. From our first contact we knew they were the right choice. There was no feeling like a number, there was no ego, just a love and passion for what they do. Finally we had found what we needed not just what we wanted. From the application process to finally visiting their facility, we could feel the passion behind the voice and in the smile on the face. Linda and Randy have surrounded themselves with loving, compassionate volunteers who share the same passion and goal, to make a difference in some one’s life. The love shows in the way the dogs are loved and cared for as if they were everyone's child. And it continues with the time and energy spent on the training the dogs receive.

Andre’ was partnered with D.A.D. Sage after an intense "Partner Training Camp". We learned that we weren't just given the next dog available, we had options, just in case a dog just doesn't take to their potential new partner. Because after all this is for life, the dog has to equally like the person. We found out that Sage was named after a local young boy whom was taken much too young. Of course this makes Sage even more special and is just another example of how PawPads shows their love and is there to a part of the community. After training camp was complete we didn't feel like we were just sent on our way home. Instead we felt as if we had become a part of something much larger....we were now part of the PawPads family and we couldn’t be happier. We left knowing that no matter what kind of question we may have, someone would be there to answer. Even if it’s just to call and say Hi.

We've been home with Sage now for about a month and his skills and training have far exceeded our expectations at this point. He has on multiple occasions alerted to both high and low blood glucose levels, often well before the meter can tell. We have no doubt that he will continue to educate us with his intelligence and just get better with time. His unconditional love even brings a calming to what is normally a hectic day.

It's hard to describe in words the happiness, the joy, the thankfulness we have for what PawPads has given us. But because of their efforts we rest a little easier knowing we have a new family member in our home to keep a watchful "nose" on Andre’s wellbeing.

Thank You so much Linda, Randy and all your volunteers, because what you do Makes a difference.

There are truely not enough words to describe the gift we have been given by this incredible organization. My son Kyler was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes 3 years ago. It has been an uphill battle of constant care and sleepless nights. Low blood sugars have controlled every aspect of our lives since the day he was diagnosed. The constant fear that your child is going to have a severe low blood sugar episode and having to check to make sure he is still breathing in his sleep is overwhelming to say the least. You never stop worrying. With jobs suffering and a marriage feeling the strain we were desperate for relief. It was then we found PawPads! We were Placed with a Diabetic Alert Dog just over six months ago. This dog has transformed our lives. Recon was the missing link in Kyler's care! He has given us what we never thought possible...Piece of mind! We still eat, sleep and breathe diabetes but we are no longer struggling for relief. Recon let's us know if kyler is low and most times he alerts before the low actually happens. There is not a piece of medical equipment on the planet that can do what this dog does and that's only part of what Recon does. for a 10 year old Boy who is feeling different and is beyond sick of missing out on life because he lives with a chronic illness. Recon has given him reason to embrace this horrific disease that will follow him for life. This dog has given him a best friend and companion to share not only his trials and tribulations but his triumphs. Kyler has a new outlook on life because of his Diabetic Alert Dog and I have piece of mind knowing that Recon is there to look out for him. PawPads has given us something we haven't had in 3 years and that's hope! The support we have received from them is beyond anything I have ever known. The selflessness of Those who run PawPads is the most inspiring thing I have ever had the opportunity to be witness to in all my life. This is a nonprofit that is not only changing lives but changing the world with their positive outlook and devotion to others.

I have had the pleasure of working with PawPADs for the last few years. During that time I have been impressed by the care they provide for their dogs, their willingness to adopt rescued dogs into their program, their involvement in the prison training program, the dedication they display to their mission and the positive impact they have had on their community. The assistance provided by PawPADs trained service dogs is truly life changing for those suffering from a variety of disabilities. If you are looking for a worthwhile organization to receive your donated time and/or money, PawPADs deserves your consideration.

This is a wonderful organization that is helping dogs and people alike. They are providing a great service to our state by training dogs to be able to help people with disabilities, veterans and people with diabetes! They are also helping our state by having their dogs be trained by prisoners throughout the state. Prisoners benefit greatly from this experience and it helps them to become better citizens!

I am a volunteer. This organization is honest , and works very hard in the care and training of their dogs. They are a "Great Non-Profit" and I look forward to their on going success.

