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Advanced Sitter Application

Thank you for your interest in becoming an Advanced Sitter!

Fill out the form below and we’ll look at your application as soon as possible.

Step 1 of 7

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Getting to Know You
Invitation Access Code
If you received an invitation email, please enter your code here. If you did not receive an email, please let us know how/where you heard about PADS.
Name*
First Last
What are your pronouns?
- She/Her
- He/Him
- They/Them
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Email*
Phone*
Phone Type*
- Cell
- Work
- Home

Getting to Know You Better
Have you reviewed the requirements section and are you able and willing to fulfill all aspects of these requirements?*
- Yes
- No
Do you have any concerns about any of the requirements?*
- Yes
- No
What concerns do you have?*
How long do you expect to volunteer in the Advanced Training Program?*
- 6-12 months
- 12-24 months
- 24+ months
How much time daily are you willing to spend working on training homework (time does not have to be in one block, can be broken up into small chunks throughout the day)?*
- 1 hour
- 2+ hours
Are you comfortable with a daily grooming routine (brush teeth, brush fur, check/trim nails, bath as needed)?*
- Yes
- No
- Some
If No/Some, please explain:*

Your History at PADS
Have you volunteered with PADS before?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, please provide details
Role, Dates (including if you're currently involved in other departments), Names of Dogs (if applicable), etc.
Were you referred by someone at PADS? If so who?

Your Household
Do you own or rent your home?*
- Rent
- Own (No Pet Restrictions)
- Own (With Pet Restrictions - i.e. Strata)
What type of home do you live in?*
- House
- Apartment
- Townhouse/Condo
- Basement Suite
What kind of setting do you live in?
Are you planning to volunteer with another adult member of your household?
Each of you must complete your own application. To help us with our tracking please tell us their name (must match the name on their application).
Who lives in your current household? (names, ages, relationship to you)*
Do you have children?*
- Yes
- No
How old are your children?*
Do you have any other pets?*
- Yes
- No
What kind(s) of pet(s)?*
Would you describe your home/lifestyle as (check any/all that apply):*
- Quiet
- Moderate
- Active
- Busy
- Loud
Occupation/Employer*
Please list the occupation/employer of any household members that will be taking the dog to work. Please mark N/A if you do not work outside the home.

Your Availability
Which days of the week are you available to pickup/drop off? (check any/all that apply)*
- Monday & Friday (scheduled drop off/pick-up days)
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
How much notice would you typically need for an unexpected pick up/drop off a dog from/to your normal pick up location (i.e. Burnaby campus, Calgary training centre, trainer's house, etc).*
- 1-4 hours
- 6-8 hours
- 1 day
- More than 1 day
- 1 week or more
Would you be able/willing to full-time sit an advanced dog for weeks/months at a time?*
- Yes
- No
Would you be able to sit a dog with medical needs and needs to have limited exercise and activity (examples: kennel cough, cut paw, diarrhea)?*
- Yes
- No
Would you be able to sit a dog who does not have public access (example: sitting a dog who is on a cape break and does not go into stores for the weekend)?*
- Yes
- No
Do you have any physical limitations we should be aware of (note this information is kept confidential and used only for matching purposes)?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, please describe

Working with the Dogs
Are you able/comfortable working with a dog who may bark in your home?*
- Yes
- No
Are you able/comfortable working with a dog who may pull on leash (management tools such as head collar or harness can be provided to ensure safety)?*
- Yes
- No
- Depends on Severity
What kind of exercise can you commit to giving the dog each weekend?*
What are the top 3 unique to your environmental experiences that you could provide for an advanced dog to be assessed or trained in?*
How many field trips (outings) do you typically have each weekend?*
- None
- 1-2
- 3-4
- 5+

Final Thoughts
Please tell us why you want to become a PADS Advance Sitter. Also, feel free to add any additional information that you'd like to share.*

ABOUT PADS

PADS dogs are raised and trained on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

We acknowledge the importance of these lands and their history. We do this to reaffirm our commitment and responsibility in improving relationships between nations and to improving our own understanding of local Indigenous peoples and their cultures.

