Service Dog Training

February Letter from the Executive Director

Robin — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:12:56 +0000

If you haven’t been to one of PAALS annual fundraisers before, let me just tell you what’s coming up On March 2. It’s our Ungala and that means a new themed party priced for everyone to attend. This year’s focus is Old West. You can expect mechanical bulls, live music, silent auction, live auction, amazing food and drinks all included. We outgrew our old venue which is a terrific challenge to have! This year we will have our event at the State Museum to ensure everyone and their friends can attend. We normally do this later in the spring, but wanted to try earlier to compete with fewer events that you might like to attend. So, we are really counting on everyone to make this a success. So put on your cowboy or cowgirl boots and mosey on down on March 3!

January Letter for the Executive Director

Robin — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 05:28:07 +0000

One of the great things about a new year is that we all tend to pause and look back on the previous year. Even though I’ve been a part of all of these happenings I was still surprised and encouraged by all that PAALS accomplished in 2012 and want to share these highlights

PAALS Highlights 2012

Started the advanced training of four dogs

Trained an apprentice trainer ¾ way!

Purchased a PAALS vehicle, a minibus

Completed ADI accreditation

Completed an Audit

Renewed all 3 CFC applications

Completed our 6^th year of camp

Our first afterschool program, ZooBots

Started another 2 cycles of assistance puppies and dogs in training

Two PAALS folks got EAGALA certified

Expanded our weekend pupsitter and foster program

Expanded Prison PAALS to include a new housing unit for VIP program and new fenced exercise yard for dogs

Initiated a new fundraising tool with PAALS Pack membership

Two PAALS representatives attended International ADI conference

Attended Corporate sponsored event in Atlanta and secured Ceva sponsorship for 2013

Took bus load of dogs and volunteers for beach day post ADI Inspection

Took staff trip to FLA as part of ADI milestone and formed new partnerships with other ADI programs

We want to thank all of you who have made this accomplishments possible. We are thrilled to start to 2013 with great plans:

Starting our V.I.P. Program, to place companion animals with local veterans

Starting our Preferred Veterinary Partners Program

Bringing in new puppies this spring

Placing more Assistance Dogs

Starting Advanced training behind bars for the first time…..and so much more-stay tuned!

Yours in Service

Jen Rogers

Sonic Night

Robin — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 18:25:39 +0000

The Sonic night will be on December 27, 2012, at the Ballentine Sonic. The address is 1150 Dutch Fork Road, Irmo, SC 29036. It starts at 5 p.m. and goes to 8 p.m.. PAALS will be getting 10% of all profits, and all the tips we earn we get to keep.

PAALS Receives ADI Accreditation

Robin — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:38:26 +0000

Assistance Dogs International (ADI) has approved PAALS for a full five-year ADI Accreditation.

Part of the mission of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is to establish standards for the assistance dog Industry – ensuring that dogs are treated humanely, clients are treated with respect and dignity, and training is delivered in a professional way at all times. Assistance Dog users trust their lives and safety to their dogs, so everything related to the training of both the dogs and people must meet extraordinary criteria.

Over many years, members of ADI have developed an accreditation manual and procedures to evaluate the quality standards of assistance dog programs. Areas evaluated include: safety and cleanliness of the training facility, fair and ethical treatment of clients, proper health care for the dogs, humane training methods for the dogs, criteria for screening suitability of both dogs and clients, criteria for matching dogs and clients, criteria for administration of all program operations and compliance with all legal regulations.

December Letter for the Executive Director

PAALS_Blogger — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:39:18 +0000

This is the season where all of us tend to think about charities more and I hope for all of you reading this it’s a time of year you think of PAALS. I had the chance to grow personally(as the quote above mentions) this year during a visit to Uganda. I was saddened to see how people with disabilities struggled in ways I had never seen before in such a poor country. Knowing I could help people back home with disabilities through my work with all of you who support PAALS was my only solace in watching these eye opening scenes as we traveled this country. It was an experience that also made me realize how much we all really do have in this country. Some have more time to give rather than money, but we all have some way to give to something we believe in. It makes me proud to push PAALS through the challenges of our first year of not meeting all of our budget goals, because I know it’s not due to lack of effort or good work. In fact we’ve been making more leaps of faith and soon will have more puppies in training than we have ever had. I still pray for all those who are less fortunate across the globe, but know that I have faith in all of you helping us tug to the finish this year to make sure those we call neighbors have the special gift of a trained dog or can benefit from a PAALS program next year. PAALS Pack membership or naming a puppy is a great choice for the family member who is so hard to buy for. Of course, a final tax deductible donation is also appreciated! I am truly blessed to share these special dogs with people who richly deserve it(especially our local military through the Rob’s Best Friend Fund) and hope all of you will feel that too this holiday season.

