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30 Stories for 30 Years – Nicole

30 Stories for 30 Years – Nicole

During puppy raising, Koltan had a huge will to please. He loved to work and learn, and showed a great aptitude for receiving and giving affection to others.Β Koltan has a presence about him that brings calmness and reassurance to those he interacts with. With hisΒ gentle, calm and old soul demeanor, all anyone had to do was to meet him once and they fell in love with him. In the end, it was these qualities that helped determine his path to become an Accredited Facility Dog and he was placed at Surrey Memorial Hospital as a Trauma Dog.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Laurie & Athens

30 Stories for 30 Years – Laurie & Athens

Athens was our very first PADS dog and, although we had always raised Goldens for over 30 years, we did not know how much more enriched our lives would become upon his addition to our home. Most dogs like Athens are fortunate to have one demanding career but little did we realize that he was going to add another one to his curriculum vitae.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lisa & Rowan

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lisa & Rowan

Back in 2008, I became partners with my first PADS Accredited Facility Dog (AFD), Rowan, a beautiful Golden Retriever. As a Registered Nurse, Rowan and I worked together with clients of all ages through my private practice nursing company, INSPIRE Animal Assisted Therapy. We worked with people with various disabilities and challenges to help them regain, develop, or maintain activities of daily living, help promote fine and gross motor skills, work on memory and cognition, and engage and stimulate social interactions. Rowan was a ROCKSTAR!

30 Stories for 30 Years – Kelsey & Arrow

30 Stories for 30 Years – Kelsey & Arrow

They say expecting parents go through a β€œnesting process” before baby arrives. Well, no human babies here but before I brought my sweet little Puppy-in-Training Arrow home in September 2015, I nested for what would become the most heartful endeavour I’d ever embarked upon in my 30 years of life so far.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Carol Ann & Barley

30 Stories for 30 Years – Carol Ann & Barley

Barley gave me freedom. To go for a walk by myself, to go shopping, to travel, to continue working when part of my job was going from building to building across campus. I was never alone because I had Barley with me. No longer did people stare at me because I was in a wheelchair. They stared at Barley and his amazing ability to pull. No longer the lady in the wheelchair going slow, I was the lady with the dog everyone loved and he brought a smile to their faces.

OPEN HOUSE – 2017

OPEN HOUSE – 2017

PADS OPEN HOUSE 2017 The annual PADS Open House happened on Saturday, June 10th, 2017. Despite the rain, the smell of hot dogs and Ken’s famous chili filled the air as guests and dog lovers explored the PADS campus. Luckily the sun came out just in time for our...
30 Stories for 30 Years – Nola

30 Stories for 30 Years – Nola

One day, on the way to cuddling, I stopped at the hospital to visit my beloved uncle. While I was there, the Doctor advised my uncle that his cancer was terminal. After crying my heart out I continued to puppy cuddle. When I stepped into little Quaker’s kennel he sat there staring intently into my face, then when I sat down with him he licked a tear off my face then pressed hard against my body as he slid into my lap. He continued looking into my eyes and I believe he could feel my pain and was saying β€œI’m here for you”.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lindsey & Silky

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lindsey & Silky

At first, I thought I wanted to be an Education Assistant, because of how much I love being in the schools (Silky loves all the attention she gets from the kids, too!) After spending two years back at school myself, as a student, I realized how much more I can do to help other people in wheelchairs now that I have Silky by my side.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Nicole & Vespa

30 Stories for 30 Years – Nicole & Vespa

Vespa was a hard worker, and yet so easy going. She enjoyed a night out on the town or an evening in to nap when I wasn’t feeling well. She was quite happy to accompany wherever I went and we were never at any loss for people to talk to. People loved to approach us and ask questions or chat and I certainly didn’t mind chatting with strangers. She was a great conversation starter.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Meredith

30 Stories for 30 Years – Meredith

About seven years ago we were in a great period of transition; jobs were changing and our hopes of having a family were dashed by illness and long adoption waiting lists. While out walking one day, we spotted a woman walking a yellow lab with a bright yellow cape. We saw the PADS logo and started talking about what it would be like to give back to the community like that.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Kenn & Riddle

30 Stories for 30 Years – Kenn & Riddle

Riddle can think, and I’d argue he can even reason. Riddle reads how I feel, where I hurt, and when my neural pathways fail me. When the world starts to overwhelm me and my mind and body start to fatigue, Riddle is watching, ready to step forward and nudge me. That is special. That is Riddle.

Vancouver Pet Lover Show to benefit PADS

Vancouver Pet Lover Show to benefit PADS

Join us at the Vancouver Pet Lover Show Come join us this Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th at the Pet Lovers’ show in benefit of PADS! Attend interactive and informative seminars by veterinarians and top professionals. Have your family dog try the Dog Lovers Days agility...