The Heart of Power Paws: Dedicated Volunteers
The volunteers at Power Paws play an essential role in every aspect of our programming. From puppy sitting and training to bringing dogs on visits and supporting community events. Volunteers are present at every stage to ensure our service dogs are fully prepared to assist those in need. Some volunteers have devoted more than a decade to Power Paws, motivated by a variety of reasons yet united by their commitment to our mission.
Don has worked at Ability 360 for 22 years
Meet Don & Camille Price
Among these dedicated individuals are Don Price and his wife, Camille. Don is deeply familiar with Power Paws’ current home, Ability 360, where he has worked for 22 years. Living with quadriplegia, Don uses a motorized wheelchair to navigate his daily life and has benefited from Ability 360’s services throughout his employment.
Don understands that service dogs not only promote independence, but well-being
The Value of Service Animals
Through his personal and professional experiences serving the disabled community, Don understands firsthand the impact a service animal can make. He notes that service dogs not only promote independence but also enhance emotional well-being and self-confidence. “Power Paws service dogs are a great conversation starter while out in public,” Don says, explaining that they help break down social barriers.
Having both grown up with pets, fostering seemed like a safe option before adopting
Choosing to Foster
When Don discovered that Power Paws had relocated to the Ability 360 building, he eagerly seized the opportunity to foster a service animal. “My wife and I have both grown up with pets,” he shares. After getting married a year ago, they discussed adopting a pet but decided that fostering would be the best option for them.
Unsure how a dog would fit into their lifestyle, Don and Camille saw fostering as a safe way to experience pet ownership. As fosters, they appreciated the chance to help socialize and train a service dog who could go on to assist someone else with a disability.
Anyone reading this knows how special the bond is between a dog and its family.
The Foster Experience
“Anyone reading this knows how special the bond is between a dog and its family,” Don reflects on their time as fosters. Although it took some time before they received their first foster dog, Willow, Don and Camille valued the experience of caring for her while she trained and interacted with the public.
I can’t imagine our family without our Willow.
Welcoming Willow
While Willow ultimately had to leave the program due to her shyness, Don and Camille’s bond with her was so strong that they chose to adopt her as a companion animal. “I can’t imagine our family without our Willow, and to me, that is a huge success,” Don says.
As a member of the family, Willow gets to go on all kinds of adventures.
Encouraging Others to Get Involved
Don encourages anyone interested in raising a dog—especially those unsure about adopting—to consider fostering a Power Paws dog. The Volunteer Program at Power Paws offers the opportunity to learn the basics of service dog socialization and training. The volunteer experience has proven to be life-changing, not only for the recipient but also for the volunteers themselves. Don urges, “If you’re interested, please reach out to Power Paws (volunteers@azpowerpaws.org) for details regarding fostering one of their amazing dogs. I promise you won’t regret it!”