Yours in Service,

Jennifer A. Rogers

PAALS Trees

Robin — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:41:56 +0000

Tis the season of giving and good tidings and cheer,
And PAALS has some news you just have to hear!
We hope for more puppies to come our way
And train them to be a service dog someday!
And a wonderful way to help those in need
Is picking an ornament from one of our charity trees.
There’s a gift on the ornament we need for our pups
That you can buy and donate… Then shop for more stuff.
It’s a great chance to bring so much joy
To a hard working pup, whether it’s food or a fun toy!
Theres a tree at camp bow wow doggy day care,
And Mill Creek on Two Notch has a tree there.
The last tree is in 5 Points at Pupcakes,
But the Christmas season is flying, so please make haste!
St. Andrews Animal Clinic helps PAALS all the time,
And a gift card for their services would be more than fine.
We thank you so much for all that you give
And help our dogs to help others in every day they live.

Charity trees for item donation are at:
1) Pupcakes Dog Boutique and Bakery
625 Harden Street
Columbia, SC 29205

2) Mill Creek Pet Food Center
8606 Two Notch Road
Columbia, SC

3) Camp Bow Wow
1916 Taylor Street
Columbia, SC

Donations of gift cards for veterinary services can be donated at St. Andrews Animal Clinic at 1330 Omarest Dr in Columbia, SC 29210.

Santa Paws is Coming To Town

sara — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 04:32:07 +0000

BRING YOUR PET FOR PHOTOS WITH SANTA PAWS TO BENEFIT PAALS.
December 5, 2012
5-8 p.m.
Pupcakes Pet Boutique
625 Harden Street in 5 Points
$15 sitting fee to benefit PAALS.

Santa Paws is coming to town! Book your appointment for our December 5 Photos with Santa event. There is a $15.00 sitting fee that will benefit PAALS and you will be able to order individual photos, Christmas Cards or packages of your furry family members with Santa from Cathy Farabaugh Photography. Walk-ins will be welcome, but wait times will be longer. Call us at 788-7063 to book a time.

Pupcakes will also donate 10% off all sales during the event to PAALS!

From the Desk of the Executive Director

sara — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:32:42 +0000

Sometimes working in the working dog field professionals spend so much time distinguishing our work from pets that we can seem like we don’t recognize the healing value a safely trained companion can bring into someone’s lives. Over the last year I have had both the privilege and challenge of spending time with some of our local heroes (although the veterans I meet never embrace that title themselves). It’s been an honor to get a glimpse into what they have been through to benefit me and all US citizens. It’s been a challenge to get a glimpse at what they deal with every day since their return. Knowing that service dogs were not the answer for every veteran we started the PAALS Patriots program, a therapeutic program where soldiers and veterans train service dogs for others. Now PAALS is ready to challenge ourselves in a new through the VIP program: Veterans Important PAALS. We will be rescuing more dogs, assessing them for their potential as service dog candidates and placing those that don’t qualify with local veterans in need of a loving companion after some basic training in our Prison PAALS program. We are looking for 2 week quarantine foster homes and for 4 week full time assessment homes before placing these dogs into Prison PAALS. We will also need funding for health assessments and basic care for this new group of canine recruits. We are excited to partner with any local rescue groups who would like to help screen for these special rescues as well. Feel free to call us at 788-7063 or email jrogers@paals.org if you would like to help!

Yours In Service,
Jennifer A. Rogers

Zoobots goes to the Dogs

sara — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 20:47:02 +0000

PAALS has just started an after-school magnet program with Longleaf Middle School. Longleaf Middle School partners with Riverbanks Zoo (my former employer before founding PAALS) to teach 6^th,7^th, and 8^th graders about animals, the environment, and conservation through the Zoobots after-school program. This school year, PAALS dogs in training will contribute to the Zoobots program by facilitatating once-a-month, hands-on sessions. The PAALS’ Zoobots program will teach participating students the importance of giving back to their community by helping to train service dogs. Last Thursday was our first session of the program and it was a hit! For those who have been following PAALS e-PUPdates, you will remember that working with youth in an ongoing program like this has been part of our mission from the start. We are so thrilled to have the opportunity to impact youth in a positive way that will also make them more empathetic toward people with disabilities, empowered to make change, and passionate about treating animals well.

Yours In Service,

Jen Rogers

No Fillings Are Filling PAALS’ Piggy Bank

sara — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:24:54 +0000

PAALS’ volunteer, Madi, has decided to allot all of the money that she earns for great dental hygiene during her orthodontic treatment at Palmetto Smiles Pediatric & Family Dentistry to PAALS. So far, she has earned $51 for PAALS! If you know a patient of Palmetto Smiles, encourage them to ask about donating their points to PAALS. Keep up the diligent dental hygiene, Madi!