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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 the Burnaby campus?*
- 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

2,304

May 24

The Posies are blooming and ready to leave the nursery! These confident, funny pups are ready to take on the world and look forward to going home with their raisers. Thank you to the incredible Sharlene & Lee for giving these pups such a wonderful start in life. We hope you and PADS Posy enjoy some well earned quiet time in the days to come.

Image Description:
Posy's 8 week old black lab puppies each sit on a tree stump with a field of grass behind them. Each puppy is wearing a yellow PADS cape with their name appearing in blue script at their feet.

Image 1: Peony sits proudly on the stump with her ears forward as she gazes off into the distance.

Image 2: Zinnia looks inquisitively off to the side of the camera with her ears pricked forward and her head tilted slightly

Image 3: Dahlia looks surprised as she looks at the camera with her eyes wide and ears forward.

Image 4: Russel looks sweetly at the camera with soft eyes.

Image 5: Yarrow looks calmly at the camera.

May 23

From today, May 23rd to the 26th, PADS will earn 30% commission on each and every sale made through our fundraising link. Click the link in our bio to get some amazing laundry supplies while supporting PADS at the same time!

Image Description;
Title Text: Laundry Day
Body Text: Tru Earth has added an additional 10% back to PADS when you purchase through our fundraising link between May 23rd and 26th! #TruEarthMovement
Below the text is a blue line drawing of two hands above and below a globe.

May 22

Team Zion II is excited to announce their partnership! Together they have completed team training and are happily getting to know each other better as they navigate the world by each other's side.

Zion's Client share's that it was an instant connection upon first meeting:

"When I met my Zion, I knew she’d been missing from my life and that there were many phenomenal people who’d worked so hard to bring her to me.

In the early 2000s, PTSD symptoms derailed my life. Last October, I wondered if my symptoms were “bad enough” for a PADS dog or if there were people more in need than I, but Val assured me that I fit the criteria. After a few doggie blind dates chaperoned by Val and Margaret, I was matched with Zion!

Zion’s goofy, affectionate, and loves to play. She’s calm, focused, and the perfect co-pilot for me. She keeps me centered and present when I go to the gym, drive, shop, and I’ve rediscovered hiking. I used to have to force myself to go out of my apartment. Thank you so much to everyone at PADS — from puppy raisers to sitters to trainers to donors — who has had a hand in raising this beautiful pal of mine!'

Congratulations to this wonderful Team. We wish you many wonderful hikes in the years to come.

#LifeInTheBlueVest #PADSDogs #NewTeam #Congratulations

Image Description: Zion, a black lab wearing a blue PADS vest, sits in front of her client and looks towards the camera. Her client wraps their arms around her and smiles happily at the camera.

May 21

We had such a lovely time with the volunteers who joined us this past week from the @RaymondJamesCDN and @RJCFoundation who worked very hard to tackle some much needed yard work including:

🚜Mowing all our lawns,
🍓Pruning some rapidly encroaching blackberry vines
🌻getting out some hidden weeds from our flower beds.

Join us in thanking them for a job well done!

Is your business or workplace interested in volunteering at PADS? E-mail events@pads.ca to reach out.

#RJCares #PADSDogs #Thankful #WorkParty

Image Description:
Image 1:
Title Text: Thank You
Body Text: We'd like to thank the volunteers from the Raymond James Foundation who did some much needed yard work on our Burnaby Campus. #superstarsunday
Below the text is a line drawing of a star.

Image 2: The team from Raymond James Canada Foundation, wearing matching black shirts saying Raymond James Foundation stand in a group with PADS Volunteer Ken (wearing a gray shirt) and PADS Staff Lydia (wearing a red vest) and PADS pup Electra. All look at the camera and smile.

May 20

Meet Val! This #StaffSaturday we are thrilled to announce that this long time volunteer has officially joined our staff team as Field Representative on our Client Care team. Val (and her sidekick PADS Vader) have worked in many areas of PADS over the past 10 years.

In her new role she will continue to work with our clients and and their canine partners, doing follow ups and offering peer support.

