Paws For Life K9 Rescue

The pfl service dog program is a collaboration between paws for life k9 rescue and the california department of corrections and rehabilitation (cdcr) that rehabilitates rescue dogs into highly trained service dogs for military veterans with ptsd. Incarcerated participants in cdcr facilities spend hundreds of hours training the dogs to perform a variety of tasks that alleviate may of the daily challenges of ptsd. In the process they find healing, accountability, a sense of purpose, and for many, a chance to experience unconditional love and empathy for the first time. Participants also build job skills that can lead to secure employment upon release, lowering reentry risk significantly. This program is a 40-week training process that prepares the dog to handle the rigors of performing in various environments and ptsd disability-specific tasks. At the end of the core six months of the program, our trainers place dogs with clients (veterans) during a seven-day education and training boot camp. The boot camp teaches veterans how to utilize his/her new service dog appropriately. The training takes place in various public settings/situations, as well as, within the correctional facility with the program participants who trained the service dogs. Pfl's staff and trainers support the veteran adopters at every step of the program, and beyond. The plf ptsd service dog program runs two 52-week cycles annually, serving 25 incarcerated program participants, 7 dogs, and 7 military veterans each cycle. Veterans and their dogs continue to work together, and additional training is offered to ensure the best possible fit for humans and canines.

The wraparound services provided at the people and pet innovation center (ppic) include ongoing individual and group dog training, socialization, playgroups, transport, and may other essential resources to ensure the greatest number of dogs possible are placed in forever homes. More importantly, they remain in loving homes and do not return to overburdened shelters. Many dog owners are not equipped with the skills to navigate difficult training scenarios with their dogs nor the financial ability to hire a trainer. Paws for life k9 rescue (pfl) has come up with a solution to solve this problem and keep dogs in thier homes, support other rescues, and tackle issues with difficult-to-adopt dogs - all at absolutely zero cost to adopters! In 2023, 2,030 dogs received services at the people and pet innovation center. Moving forward, the ppic is poised to train 2,500 dogs in a single year, with a strategic plan to increase that number year after year. Services at the ppic include group training, 1:1 dog training/tutoring, socialization, playgroups, boot camps (for ptsd veterans), firefighter camps (for first responders), and much more. All services are free of charge and available early in the morning, evening, and on weekends, to ensure that everyone can access the resources, regardless of income, work, or life schedules.

The paws for life first responder - firehouse program was launched in 2021 in response to the emotional, mental (and physical) toll that the unprecedented catastrophic wildfires throughout california had on the people on the frontlines. Much of the program takes place within the correctional setting, overseen by pfl's program leadership and facilitated by incarcerated dog trainers who work closely with formerly homeless dogs to learn the necessary skills and commands to meet the criteria to serve as effective therapy dogs. Around 10 weeks into training, a therapy dog will be paired with a first responder to begin working together in the field. Our professional dog trainers provide around-the-clock training services, advice, and videos to ensure the process is successful and the first responders feel adequately supported. The first responder program runs 3 cycles annually, serving 25 incarcerated program participants, 2-3 dogs, and as many as 100 first responders per cycle (depending on the size and location of a fire station or placement of a dog with a fire camp). To date, we have placed our specially trained therapy dogs at fire stations throughout california: sacramento county, sonoma valley fire, santa barbara county, and los angeles county. It is genuinely rewarding to witness the dogs and first responders supporting each other.