Heaps of energy are bouncing around a local society in the form of puppies, which are in desperate need of a home so they can one day help those with a disability.
Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS) has nine puppies, which means the society is in dire need of puppy raisers, breeders and caretakers.
"We had a donation of approximately nine puppies with more on the way," Laura Watamanuk, PADS executive director, told the Burnaby NOW while holding one well-behaved, light brown puppy in her arms. "This little guy here is a dog that's just arrived from California."
PADS trains dogs for people with disabilities other than blindness. The society trains hearing dogs for the deaf and service dogs for people with other disabilites.
"We're in desperate need of volunteer puppy raisers along with families that are interested in being breeder/caretakers," Watamanuk said.
The society works mostly with Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers, and each has a value between $50,000 to $90,000, which includes the cost of obtaining/breeding the dog, training, placement and follow-up.
PADS was the first Canadian organization to receive full accreditation from Assistance Dogs International, which sets a high standard for apprenticeship dog training, placement and
care. It also works closely with the BCSPCA, and other breed rescue and pure bred dog organizations.
Established in 1987, originally as Western Handi and Hearing Ear Dogs Society, PADS is a founding member of the Canadian Association of Guide and Assistance Dog Schools. The society's head office, campus for both puppy and advanced kennels, client dormitory and administration is in Burnaby.
For more information and to start the application process, visit www.pads.ca.