My family was looking for a volunteer opportunity and was refered to PawPads by another volunteer. As dog lovers, we expected to enjoy the experience, but we became inspired by the passion of the founders and the mission of the organization. From sensing blood sugar levels to doing laundry, it is amazing to watch these incredible dogs in action! Our family also had the honor to attend a graduation ceremony for a group of PadPad dogs. We met the individuals and families the PawPad dogs are helping, and heard their stories of how these dogs are making a significant difference in their lives (there wasn't a dry eye in the room). Our family is so proud to play a part in helping this wonderful organization!

I have been a volunteer at PawPADs for almost 4 yrs. They are such a great organization!! Randy & Linda's love for what they are doing is obvious! They work so hard to help people with the training of their special dogs. This is what they do 7 days a week. I love seeing the puppies grow & it's amazing all that they are trained to do. Randy & Linda treat everyone like family & the dogs are treated like royalty. Placing the dog with the right person is most important to them. They love each & every dog & want to make sure they do what is absolutely the best for that particular dog. I wouldn't continue volunteering 3 mornings a week if I didn't absolutely believe in them!!

Great people! Amazing impact on the community! I have personally seen the amazing joy their animals have brought to others.

I'm a special education teacher in the south metro and our program at school has had PawPADs come into our classroom to work with our students for the last 3 years. PawPADS volunteers haul the dogs to our school where they instruct our students with mental health conditions and behavior disorders on training these beauties to some day assist others with disabilities. We have assisted in training dogs that have been placed with Veterans, children with diabetes, and others with physical impairments.

As you can imagine, "dog day" is one of the favorite days of the week in our building. I could tell stories of how students have had terrible days, until the dog enters the room. The unconditional love of these pooches and how they change attitudes, demeanors and feelings is indescribable. The lessons our students have learned about training, has been transfered to how to treat people, learn patience, persistance, increase self-esteem, and self-control. I hope we can continue to keep this organization around for a very long time, so we can sustain our training in helping others in our communities....SS- Lakeville

I was looking for an organization where I could volunteer on a regular basis but hadn't found anything I was enthusiastic about until our UPS driver mentioned that he volunteered with service dogs every Saturday. He told me more about it and I contacted PawPads through their website and got an email back right away. I went to the training and have been volunteering weekly since April 2012. I'm impressed with the dedication of the founders and the volunteers and with the wonderful, brilliant service dogs they train. I love being part of an organization that does something positive for animals and for humans at the same time. I can't say enough good things about PawPads.

I began volunteering with PawPADs 3 1/2 years ago. I knew immediately it was an organization that I wanted to be part of. I saw the passion and commitment that Linda and Randy had for this labor of love and felt an instant connection with them and the dogs. Seeing puppies come and trained dogs go can be hard at times......we grow to love them so!!........but we know what the objective/goal is - to provide well-trained dogs that will help change a life for someone. I do feel that I GET more than I can GIVE. I agree totally with others that said the PawPADs volunteers and staff are like family. I love going to "work" 3 mornings a week to be with the dogs and be with my second family! Linda and Randy always listen to our thoughts, ideas, and concerns. Together, we do hope to make a difference in lives that need hope, help and lots of love (doggie kisses!). I plan to be a volunteer with PawPADs for many years to come!!

I can't say enough about what PawPADS has meant to me and my students! While we have had an animal-assisted intervention program at Kenwood Trail Middle School for quite a few years, last year was our first working with the Project YES staff, and it was clearly our best year yet. The staff is dedicated to helping others, and their hard work has resulted in smiles, enthusiasm, and motivation on the faces of our students.

The PawPADS and Project YES team is clearly a class act, and I look forward to working with them for many years to come!

This is an awesome organization run by exceptional people. Our son was matched with a wonderful lab and they are absolute best buds. It has been amazing to watch them grow together. Pawpads helps so many families and I wouldn't hesitate to refer anyone to them. They train amazing pups!

I am writing to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for all of the work and dedication of the Project YES staff. The 2013-2014 school year, marked our 9th year of running an Animal Assisted Intervention program at Kenwood Trail Middle School. While it was our first year working with the Project YES team, it was by far our best!

Our program is made up of male and female students in 6th, 7th and 8th grade who have social-emotional and/or behavioral disabilities. They have more obstacles than their peers and we have always felt they were in need of out of the box support and programming to meet their individual goals in life. Our students quickly became fans of the service animals in training that came weekly to our school. I lost count of how many times during the week students would ask “is it a dog day,” “are the dog’s coming Thursday?”