We breed, raise and train fully certified assistance dogs. Our service (mobility & PTSD) and hearing dogs provide life-changing independence to those with disabilities. Our accredited facility dogs work with community professionals, such as teachers, RCMP and psychologists to help support healthy communities.

PADS is a fully accredited member of Assistance Dogs International.

INSTAGRAM

padsdogs

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We train life-changing dogs for incredible people with disabilities & community care professionals.

Dec 1

The Charismatic Charm has got a job as a Hearing Dog! She's made her match, and we couldn't be more proud of her and her village:

🐾 Breeder Caretakers: The Clark Family
🐶 Puppy-Raisers: Rachel Brodland
🎓 Advanced Sitters: Heidi Weihs and Kerry Shepherd
💛 1st Year Puppy Bursary: Kristina Towill
💙 Advanced Training Scholarship: Kerry Shepherd

Join us in congratulating Team Charm in the comments!

#PADSDogs #LifeInTheBlueVest
Image description in comments.

Dec 1

What a wonderful start to the holidays for PADS!!

💙 Thanks to the AMAZING support of our community, including our anonymous matching donor, we almost doubled the fundraising goal for our #GivingTuesday campaign.

💛 We raised over $58K to support our newest class of puppies, the Pumpkin Litter!

❤️ Together, we can change lives, one dog at a time.

#PADSDogs #PADSPuppies #ThankfulThursday #GivingTuesday

Image description in comments.

Nov 30

PADS Mobility Team Louis has sent us an update on their life together!

"My name is Louis, I am a stability assistance dog in North Vancouver. I have a heavy head and I love to work with and for my human Lori. My human tells me she has a brain injury that caused right side weakness. Her brain injury has impacted her walking and balance, so she uses a cane. She told me before I came along she had a hard time with stairs and was afraid of falling, now we do stairs together. Human’s son says she is moving with me almost regular speed on stairs for the first time in years. Human has always loved the beach but since her injury walking on the uneven sand was dangerous and difficult... but with me she is not afraid and seems walk fine, just slow. Not only do I get dropped items and provide stability, I also give my human confidence to do things she wants to do.

Becoming a team for us seemed to just to happen naturally. Human says I have made her life a million times brighter and better. I like the human too, I just wish we had the room for a king size bed. We also sit and do nothing together very well -- I have finally found a place for my big heavy head, on my human."

We wish this wonderful team many years of walking on the beach and heavy-headed snuggles together!

#PADSDogs
Image description in comments.

Nov 29

Between 16 and 22 months of age, a PADS dog enters Advanced Training, aka "PADS University"! There they spend the next 6-12 months working with PADS dog training staff, who determine what career path the dog would be most suited for based on their energy level, personality, and what skills they enjoy the most. They then work to refine the pup's skills, manners and behaviour to a point where they can pass their pre-placement testing and be matched with a client.

PADS trains certified assistance dogs for the following careers:
👩‍🦼 Mobility Service Dogs
👮 PTSD Service Dogs
👂 Hearing Dogs
🏛️ Accredited Facility Dogs (in justice, medical, educational, and wellness fields)

#LifeInTheBlueVest #LifeOfAPADSDog #PADSDogs

Image description in comments.

Nov 28

BREAKING NEWS: A generous Anonymous Donor has offered to match the next $15K in Donations to our Giving Tuesday Campaign.

Today's campaign supports our newest class of puppies: Casper, Aspen II and Lumina through their journey to becoming assistance dogs.

All donations until midnight tonight will go to help support our mission of providing life-changing assistance dogs to people with disabilities and accredited facility dogs to community care providers.

Donate now using the link in our bio and stories or help us spread the word about our #GivingTuesday campaign by sharing this post.

