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Smaug | November 2025

Monday, December 1, 2025 | Lower Mainland, Pupdates

Photos below…

Submitted by: Chrissy, PADS Puppy in Training Sitter

Smaug Nov 2025

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Smaug

ABOUT PADS

PADS dogs are raised and trained on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Ktunaxa ɁamakɁis (Ktunaxa), Ĩyãħé Nakón mąkóce (Stoney), Niitsítpiis-stahkoii ᖹᐟᒧᐧᐨᑯᐧ ᓴᐦᖾᐟ (Blackfoot / Niitsítapi ᖹᐟᒧᐧᒣᑯ), Tsuut’ina & Michif Piyii (Métis) Nations, and the Syilx Okanagan People.

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.

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We raise, train, and place life-changing assistance dogs 🐶

AFD Fiddle’s presence is warming Winnipeg’s winter

AFD Fiddle’s presence is warming Winnipeg’s winters for students at Transcona Collegiate 🐶❄️

PADS Fiddle’s warm heart (and cozy sweater) brightens even the chilliest of days as she roams the halls of Transcona Collegiate. As the school’s new Accredited Facility dog, Fiddle’s job is to bring joy, comfort, and connection to students and staff. And she’s a natural.

Her partner, Anita, reports: “Fiddle is more than a PADS dog; she is a friend, a teacher, and a source of happiness for everyone.” Fiddle welcomes new pupils to the school, comforts students and staff during difficult conversations, and provides a calming presence during times of stress.

“We truly cannot imagine our school without her,” says Anita. Read Fiddle's whole story through the link in our bio.

#DogsInSchools #AccreditedFacilityDog

[PADS Fiddle, a yellow Lab in a Christmas sweater, lies next to her partner, Anita, who is also wearing a Christmas sweater.]

Happy Holidays from everyone at PADS 🐶 As we wrap

Happy Holidays from everyone at PADS 🐶

As we wrap up 2025, we're reflecting on all the ways the PADS community has done us proud.

We've placed 26 life-changing dogs with incredible clients across Western Canada. We're ending the year with 170 active assistance dog teams.

Another 157 dogs are in training, learning the skills they'll use as future assistance dogs. New pups join us, and we all celebrated the arrival of our 200th litter.

Friends and partners have helped share our mission with new audiences. We've continued relationships with organizations who share our values, and created new partnerships with those who understand our mission.

Our amazing volunteer community has put in countless hours, advocating, educating, and sharing the amazing impact that PADS dogs make. We're incredibly proud of the over 700 passionate people who give their time to our dogs.

PADS community, thank you for everything. We hope you have a safe and happy holiday season.

We can't wait to see what 2026 brings 💪🐶

#HappyHolidays

[Several photos of PADS dogs in festive settings. PADS Drax, a black Lab, in front of a festive backdrop and looks at the camera. A group of PADS dogs in front of a festive backdrop. PADS Bubba poking her head through some wrapping paper. A young yellow Lab wearing a reindeer hat. PADS Jingle perching on a gift box. PADS Major sits in front of a twinkling background. PADS Pixie sits in a snowy scene. PADS Jingle wears a Santa hat. PADS Brandy lies in front of a Christmas tree.]

This holiday season, you can change a life for som

This holiday season, you can change a life for someone like Sarah-Kate 🐶💙

When she began losing her hearing as an adult, Sarah-Kate's world grew smaller. Feelings of shame and dependence weighed heavily. She often felt like a burden to those she loved.
�
Then PADS Hearing Dog Tahsis bounded into her life and changed everything.

PADS Tahsis is trained to alert Sarah-Kate to sounds she cannot hear. From signalling when alarms are ringing to nudging her at crosswalks, Tahsis has renewed Sarah-Kate's sense of independence.
She lives with dignity, and hope, thanks to the generosity of people like you.

Right now, people just like Sarah-Kate are waiting for the security that a PADS dog provides. Whether they’re living with a physical disability, experiencing hearing loss, or navigating the challenges of PTSD, every person on our waitlist deserves the opportunity to live with greater independence and dignity.