While most of our students had been exposed to dog’s from our former programs we saw quickly the student’s increased motivation and interest in working with dog’s that would eventually be placed with to help someone with a disability. Our student’s seemed more invested in training the dog’s “correctly” and showed ownership in their work. I have numerous anecdotal stories of student’s growth as a result in working with our four legged friends. Students improved their frustration tolerance, communication, and team work as a result of training the dog’s for a higher purpose.

Our program’s success would not have been possible without the professionalism, expertise, and flexibility of the amazing volunteers and staff working with Project YES. Our partnership with PawPADs for the past three year has added so much to our program. The entire staff is top notch and doing great work.

I look forward to continuing our partnership with PawPADs and the Project Yes team at Kenwood. It has been a phenomenal year and I am grateful to all of the staff that made this possible.
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As a board member and volunteer for several years now I have witnessed firsthand the difference PawPADs is making in the lives of clients, students and volunteers. PawPADs diabetic alert dogs work each day and night alerting their partners to drastic changes in their blood sugar levels giving them and their loved ones one more layer of security and confidence. Other PawPADs service dogs aid their partners with everyday tasks from picking up dropped items to steadying them while they walk. In the past few years I’m happy to say PawPADs has also grown and expanded to include two prison programs in Sandstone and Duluth, MN. Inmates in both these facilities train service dogs with a dedication and enthusiasm they would never have an opportunity to express without the PawPADs prison program. This is why I think PawPADs changes lives each and every day.

It is my hope that after reading this and other reviews on this site that you feel inspired to help PawPADs grow by supporting us with your tax-deductible donation. Your donation will support these and future efforts at PawPADs and help change the lives of those in our community.

I have been assisting the PawPads organization for several years now and have witnessed first hand the important impact these wonderful dogs have on the lives of their trainers and the folks that they are placed with upon completion of their training. The results and the impacts of the process are priceless for those they touch.

Eric L:

PawPADs is a great organization to volunteer for!!!!! Linda and Randy are awesome and will drop everything to help the dogs and volunteers. I have volunteered ever since I had the training class in 2012 and I enjoy every min of it, I would never have imagined I would give so much of my time to this great organization but this is an awesome program, And I will continue to donate my time to PawPADS as long as they allow me to.

Thank you Linda & Randy for allowing me and my fellow puppy parole officers the opportunity to participate in this program….

PawPADs is a small organization, making a big, positive impact on the lives of many.

One of the differences that sets PawPADs apart from other service dog organizations are the programs we offer. One of my favorites is a Social Integration Therapy (SIT) program where we have been working with an elementary school for the past two years. I worked with special education students and with students who did some on-on-one reading with dogs. The dogs helped to motivate students to work on tasks that might otherwise feel daunting: such as the child that had many tantrums when it was time to work on range of motion tasks from his wheelchair, but would happily push a block off his tray in exchange for a dog kiss from Recon after he retrieved the block and brought it back to the tray and the student who was not confident reading aloud and who, by mid-year was reading loudly and with great expression to Hero, Ranger, Iko and others. The student’s faces would light up when they saw the dogs and actually, so did the faces of the staff members! There were times when teachers would stop by just to get their “puppy fix” and they commented that, “they really needed that,” and that it would help them get through the rest of the day. The dogs are positively impacting many lives before they are even placed with their partners.

I feel very lucky to be part of the PawPADs family, to be able to work with the dogs – and reap the benefits of the human-canine bond and to be a part of a wonderful organization that enriches the lives of many people.

I am the Director of Operations/Development here at PawPADs.
I want to share a little about our Volunteers, Donors, and Supporters, and Clients: the people that really make PawPADs successful and make a difference in so many lives.
As we all know from our own experiences with people, personal relationships can go a long way. These relationships increase our understanding of the people we work with, give us insight as to their motivations and capabilities, and develops mutual trust. Our “family” has gone far of their way to develop personal relationships with PawPADs, and we all share a joint vision of what we are and where we are headed. I hope you’ll share the vision too after reading our reviews.
Volunteers: many of our volunteers have been with us for months or years. Some came looking for a “one off” opportunity or a short term commitment and have become a family. Their “can-do, will-do” spirit is a valued attribute of Americans and sets a great example to all our neighbors. They have devoted thousands of hours…time off from work, weekends, mornings, evenings, holidays, day time…to caring for our service dogs, training them, and representing PawPADs in the public. They build and clean and laugh with each other and the dogs. Their commitment, teamwork, and enthusiasm energizes us!
Donors: The average cost of raising and training a service dog is between $20,000 and $25,000. Because of generous supporters like them, we're able to partner our service dogs with those who need them at minimal cost or for free. Their financial support provides the resources needed to team with our prison and school partners, veterans, and those with developmental and physical challenges. From individuals to foundations, families, organizations, and companies, their contributions in any amount plays a crucial role in getting the dogs from puppy to partner. It demonstrates yet another American quality: the spirit of generosity. Your generosity and good will inspires us!
Clients: Our clients’ lives are enriched and empowered by their partnership with skilled assistance dogs and diabetic alert dogs. Inmates, teachers, students, and veterans utilize the power of the human-canine bond as a therapeutic, educational, healing tool. We create powerful, life-enhancing experiences through working with dogs - as the very act of working with, being around and training these dogs can be therapeutic and life-altering in profound ways. Their confidence in PawPADs encourages us!
If not for all of the above, there would be no PawPADs. I sincerely hope that you, as a review reader, find what you are looking for in a nonprofit in PawPADs and want to become part of our family of Volunteers, Donors, Clients. Thanks, and Dog Bless You!

