Assistance Dog Services

Power Paws is dedicated to empowering adults and children with disabilities for greater independence. Our main focus is on mobility disabilities. We are able to do this through specialized programs. We do not train Seizure Alert Dogs or place dogs to people with severe Autism (case by case basis). We also do not cross-train our dogs for people who have multiple disabilities.

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Assistance Dogs
	These dogs are skilled to do many tasks which include: Turning light switches on and off Opening and closing doors Retrieving items that have been dropped And above all, providing love and companionship

Hearing Dogs
Our hearing dogs serve as the ears for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These dogs alert their person to sounds such as phones ringing, knocks at doors, timers, and fire alarms.

Psych/Social Dogs
These dogs help people with psychological disabilities, such as fears, anxiety and PTSD. Many people are able to lead more normal lives with the assistance these emotional support dogs give.

For any Veteran currently using a service dog or interested in obtaining a service dog, we encourage you to enroll in your local VA Medical Center and be reviewed by a clinician (Physiatrist, Spinal Cord Injury, Audiology, etc.) for the suitability of your current or proposed dog. If you qualify for a service dog per VA criteria, that clinician will work with the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service to have your dog approved and entered into your record. Once on your record, the VA will pay for veterinary costs and hardware such as harnesses or backpacks. Veterinary costs cover prescribed medications (but not over-the-counter medication), sedated dental cleanings, annual check ups, vaccinations, and more. VA will not cover things such as grooming, boarding, or non prescription food.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

http://www.prosthetics.va.gov

http://www1.va.gov/health/ServiceandGuideDogs.asp

Home Helpmates
Skilled dogs that provide the same assistance as Service Dogs, but are used mainly for people who have in home attendant care. These dogs do not have public access rights due to some trait that does not meet our high standards of qualification of a Service Dog.

Therapy Dogs
Dogs that have the temperament to handle the hospital atmosphere for patient rehabilitation purposes. They have been prescribed by the doctor as part of occupational or physical therapy.

AAT Dogs

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a goal-directed intervention in which an animal meeting specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process. AAT is delivered and/or directed by a health/human service provider working within the scope of his or her profession. AAT is designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning. AAT is provided in a variety of settings and may be group or individual in nature. This process is documented and evaluated. (Definition from Delta Society)