Make a gift today, and your donation will be matched up to $20,000, thanks to a generous matching gift from the John Hardie Mitchell Family Foundation.

You can change a life. Make a gift today through the link in our bio 🔗

#ServiceDogs

[Photo one shows Sarah-Kate sitting on a wooden deck with PADS Tahsis, a yellow Labrador wearing a blue PADS vest. Photo two shows Tahsis sitting proudly against a snowy background.]

Festivities galore at Holiday Hounds 🎅 Last weeke

Festivities galore at Holiday Hounds 🎅

Last weekend, we had the opportunity to partner with @youthlinkyyc for Holiday Hounds. It was a day of festive fun, with special appearances from Santa, the Grinch, and a whole troop of PADS dogs!

Thank you to everyone who came out to the event, and to Youthlink for your support of our life-changing dogs 💙

#HolidayHounds #YYC

[Photo one shows two PADS Labradors sitting beside Santa. Photo two shows PADS Melon, a black Lab, sitting with a group of children. Photo three shows the mayor of Calgary getting his photo taken with Santa and two PADS Labs. Photo four shows Constable Lang and PADS Melon in front of a YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre display.]

Canoe believe how fast the PADS George’s Paddling

Canoe believe how fast the PADS George’s Paddling Places litter have grown up? This morning, these oar-some pups donned their yellow vest and started their puppy-raising journeys! 🛶

PADS Seymour is heading to the Okanagan with his raiser, while his siblings Chester, Chilko, Nellie, and Nolan are being raised in the Lower Mainland.

Thank you to our friend George for naming and supporting these life-changing voyagers 💛

#PADSPuppies

[Five photos, each of a lab puppy in a yellow PADS vest, with their name written in white text on a blue background in the lower left corner.]

What’s better than ocean air, sandy paws, and a li

What’s better than ocean air, sandy paws, and a life-changing partnership? For Team Blair, nothing beats it.

PADS Blair has been a dream come true for her client, Janis. “My life began again the moment Blair arrived home,” she says. Blair the "butterscotch life saver" is helping to open her world back up, after feeling isolated living with PTSD.

“I finally feel a sense of hope,” says Janis. Read the whole story through the link in our bio 🔗

#ServiceDog

[Team Blair pose together for a selfie while on a stony beach.]

Ever wondered what it's like to go out in public w

Ever wondered what it's like to go out in public with a service dog?

Team Latte are experts, having navigated the world together for six years! Today they're sharing some tips for businesses (and the public) on how to better accommodate service dog teams.

Got questions? Ask them in the comments!

#Accessibility #ServiceDog

[Nathan, a young man in a power wheelchair talks to the camera. His service dog, PADS Latte, lies on the floor beside him. Latte wears a blue PADS vest. In the background of the video is a banner that says 'Rolling with Nathan']

We're hiring! PADS is currently seeking an enthusi

We're hiring! PADS is currently seeking an enthusiastic Puppy Program Trainer to join our team based in Calgary. If you're a dedicated individual with a commitment to canine welfare, good people skills, and a passion for helping others, this role is for you.

Visit the link in our bio for more details.

#BeYouWithUs #DogTrainer

[A close up of a young yellow Lab being held in someone's arms]

Remember our recent singleton pup, Ponsu? He's bee

Remember our recent singleton pup, Ponsu? He's been joined by two friends in the whelping box, Justice and Noble!

So why the new additions? Singleton puppies can miss out on important socialization and learning opportunities when they don't have littermates. They can also over-eat and under-exercise. Luckily, the Values and Virtues litter arrived just days after Ponsu. Moving Justice and Noble from a large litter ensures that all puppies are able to develop appropriately with their (and mum's!) wellbeing front of mind.

Mum Birdie is over the moon with her new additions, and has taken them wonderfully under her wing.

#PADSPuppies

[Image 1 shows PADS Birdie, a black Lab, lying in the whelping box with her three newborn puppies. Ponsu is black while Justice and Noble are yellow. Images 2 and 3 show close ups of the three puppies.]

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