Some fun facts about Val:
🔨She likes to fix things!
🎨 She is a 'mosaic artist' who works with glass and ceramics,
🐶 She loves to spend time in the water with dogs helping them gain strength and mobility
🐕🦺 If she was a PADS dog she says she would want to be a service dog. If she was released she'd want to continue in a working role and be a scent detection dog!

Join us in giving Val a warm PADS welcome!

Image Description:
Val, a woman with short brown hair, kneels behind PADS Vader and smiles at the camera. Vader, a black lab wearing a red collar looks stoically off into the distance. The pair are atop a walking bridge.

May 19

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to @BCDistilled this year. We had a fantastic night of socializing, spirit tasting, and of course the excitement of the online auction and our 50/50 draw.

🥃29 Distillers contributed 35 lots for our online auction,
🧑🤝🧑20 PADS Volunteers,
🐕🦺12 PADS pups
💕and countless generous friends who helped us raise over $4700!

We couldn't have asked for a better night, a big thank you to Alex for once again thinking of PADS and choosing to partner with our mission of changing lives, one dog at a time.

Image Description:
Title Text: Until Next Time
Body Text: Thank you Alex and everyone at BC Distilled for a wonderful night of learning, laughing and puppies. # BCDistilled
Underneath the text is a blue line drawing of a glass with ice next to a glass bottle.

May 19

@PADSMelon would like to wish everyone an amazing long weekend ahead. He sends a special reminder to enjoy some summer fruits, 🍉 stay hydrated 💧 and stay cool 🕶️when possible.

When asked what his favourite way to stay cool is, Melon's raiser said that he enjoys cooling off in Lake Okanagan and licking frozen kongs.

What's your favorite way to beat the heat? Let us know in the comments below. Want to know more about PADS Melon? Check out the link in our bio to read their monthly Pup-dates.

P.s This amazing bed was made special just for Melon by his favourite coworker, Sarena! Anyone else have a fantastic co-worker?

#PADSDogs #LifeInTheYellowVest #PADSMelon
Image Description:
Melon, a black lab wearing a yellow PADS cape, lays down in the middle of a large bed that resembles a watermelon. Melon looks very content with his head resting on the pillow while looking up at the camera.

May 18

Why be a breeder caretaker? Who better to ask than someone who's doing it right now! Meet Kaye & Ian, two of our wonderful breeder caretakers in our West Coast Region. Kaye and Ian are paired with the wonderful PADS Autumn. When asked why they chose this volunteer role they said:

"Well…of course there are the puppies. And who doesn’t love puppies? Is there anything sweeter than getting to watch the development of a whole cycle of life?

Beginning with caring for the mom who has been thoughtfully selected for her lovely disposition, even temperament and makes for a fabulous house mate. Then her bestowing upon you – the softest, sweetest fur dumplings you will ever witness. The awe of amazement as you watch them grow into a mass of curious, rough-and-tumble grand howl of puppies!

Yes, its tiring. Yes, it gets intense at times. Yes a lot of laundry is involved. It’s full-on commitment, but it's one of the most satisfying experiences one can have. Watching the puppies grow, seeing their little personalities emerge as they discover their senses, environment and world, is blissful joy.

Then off to their raisers at 8 weeks old and back to quiet solitude….until the next time..."
- Breeder Caretakers Kaye and Ian

Sound like something you want to learn more about? Check out the link in our bio!

Image Description:

Image 1:
Title Text: Be The Change
Body Text: "It’s 16-week gradual crescendo of wild fun!"
pads.ca/Volunteer
Underneath the text is a blue line drawing of a puppy sleeping

Image 2: Ian, a man with short brown hair holds up a yellow lab puppy in his arms and smiles at the camera.

Image 3: Kaye, a woman with shoulder length grey hair and black glasses holds a yellow lab puppy in the camera and smiles warmly at the camera.

May 17

Last week, our West Coast Region welcomed 8 wonderful dogs to Advanced Training. A huge congratulations to their teams of Puppy Raisers, Sitters, Breeder Caretakers and Puppy Cohort Instructors who have helped them get to this amazing milestone in their journey to becoming life-changing Assistance Dogs.

Welcome:
Thorin
Loki II
Scarlet
Kasota
Jubilee
Aslan
Marvel
Gimli

Image Description in first comment

#PADSDogs #LifeInTheBlueVest #AdvancedTraining #NewAdventure

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