Power Paws first location was at Apache Park in Scottsdale.
A classroom at our first location, accessibility was limited.
Over the past 25 years, Power Paws has grown from a small Scottsdale-based organization into a service dog provider located on the Ability360 campus in Phoenix. Ability360 is dedicated to serving people with disabilities, making it an ideal home for Power Paws and the clients it supports.
Early Operations in Scottsdale – 2001-2016 (Site One)
Second location, on Rose Lane in Scottsdale.
Power Paws began in the Scottsdale home of its founder, the Abels family. The organization later moved into its first commercial space: repurposed classrooms at Scottsdale’s Apache Park. The 5,000-square-foot facility included an administrative office, puppy nursery, and training room.
Even though the space supported Power Paws’ early growth, it also presented significant challenges. The facility was expensive, in poor repair, and did not provide the accessible accommodations clients needed.
Power Paws’ third location, Ability 360, is a fitting match.
InTempo Community Center Rose Lane Scottsdale – 2017(Site Two)
In February 2017, Power Paws moved from Apache Park to a newly renovated, accessible facility on Rose Lane in North Scottsdale. The shared space, occupied with two other nonprofits, reduced annual fixed operating expenses by 70.4% compared with 2016.
The Rose Lane location improved our program services, but it also created a new challenge: greater geographic isolation from many of the clients we served.
Third Time’s the Charm: Ability360 – 2023 (Site Three)
The facility has a large courtyard for training and activities.
In December 2023, Power Paws moved to Ability360, a campus designed to support people with disabilities. This move placed Power Paws in an environment closely aligned with its mission and the needs of the families it serves.
- A 15,000-square-foot resource center that houses 12 nonprofits serving children, adults, and families with disabilities.
- A 45,000-square-foot sports and fitness center equipped with specialized programs, activities, and adaptive equipment that help improve quality of life for the families Power Paws serves.
The Ability360 location offers advantages the previous facilities could not match, including direct access to public transportation and nearby freeways. These benefits have improved convenience for clients, staff, volunteers, and partner organizations.
Along with a business center, there is also a 45,000-square-foot athletic facility.
Lessons Learned from Each Move
Each move helped Power Paws better understand what it needed from a facility. Decisions were guided by operational needs, client accessibility, and financial sustainability. Just as important, each location was evaluated for how well it supported Power Paws’ mission and the people it serves. With its move to Ability360, Power Paws has found a home that brings those priorities together.