OUR INVICTUS EXPERIENCE

by Meredith Areskoug, Media & Development Coordinator

The 2025 Invictus Games (February 8-16) was an amazing experience for all of us at PADS. Our incredible dogs and handlers were on-site, to welcome all attendees and provide comfort and support to the competitors and their families. The spirit of resilience and determination at the Games perfectly aligns with PADS’ mission, and we were proud to be part of such an inspiring event.

We cannot express enough thanks to the 150+ PADS volunteers who gave their heart to the games in both Vancouver and Whistler. Your dedication made this event truly special!

PADS Puma meets The Duke of Sussex, founder of the 2025 Invictus Games. It has been determined that she can now live up to her title of Princess Pumaloo!

Throughout the Games, our 19 Accredited Facility Dog teams provided the largest ever coordinated Canine Psychosocial Response of its kind worldwide. They offered unwavering support to the 550 competitors, their friends, and their families by providing comfort, reducing stress, and fostering connection. These highly trained dogs created a supportive environment where competitors could focus on their performance while knowing they had reliable emotional support. The dogs and their handlers also had the honor of meeting special guests, all of whom were deeply moved by the impact of these incredible canine partners.

In addition, our dedicated Canine First Aid Dog Handler Teams worked behind the scenes to ensure the health and well-being of both competitors and their service dogs, providing expert care and handling whenever needed. Meanwhile, our Puppy Puddle in the Invictus Village became a heartwarming highlight of the event, offering attendees a chance to interact with our adorable puppies-in-training. This special space brought moments of joy, comfort, and relaxation to everyone who stopped by.

None of this would have been possible without our incredible team of volunteer drivers, who worked almost around the clock to ensure that participants, staff, and service dogs got where they needed to be, on time and stress-free!

The Invictus Legacy Litter

We are also excited to announce that, thanks to the generosity of the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 and their presenting partner, Boeing, a legacy litter of PADS puppies will named in honour of the Games. This Invictus Legacy Litter will be nurtured and trained to become life-changing service dogs, expanding on the tremenous impact of the Games in our community.

Our participation in the Invictus Games was made possible by the generosity of Boeing who built two wonderful spaces in the Invictus village dedicated to assistance dogs and our “puppy puddlers”.

Thank you

Of course we could not have done this without the help of of over 150 volunteers, who generously contributed their time and expertise. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to them and to our long-time nutrition partner, Eukanuba who generously outfitted our dogs and teams, for their unwavering support throughout this remarkable event.

As we reflect on this incredible experience, we remain committed to our mission of supporting individuals through the power of assistance dogs. The Invictus Games have reinforced the profound impact that these partnerships can have, and we look forward to continuing this important work in the future.