My initial contact with PawPADS began from just a love of dogs. I wasn't in a place where my life allowed me to have a dog so I thought being a PawPADS volunteer would give me a perfect "dog fix". Little did I know how much more this organization had to give. The passion that Linda, Randy and the rest of the staff and volunteers show is amazing! As a board member I have been able to watch from behind the scenes as PawPads has grown and touched lives not only in the local community but throught Minnesota and beyond. Watching the dogs work in their roles be it alerting to a blood sugar or opening a door always gives me to know what an amazing partner they will be for someone someday.

I have been touched by PawPADs personally and professionally. The impact I see these dogs have on the lives of those around me amazes me on a daily basis. Folks that come in to contact with these dogs are able to learn/strengthen skills of caring, compassion, humanity, patience, and many other variables that tend to erode over time with this specific subset of the population. Interactions with these dogs in training are soothing to the mind, body and soul. They inspire joy, warmth and growth for their handlers and everyone involved with the development of a serve dog to be.

PAWPads staff and volunteers are awesome and fun to be around. My intention was to volunteer for roughly 3-6 months. But when I started getting to know Linda, Randy, and also the service dogs I realize that this is something I want to do for a very long time. I've been volunteering for over 2 years and will continue to do so for many more years.

I cannot find words to adequately express how amazing PawPADS is as an organization. The various programs touch so many people's lives. I have diabetes and have experienced the dogs-in-training, working, receiving 'alerts' 20 minutes before my low blood sugar registers on my glucometer. This is EXCITING. Linda and Randy are welcoming, appreciative and really care about people and the puppies/dogs (all creatures). Their positive approach to life, their organization and training is contagious.

PawPads has been a huge part of my life recently! The dogs are so wonderful, but even more wonderful are Randy and Linda who run the day-to-day operations. The positive attitude, encouragement, and fabulous pups that we get by interacting with this organization has really enriched my life and that of my family. We are super lucky to get to contribute to shaping the lives of the dogs and those of future people in need through this organization. I'm also noticing that I say "yes! thank you!" a lot more! :)

My husband and I have been involved with PawPads since their beginning in Minnesota. We have seen this organization grow and develop programs that are helping so many people in the community. We are proud donors and feel blessed to support such an outstanding organization.

AS the MN ESA (Epsilon Sigma Alpha) State Philanthropic Chair for PawPADs two years running, I can say that I LOVE this amazing organization! The phrase, "To utilize the power of the human-canine bond as a therapeutic, educational, healing tool" resonates with me immensely. I have seen how a person is impacted when matched up with a service dog trained by this organization and the impact is immeasurable! Their prison service dog training program is a Godsend!

I have been fortunate to have dogs and trainers from PAWPADS come into my special education classroom. It has been a wonderful partnership that means so much to my students, their families and the entire school. My students are given time to interact with the dogs and their trainers in a positive and supportive situation that makes them feel special and successful. Many times the dogs are a comforting and calming presence in our classroom in a way that cannot be fully described. The kids and dog just melt into one another! It has been a very rewarding experience and I feel very fortunate to have such a great group of volunteers willing to come and be a part of our classroom each week.

As a marketing communications consultant, I developed a marketing plan and provided direction to help PawPADs achieve its goals of raising its awareness in the community, with potential clients and prospective donors. Through the process, I've been impressed with the organization's ability to do so much with an enthusiastic group of volunteers and limited financial resources. Donors' contributions are certainly used wisely and volunteers' time respected. The best outcome, however, is the positive impact on the lives of the prison inmates, school children, veterans and volunteers who work with the dogs, and then ultimately, the clients who get a dog. I'm happy to have provided pro-bono services to PawPADs, and to become a donor and volunteer in other capacities.

