We are nonprofit in St. Paul, MN, dedicated to training service dogs to empower America’s heroes.
Your gift saves lives--and we prove it.
Read our independent third-party impact evaluation
Your donation brings independence to:
Combat veterans
“I trained with Pawsitivity Service Dogs in 2019 and received the trained service dog, Daniel, an adult black Labrador Retriever, to partner with in support of my PTSD received during combat in my service with the U.S. Army during OIF I and OEF VII.
Pawsitivity not only trained Daniel to meet my needs but trained me as well to work with Daniel, communicate with him, understand my rights and be a responsible and proactive service animal owner. Pawsitivity embodies all of the seven Army core values; especially honor, integrity and selfless service. They are some of the kindest, hardworking and generous folks I have ever had the pleasure of spending time with.
I enthusiastically recommend the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Pawsitivity Service Dogs to veterans who need a service dog.”
Note: Peter, a combat veteran and former police officer, understands the challenges these roles can bring. After experiencing the life-changing impact of his Pawsitivity service dog, he decided to give back. Thanks to a grant from the Wedum Foundation, Peter completed several intensive training programs and is now a service dog trainer with Pawsitivity!
First responders
“We are incredibly grateful to Pawsitivity for providing us with Toby, our exceptional therapy dog. Toby has had a profound impact on our police department, offering comfort and emotional support during challenging times. His presence has been invaluable in providing relief to both victims and officers during emergencies, helping to strengthen our community. Toby's gentle and playful demeanor brings joy to everyone he meets. We cannot thank Pawsitivity enough for this wonderful addition to our team and most importantly to our family. Thank you!”
LEARN MORE ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you rescue dogs?
Yes!
We work with dogs from rescues from all over the country, accept donated puppies, and we work with shelter dogs, too.
When did you start Pawsitivity? What disabilities do you train for?
Pawsitivity was founded in 2012, achieved 501(c)(3) status in 2014, and our EIN is 47-144663. We train service dogs for U.S. military veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), missing limbs, no or low vision, deafness, seizures, and more.
How much does it cost to raise and train a service dog?
While we provide service dogs at no cost, it takes $25,000 to raise and train a PTSD service dog for a veteran. This cost was determined by Congress in a 3-year study which proved that PTSD service dogs transform lives and reduce suicide ideation.
How long is the process?
Two years.
Pawsitivity trains service dogs for veterans and first responders with PTSD and other disabilities for up to two years. Six months of the service dog training process is spent directly with the veteran, which is crucial as it allows the handler to learn how to keep up the training of their service dog (although we also provide lifelong support). Working with the veteran and dog together can be a life-changing experience for both of them because they become a team that can rely on each other for support.
The training process is rigorous, but it is worth it for the life-changing benefits that it provides to both the veteran and the service dog.
What does the service dog do?
The service dog may be trained for several disabilities, but whether a veteran has a missing limb, hearing loss, or some other disability, they almost always also have PTSD. So PTSD is usually our main focus, and then we have the service dog help with the other disabilities, too, if necessary. For PTSD, the main task is “alert”—if you imagine that a range of emotions is on a scale of 1 to 10, then at a 9 or 10, it can be quite difficult to manage emotions (it’s just so overwhelming at that point). But when the veteran can be alerted by their service dog when the emotions has just reached a level 2 or 3, then the veteran can do their breathing exercises, or remove themselves from the situation, or do whatever it takes to being their level of emotions down. (For more details, see our pages on PTSD and complications). Now the veteran is empowered, and can go out into the community, confident that they will be able to handle situations. That empowerment has an amazing effect. The lives of the veterans improve, and the effects then ripples out to their families, and then their neighborhoods, and then their communities. Veterans just want to be of service, and with this empowerment, they achieve the independence to do just that.
Your donation changes the lives of veterans and first responders.
If the dog has to be returned for some reason, will you take the dog back?
Yes.
If the dog can’t be cared for, for any reason, we will receive the dog back and find it a loving home. We will not leave a loyal companion behind.
What do you do if the dog fails out?
Career change!
Not every dog is cut out to be a service dog. But that doesn't mean they don't have a purpose. For those dogs who don't make the cut, we offer a second chance at a career as a therapy dog, facility dog, or a loving family pet. We call these dogs “Career Change Dogs”, and they are just as important as the dogs who go on to become service dogs. They provide comfort and companionship to those in need, and they deserve a second chance at happiness.
Give with confidence.
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Together, we can empower our nation's warriors.
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