Our Stories
Discover the teams that define our "Why?" and the people that make them happen.
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 – Zosia & Rumor
In my previous life as a physiotherapist, my patients used to tell me that when you sit in a wheelchair people don’t talk to you. I didn’t really believe it until the first time I was out in public in a chair.
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 – Christiana & Murphy
Murphy was serious about her alert work. She loved those treats, which meant never having to miss a knock at the door, phone call, any alarm, or the minute my morning coffee finished percolating.
30 Stories for 30 Years – Vivian & Milan
I received PADS Accredited Facility Dog Milan in July of 2016. The work that she does with my clients and the enormous impact that she has had on my workplace goes with out saying. She is exactly as advertised.
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 – Marcia & Marshall
Marshall alerted me to all the sounds in my environment that I cannot hear – the smoke detector, timer, telephone, alarm clock and people knocking at the door. With his help I was connected to the world of sound around me. He took his job very seriously and I learned to trust him completely, he was never wrong. He worked 24/7. He gave me confidence. He could, by virtue of his smoke detector alerts, even safe my life.
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.
Saying Goodbye to a Great One
Sometimes in this life we meet one of the "great ones" -- this week our community has been hit hard with losses, but this one has left us breathless. For those of you that don't recognize him, this is our client, ambassador, friend, champion, donor, cheerleader and...
Sara’s Story
Gone are the days I can just head out the door on a whim. By the time I’m ready to leave, I’m already mentally and physically drained. I’m happiest when I’m in my manual chair, rather than my cumbersome power chair, but I don’t have the strength except for with short distance on level areas.
Sif’s Story
I confess I have another reason for always scrolling through the PADS photos; my son Riley suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury when he was 17, (about 7 years ago), and is now permanently in a wheelchair. This motivated me even more to want to meet Sif.
MARY-JO & JOLIE
“This amazing dog, Jolie, saved me last night. In the world of Quadriplegia is a condition known as ‘Autonomic Disreflexia’ it is an adaptive warning system for those who cant feel normally, when something is wrong – or the body is trying to get your attention due to pain/discomfort/or a problem.
DAVE & JASPER
“Around the age of 30 I was diagnosed with an adult onset type of Muscular Dystrophy. This condition eventually led to me needing this power chair I now sit in, as well as increased need for support from friends and family. When I heard about PADS on the news my...
LOVE ME DO
Early mornings, late nights, excitement mixed with anxiety, lots of cuddling, and unauthorized puppy parties are just some of the things that Jocelyn and Marie experienced during their first 5 months as breeders caretakers for PADS’ Roma and her “Beatles Litter”. Their passion for labradors, social work, and their friend’s enthusiasm about the organization made PADS an obvious choice to volunteer for.
Lisa & Rowan
"As a PADS Accredited Facility Dog (AFD) dog, Rowan’s job is unique and invaluable. Together, Rowan and I work directly with clients of all ages and with various disabilities using Animal Assisted Therapy. As a registered nurse, I will plan out the interactions...
Clayton & Ember
“My PADS’ dog Ember and I were matched as a team in the summer of 2010. Since then she has been a wonderful addition to all aspects of my life, especially with my last year in high school. When I drop an object on the floor or need to open a door, Ember can assist me...
Sare & Fraser
"Fraser has been a member of the Department of Psychology at BC Children’s Hospital for more than two-and-a-half years. He works with the medical psychologists in the hospital, caring for children with a variety of health issues (mostly children with epilepsy or...
Carol Ann & Basil
"In 1987, I was on a bus in Toronto. Looking out the window, I saw a woman in a wheelchair with a black lab. My first reaction (which was not to be corrected for several years!) was ... “Look at that poor woman. She’s in a wheelchair and blind ... but...
Kim & Caber
"On September 25th, 2010, Laura Szendrei was brutally attacked in a park in North Delta. Sadly she succumbed to her injuries the next day… the same day as Caber’s graduation from PADS. Therein began 3 days of responding to a school and community in crisis. At...
Verne & Charlie
"When I received Charlie’s leash from Director of Training, Ron Tymrick, I was at a low point in life. I was recovering from a devastating spinal injury and could not walk safely, nor pick up anything dropped. When I fell – which happened daily – I could not...
Jean
"On an ordinary morning in 1998, in the Vancouver Sun, there appeared a heart-catching article about a golden retriever named Brandy. This bundle of charm was at work in the office of his puppy raiser, learning the rules of office etiquette, on his way to becoming a...
Mary-Jo & Jolie
In 2004, while skiing in the pristine Kootenays, Mary-Jo encountered conditions that would change her life dramatically. After waking up completely paralyzed from the neck down, Mary-Jo knew she would need extraordinary faith, help, and courage. With the incredible...
Karen & Ranger
"Aardvark, inflation and guitar", three simple words Ron Tymrick, PADS Director of Client Services, asked me to remember during my interview with PADS over 11 years ago. These three words he told me he would ask me at anytime to see if I could recall them. Well Ron, I...
Georgina & Duncan
"It has been almost 6 years since I was teamed with Duncan, an enthusiastic black lab with a passion for retrieving objects of all shapes and sizes. Trained with funding from supporters, like you, it is with this extraordinary dog that I lead an “ordinary” life! I am...
Sarah & Leo
"I was born with Cerebral Palsy and I use an electric wheelchair to get around. Before Leo came along I would always get frustrated when dropping something, or trying to get through a doorway, or reaching an automatic button. With Leo I feel safe and secure when out...
Entrekin family & Sienna
"I can't thank PADS enough for allowing Sienna to join our family. As a single parent of three children, two of whom have special needs, having a VIP dog has been more than a blessing. Sienna joined our family last December, after being on the wait list for just...