I started out at PawPADs in 2010 as a dog walker and now I've learned so much that I feel comfortable doing almost any task that might be asked of me. The people that run it are absolutely wonderful teachers (and just plain wonderful!). I have volunteered for many years at different places and PawPADs is by far the very best because of the people (incl. other volunteers) and atmosphere of the place- there is so much fun to be had and anyone that wants to volunteer can settle into whatever position they feel comfortable in. I highly recommend this organization to anyone looking to support a nonprofit in any way. They're real people with real values helping people in need by training great assistance dogs that really do change lives.

Sioux Trail Elementary School participated in the PawPADs Social Interaction Therapy program. Personal relationships go along way and these relationships increase our understanding of the individuals we are working with, give us insight as to what works, and develops long lasting connections. At Sioux Trail, our mission is increasing student achievement and developing strong personal relationships with children and their families is key part of this work.

This year we added the PawPADs Social Interaction Therapy (SIT) program to our toolbox and it has been instrumental in assisting in increasing student achievement through the development of relationships and identifying the needs of each individual child. The success of the PawPADS SIT program at Sioux Trail is best characterized by a couple of stories.

Sioux Trail Elementary School is home to two classrooms specifically structured around the needs of students with severe cognitive or physical disabilities. This is where the SIT Program got its start at Sioux Trail. The SIT program at Sioux Trail is designed to benefit both the dogs and the students. While I lack the qualifications to evaluate the benefit of the program on service dogs, I am a keen observer of the amazing benefits we see on our students. Many of the students in these classrooms lack the ability to communicate using words in the way that you and I do, but it is easy to read the excitement on their faces when your talented volunteer arrives with one of the PawPADs service dogs. When the students work together with the trainer and the dog we observe an increase in their motivation to work on skills such a developing gross motor skills by tossing items, which the dog then practices the commands “get it”, "bring it here" and "give," as well as others. Teachers have observed students who are reluctant to leave their wheelchairs or other adaptive equipment to go for a short walk change their attitude. When they get to walk Rio or other dogs around our school, they will go for a 45 minute walk, which for the students in this program is physically challenging experience. A final example is what the simple, yet indescribable joy of petting and sitting with a dog does for a student who is blind or has limited mobility. The connection that the dogs are making with our students are unlike any that we can make.

After the successful implementation of the SIT program with students in our Special Education classrooms, a teacher asked a devoted PawPADs volunteer if the program could be expanded to allow students to sit and read with a PawPADs service dog. The teacher and PaPADs volunteer identified a similar personal passion, researched the idea and developed a program that will have long lasting impact on students and their ability to fluently read grade level appropriate text. We are now fortunate enough to have at least two service dogs in our school once a week, who are read to by students who are reading below their grade level. After working with students in the special education classrooms, the PawPADs trainer and a dog move to our intervention classroom where they are joined by an additional trainer and dog team who pick cozy locations to read with students. The word of mouth about this opportunity spread like wildfire and we have great numbers of students requesting time to read with a PawPADs dog. Students now get a ticket in the morning if they are going to read with Ranger, Hero or another service dog and the smile that lights up their face is a clear indication of their excitement. Recently, a student was walking down the hallway and a staff member asking how his day was going “Two days until the dog comes” he replied. In addition to the joy that the students express about this opportunity, we are seeing measurable outcomes as well, such as in increase in performance on standardized reading assessments, selection of reading materials close to grade level, a newfound passion for sitting still and reading for more than 15 minutes and an increased desire to find book they like.

A final story is one from the entire student body. Each year our student council selects one charity to raise money for and they had completed this fundraiser earlier in the year. After seeing the impact of the PawPADs service dogs at Sioux Trail, our student council representatives asked about organizing a second fundraiser to benefit the PawPADs organization and the work Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs is doing. What is significant about this to me is that a small portion of Sioux Trail students have the opportunity to connect with Bravo or another service dog during the day, yet all students see the benefit an want to support the work that is happening at Sioux Trail. This says good things about our students, but it says great things about the work you are doing and the connections that the dogs are making in a wide-variety of ways.

In closing, I am grateful for the partnership with Sioux Trail and the positive impact that the PawPADs organization, volunteers and dogs are having on Sioux Trail students, families and staff.