The mission of Patriot PAWS is to train and provide service dogs of the highest quality at no cost to disabled American veterans and others with mobile disabilities in order to help restore their physical and emotional independence. Patriot PAWS intends to build partnerships with state and community organizations to help develop and support this goal.
Partnerships with community and state organizations help support this undertaking and allow Patriot PAWS to reach its overall goal. Each dog is customized to the individual needs of the owner with tasks as varied as finding assistance in emergencies and helping with laundry.
In addition to helping with daily tasks, one of the most beneficial contributions a service dog provides to a disabled partner is its life long devotion and unconditional love. This idea became reality thanks to founder Lori Stevens. Stevens is a certified dog trainer with more than 20 years of experience working and volunteering for several dog-training organizations. In 2006, Stevens combined her passion for training dogs with her compassion for disabled American veterans, thus creating Patriot PAWS. In 2008, Patriot PAWS partnered with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). This collaboration allows prisoners the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than their confinement and provides Patriot PAWS a much-needed volunteer base to train quality service dogs.
• Patriot PAWS was established as a not-for-profit organization in 2006.
• The mission of Patriot PAWS is to train and provide service dogs for the benefit of disabled American veterans and others with mobile disabilities in order to help restore their physical and emotional independence.
• In 2008, Patriot PAWS partnered with community and state organizations, such as the TDCJ.
• Founder and Executive Director Lori Stevens is a certified dog trainer with more than 20 years of experience and is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy. She has also worked and volunteered for several dog-training organizations, including Lone Star Assistance Dog Service and Texas Hearing and Service Dogs (THHSD).
• Each dog trained at Patriot PAWS is customized to the individual needs of the owner. Tasks, both physical and mental, can be as varied as finding assistance in emergencies, helping with chores and aiding emotions for those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and brain injury.
For more information on service dogs and Patriot PAWS please visit their website at:
http://www.patriotpaws.org
