Paws With A Cause

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Paws With A Cause is a non-profit organization that trains assistance dogs for the disabled. Founded in 1979 by Michael Sapp, Sr., it was originally called "Ears for the Deaf," and specialized in hearing dogs.^[1] Since then, it has expanded to include mobility assistance and seizure response dogs as well, and services a large part of the United States.

1 Puppies and Training
2 The Clients
3 Career-changing
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Puppies and Training

Paws With A Cause dogs are donated as puppies by private breeders, bred at Paws headquarters in Wayland, Michigan, or rescued from animal shelters. While most of the dogs are golden retrievers or Labrador retrievers, other pure-breds such as Cairn terriers and mixes such as labradoodles have been used as well. In all cases, however, donated puppies' parents' hips must be OFA-certified as good or excellent, and all dogs are X-ray-screened before entering formal training. At an average of eight weeks, puppies are placed with raisers who are responsible for basic obedience training and socialization. When the foster puppies reach 15-18 months of age, they are shipped to Paws headquarters for formal training.^[2]

After a short period to get used to kennel-life, dogs start "Phase 1" training, lasting roughly thirty days in which their basic training is built upon with a low-level trainer. Phase 2, which also takes about thirty days, consists of entirely the retrieve command. At this point, what sort of assistance dog it will be, and who it will go to, has been determined. The specialized training of Phase 3 may take anywhere from the two months for hearing dogs to up to a year needed to train some service dogs.

[edit] The Clients

After applying for an assistance dog, future clients are visited by an area representative to access the person's needs. Once accepted, they are placed on a waiting list for their state. Although Paws dogs are completely free for clients, internal costs can be up to $18,000 for the breeding/rescuing and training of the dog. Once the fund for a state approaches $18,000, a dog is picked out and specifically trained for the person at the top of the list.^[3] People may also raise money for or pay for their own dog.

Once a dog has completed its formal training, it is taken to its future owner's home and the team begins its in-home training, overseen by the area's representative. Six months after the first meeting, the team is officially certified. Additionally, Paws dogs must undergo a re-certification every eighteen months, to ensure the dog is still doing its job correctly, and to address any additional training the dog may need. Ideally, the dogs will work for ten or more years, after which they are retired and usually go to live with a family member or friend. "Successor" dogs are provided free of charge and as soon as possible after the retiring of the previous dog, without having to raise money again.

[edit] Career-changing

Some dogs might lack the right temperament, physical health, or stress-resistance for being an assistance dog. At any point in training, from puppies to even having been with a person several months, a dog may be "washed-out" and/or career-changed. Some dogs are determined to become "social-support" dogs during formal training. While these may have some training as assistance dogs, they do not have rights of access that allow them to visit public places. If a dog has a problem in Paws' training, but still has the right temperament for assistance dog work, it may be transfered to Paws' guide dog partner, Leader Dogs for the Blind for training there. Many others are simply returned to the breeder or puppy raiser, or are sold to families in the Michigan area as pets.