Pawsitivity Service Dogs for Veterans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in St. Paul, Minnesota, EIN 47-1446634. Founded in 2012, we train service dogs for U.S. military veterans and first responders with PTSD and other disabilities.
Check out our annual report and financials.
“As you will see, the impact was substantial and often life-changing.”
|
What are the unique strengths of Pawsitivity?
- We know every single veteran personally and work with them personally.
- We serve veterans as their whole selves, based on their own priorities and needs.
- We train service dogs to do what the veteran wants, regardless of what we think they should want.
- We choose veterans based on their level of motivation to achieve three types of goals: social, emotional, and physical goals (not just focusing on one type of goal).
How do donors know that their donations are being spent wisely?
-
Proven. Pawsitivity is one of the few nonprofits in the United States that has had its outcomes assessed by an independent third-party Impact Evaluation. This means that Pawsitivity's work has been rigorously evaluated and found to be effective.
The Impact Evaluation found that Pawsitivity's service dogs have a life-changing impact on the lives of their handlers. Handlers reported improvements in their physical health, emotional well-being, social interactions, and overall quality of life. They also reported feeling more independent and confident since receiving their service dog.
The Impact Evaluation also found that Pawsitivity is a well-run organization that is committed to providing quality service to its clients. Pawsitivity has a strong track record of success, and it is dedicated to providing its clients with the resources and support they need to live full and independent lives.
-
Effective. Pawsitivity exceeds the Charities Review Council’s top rating standard by spending an outstanding 83.67% of gifts on programs. That means that 84 out of every 100 dollars you donate goes directly to helping veterans with disabilities get the service dogs they need to live independent lives.
-
Transparent. Pawsitivity provides service dogs to veterans at no cost to the veteran, but it takes $25,000 (in 2020 dollars) to train a service dog, and Pawsitivity tracks every penny spent. (Note that there are many other funding needs and levels, such as $50,000 to start a pilot program to help veterans train their own service dogs, $10,000 to help fund public education programs, or $1,000 to fully equip a service dog). Pawsitivity is completely transparent about its finances and its IRS 990s, CPA reviews, and annual reports publicly available. All financials are in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). We have earned Charity Review Council's highest rating (Meets Standards) and achieved Guidestar's Platinum Status.
Pawsitivity is committed to being open and honest about how they use your donations. We believe that donors have a right to know how their money is being spent, and we are proud to share their financial information with the public.
Our training style for both dogs and families is very personalized. Pawsitivity's goal is to find the best solution for each particular dog/handler partnership, so we only work one-on-one with clients, rather than teaching classrooms full of people and dogs. We find that this warm, friendly, personalized style is the most effective way to find successful solutions for the complicated lives of veterans with disabilities. Pawsitivity is a full member of Animal Assisted Intervention International (AAII) and is committed to positive reinforcement training methods (the same methods the U.S. Army uses).
In addition to our mission of training service dogs to empower veterans, we is committed to supporting veterans and underserved communities in their policies and as part of everything we do. Pawsitivity assets are invested in Vanguard’s FTSE Social Index Admiral Fund, which is composed of companies that meet environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria. This means that Pawsitivity is investing in companies that are making a positive impact on the world. Our service dogs are trained with all-natural freeze-dried treats from Rustic Acres. These decisions show that Pawsitivity is committed to supporting small businesses and giving back to the communities we serve.
Besides training service dogs for veterans, what other kinds of programs does Pawsitivity run?
Pawsitivity is a valuable resource for veterans with disabilities, service dog providers, and educators. We are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of veterans with disabilities and their families.
In addition to training service dogs, Pawsitivity offers a variety of other programs, including:
- Training other service dog providers: Pawsitivity offers training programs for other service dog providers. These programs teach providers how to train service dogs and how to work with people with disabilities. Pawsitivity's training program is so good, that our textbook, Service Dogs: The Rescue and Training of Heroes, won the Midwest Book Award in 2016!
