Volunteering at Power Paws
We welcome new volunteers to help us raise canines for those whose lives are enhanced by a comprehensively trained Assistance Dog. Volunteers play a vital role in helping us accomplish our mission!
Power Paws urgently needs Puppy Raisers and Puppy Sitters (see detailed Volunteer Descriptions below). Applicants must be at least 25 years old, have a valid identification. vehicle registration, and valid Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card.
Financial Responsibility:
Power Paws covers all expenses to care and foster each puppy through training. We provide all puppy supplies including leash, collar, toys, kennel, food, and veterinary care for the puppy during their stay in your home.
Power Paws staff reserves the right to select each volunteer at its discretion following the evaluation of a completed Volunteer Application, Personal Interview, Home Inspection, Orientation, and Dog Handling Classes. Power Paws provides all dog food, veterinary care, and training equipment. General inquiries
Complete the Volunteer Interest Form and send it to volunteers@azpowerpaws.org or call 480.307.8057 if you have any questions.
Power Paws Training Facility inside Ability 360 Center is located at 5025 East Washington, Suite 204.
• General Information Inquiry
• Puppy Raiser Volunteer Description
• Puppy Sitter Volunteer Description
Puppy Raisers provide a safe, loving home for our puppies-in-training. Every puppy-in-training needs a home where they can receive care and attention while learning proper manners and basic obedience skills. Puppy Raising is a 12-to-16-month commitment and plays a vital role in our mission to place service dogs with people who need them.
Please Note: You must be at least 25 years of age to become a Puppy Raiser.
Puppy Raiser Volunteer Description
The Volunteer Puppy Raiser makes a significant, long-term commitment of 12-to-16 months by providing a safe, loving home for a puppy-in-training. Volunteer Puppy Raisers offer care, attention, and training reinforcement while the puppy learns proper manners, basic obedience and advanced service dog tasks.
Volunteer Puppy Raisers agree to do the following:
• Provide a safe environment for a very young puppy until they reach 18-to-24 months old, and are nearing the end of training and placement with a client
• Care for the dog in your home, at work, in the community and when traveling
• Partner with one or more Power Paws Volunteer Puppy Sitters to care for the dog when you are temporarily unavailable
• Drop the puppy off at Power Paws twice a week for scheduled training
• Along with the puppy, attend classes and training outings facilitated by Power Paws
• Work with Power Paws trainers to monitor and report on progress, and comply with recommendations for the puppy’s health and success
• Feed the puppy only the diet specified by Power Paws
• Take the puppy to veterinary appointments
• Provide the puppy with play and age-appropriate socialization
• Follow required safety measures while transporting the dog in your car
• Keep the puppy on leash at all times unless in a secured area
• Supervise the puppy at all times when not in a crate
• Return the puppy to Power Paws upon request
Puppy Sitter Volunteer Description
The Volunteer Puppy Sitter makes a short-term, episodic commitment from a few days to a few months to house and care for a puppy in training while the Volunteer Puppy Raiser is temporarily unavailable. All volunteers begin as Puppy Sitters to learn and demonstrate the skills necessary to become a Puppy Raiser, if desired. Volunteers who prefer not to commit months or years to the program are assigned to the Puppy Sitter role as your regular volunteer service.
Volunteer Puppy Sitters agree to do the following:
• Provide a safe environment for a puppy as young as 4 months up to 24 months old
• Attend basic training classes to qualify for Puppy Sitting assignments
• You and the puppy may be required to attend additional facilitated Power Paws training classes and outings
• Respond to requests for Puppy Sitting assignments, partnering with one or more Power Paws Volunteer Puppy Raisers to care for their dog when they are temporarily unavailable
• Arrange pick up and drop off with the Puppy Raiser or Power Paws, and care for the dog in your home during the Puppy Sitting assignment dates
• Continue the puppy’s regular daily routine of care, feeding, elimination, training, exercise, socialization, play and rest consistent with that provided by their Puppy Raiser.
• Follow required safety measures while transporting the dog in your car
• Keep the puppy on leash at all times unless in a secured area
• Supervise the puppy at all times when not in a crate
• Return the puppy to Power Paws Assistance Dogs upon request
Time Commitment:
Puppy Raising is a 12-to-16-month commitment, 365/24/7. {As a Puppy Raiser, you will be responsible for caring for the dog in your home and during work. Power Paws will work with the Puppy Raiser to match a Sitter for the pup-in-training when traveling. Traveling with the Power Paws puppy is permitted with advance notification to Power Paws Training and Volunteer staff.
Training:
Puppy Raisers and the puppy will be required to attend Power Paws facilitated training classes.
Frequently asked questions about volunteering at Power Paws:
Would volunteering at Power Paws accommodate my needs? I need/want to perform something specific. Volunteer opportunities are mission driven and related to training service dogs for disabled children or adults. Outreach programs include socializing pups-in-training using Animal Assisted Intervention to engage at-risk, children and adults through academic or skill building activities.
I want to give back to the community. What kind of volunteer opportunities does Power Paws offer? General inquiries are agency/mission driven.
How do I become a Power Paws Volunteer? Our process is specific and sequential, with each step dependent upon completion of preceding steps. Prospects are advised it will take as long as needed to complete each requirement. Steps include:
- Prospective Volunteer submits interest inquiry or email through website or calls for information about volunteer opportunities.
- Volunteer Coordinator emails/phones prospect for phone interview to gather more information; evaluates prospect fit for volunteer program and role preferences.
- Volunteer Coordinator emails Service Descriptions, Volunteer Application form and instructions. Requirements depend on the volunteer service description.
- Upon receipt and review of completed Volunteer Application and requirements, emails Onboarding Documents including Volunteer Policy and Rules, Media Release, and Indemnity Waiver.
- Upon receipt and review of all documentation for Raisers/Sitters:
- Schedule the Home Inspection and Evaluation.
- Schedule Canine Evaluation for household pets and their owners.
- Upon completion of evaluations for Sitter Raiser and documentation for all other prospective roles, schedule New Volunteer Orientation and Service Dog Demo/Handling.
- Training/Volunteer Program staff jointly evaluate volunteer’s suitability and schedules appropriate training per volunteer role(s).
- Training/Volunteer Program staff jointly evaluate volunteer’s competency for volunteer role:
- Puppy Sitters are assigned to short duration sitting; evaluated/recommended for more assignments.
- Puppy Raisers complete three successful sitting assignments; evaluated/recommended to receive a puppy. While waiting for a dog, offered more Sitter assignments and additional training as needed.
Why do I need CPR (or other requirements)? Canine CPR will help address puppy emergency, choking, swallowing a foreign item, etc., just like in humans. CPR could be done before taking puppy to vet it needed.
Why do I need to be 25 to volunteer? This question is frequently asked by prospects in their early 20s and responsibly living as adults. Since 2018, Power Paws moved the age requirement for volunteers because we want adult volunteers that have a schedule that would avail them to the commitment of a volunteer (classes, outing etc.). Volunteer commitments are made with adult members of the family. While we encourage all family member to help during the process, adult volunteers will be the designated volunteer for training, classes, and outing.
Puppy Profiles