#PADSDogs #PADSPuppies #PADSPumpkinLitter
Image descriptions in the comments.

Nov 28

Today is #GivingTuesday, and we cannot wait to see everyone at 1:00pm PST today for a very special Tune-In Tuesday Pawcast featuring the PADS Pumpkin Litter.
Prepare for some serious cuteness; this rambunctious trio of pups are getting big! It is hard to believe that they will be meeting their Puppy-Raisers in a just a few short weeks.

But first, these dogs need your help.

For #GivingTuesday, will you consider donating to help us reach our goal of raising $30,000? These funds will support the health and wellbeing of Casper, Aspen and Lumina, ensuring that they have what they need to grow into their life changing futures. By the time they are fully trained, each of our dogs are valued at $35,000 to $40,000 -- but we choose to give these dogs to our clients without charge, so that economic status is no barrier. That's why we need your generosity this Giving Tuesday: because the love and support that these dogs can give is priceless.

Be part of the spirit of generosity by sharing this post about our #GivingTuesday campaign!
🔗 Link to donate in bio!

#PADSDogs #PADSPuppies #PADSPumpkinLitter
Image description in the comments.

Nov 28

Supportive Sinclair has got a job as an Accredited Facility Dog! He and his new client are both the lucky beneficiaries of the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, including:

🐾 Breeder Caretakers: Sandra Koziol
🐶 Puppy-Raisers: Lisa Moralejo
🐕 Puppy-Sitter: Michelle Knaut
🎓 Advanced Sitter: Nicki Braun
💛 1st Year Puppy Bursary: Penny Bush

Let's congratulate Sinclair and his village in the comments below!

#PADSDogs #LifeInTheBlueVest #PADSCalgary
Image description in comments.

Nov 26

Giving Tuesday is is right around the corner and that means it's almost time for our special Tune-In Tuesday pawcast featuring the PADS Pumpkin Litter!

Tune in on November 28th at 1pm PST to see these adorable pups, and support Casper, Aspen II and Lumina through our Giving Tuesday campaign. Your donations on November 28th will go to help support our mission of providing life-changing assistance dogs to people with disabilities and community care providers.

Be part of the spirit of generosity by spreading the word about our #GivingTuesday campaign by sharing this post.

#PADSDogs #PADSPuppies #PADSPumpkinLitter
Image descriptions in the comments.

Nov 26

Robust Roan has got a job! "Roany the Pony" -- so nicknamed not only because he's from the Horse Colours Litter, but also because he's a BIG boy -- will be starting his career as a mobility service dog very soon, and we're so thankful for all the wonderful volunteers that helped him along the way:

🐾 Breeder Caretakers: Kailea Fedderson & Chris Bremer
🐶 Puppy-Raisers: Leslie, Anne & Fiona Mak
🎓 Advanced Sitters: Carmen Kinas
💛 1st & 2nd Year Puppy Bursary: Jane O’Connor

Join us in congratulating Roan and his village in the comments below!

#PADSDogs #LifeInTheBlueVest #PADSCalgary
Image description in comments.

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Latest Past Events

Oct 29 2023

Featured October 29 @ 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Dagerpaatch Pumpkins for Pups with PADS

Dageraad Brewing’s 4th year of harvest festival fun is back and bigger than ever! Come pick out a pumpkin to carve with your friends at the Dagerpaatch, enjoy seasonal drinks & treats, indulge in a burger & fries from Between 2 Buns, and tap your toes along to The Hillbettys Appalachian-folk music! Partnering with Pacific […]

Sep 19 2023

September 19 @ 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

CO-OP FUEL GOOD DAY – Vernon 27th Street Gas Bar

Co-op - Vernon Gas Bar 3530 27 Street, Vernon

Fill up your tank at the Vernon 27th Street Gas Bar on Fuel Good Day, Tuesday, September 9th, and 10 cents from every litre sold will go to support PADS Okanagan!

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