- Helping rescues: Pawsitivity helps rescues by providing them with resources and support. They also help rescues find homes for dogs that are most appropriate for service dog training. Pawsitivity has created a mobile phone app to help shelter workers discover rescue dogs that are most appropriate for training. This app is called Good Dog!, and it's a game-changer for shelters and rescues.
- Sharing with educators: Pawsitivity shares its knowledge and expertise with educators. They offer workshops and training programs for educators who want to learn more about service dogs. Pawsitivity’s Theory of Change and Logic Model are published on ResearchGate, which is available to all academics and nonprofits. This means that Pawsitivity is always looking for ways to improve their programs and make a bigger impact on the world.
Who is Pawsitivity Service Dogs for Veterans?
The staff:
Pawsitivity is now a national leader in service dog training. We are passionate about our work, and with your help, we are making a real difference in the lives of veterans with disabilities.
Tom and Julie Coleman were a happily married couple with satisfying careers. But they felt like something was missing in their lives. They wanted to do something to help make the world a better place.
One day, Tom and Julie’s best friend shared a story about her child with autism. While the family’s pet dog had been a huge help, the mother wanted a service dog to support her child even more. Unfortunately, no local nonprofit specialized in service dogs for autism spectrum disorder. Determined to meet this need, Tom and Julie took the necessary training and founded Pawsitivity in 2012. Their original mission was to empower families of children with autism by providing them with life-changing service dogs.
Over time, they noticed a growing need among veteran families, so they gradually shifted their focus to "empowering veterans and their families."
Tom and Julie have developed expertise in dog obedience and behavior. Tom is an American Kennel Club-approved Canine Good Citizen evaluator, and Julie is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). Both are well-versed in positive-reinforcement, force-free training techniques.
In their roles, Tom serves as the Executive Director of Pawsitivity Service Dogs, while Julie leads as the Head Trainer and Managing Director. Julie is also a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.
Julie holds a BA in Psychology from Carleton College, as well as certifications in First Aid and CPR for dogs, and Understanding Autism from the University of Kent. She’s attended in-person seminars with top dog trainers like Dr. Ian Dunbar, Sue Sternberg, and Connie Cleveland, and attended sessions at ClickerExpo.
Both Tom and Julie trained at the CATCH Dog Training Academy at the Saint Hubert Animal Welfare Center in Madison, NJ. They've also studied at the Ranch (Karen Pryor National Training Center) under Ken Ramirez and have explored the Volhardt Four-Drive dog assessment theory at Mahogany Ridge in Culpeper, VA.
Tom is the outgoing one, handling fundraising, while Julie, the quiet one, focuses on training the puppies. Together with Peter Bannon, they train service dogs. Tom holds a Master’s in Theatre Directing from Northern Illinois University, and Julie has a Master’s in Art History from the Chicago Institute of Art. Their personalities reflect their strengths—Julie, organized and precise like a Border Collie, and Tom, warm and positive like a Golden Retriever. Julie works on overcoming her shyness, while Tom constantly tries to rein in his enthusiasm.
Peter Bannon is a combat veteran who served Iraq (OIF I) and Afghanistan (EOF VII), working in both the Infantry and Military Police. Award include (among others): Combat Infantry Badge, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, ARCOM (x2) AAM (x2), and Good Conduct Medal.
Peter trained at the CATCH Dog Training Academy, located at the Saint Hubert Animal Welfare Center in Madison, NJ. This is the same place where both Tom and Julie received their training. There, Peter gained expertise not just in dog obedience but also in dog behavior and addressing problem behaviors. He is now certified by Pawsitivity as a full-time service dog trainer.
What makes Peter's journey special is that he was the first veteran to train with Pawsitivity and partner with a Pawsitivity service dog.
Peter now works closely with Pawsitivity veterans, focusing on home visits where he helps train their own dogs. He's also developing a new pilot program for Emotional Support Dogs for Veterans, expanding our ability to support even more veterans.
In addition to his work with Pawsitivity, Peter founded a private dog training and behavior business called Paws and Effect Training Academy. We highly recommend his services for anyone seeking professional dog training.
Tom, Julie, and Peter are supported by other part-timer, Frannie Kass, who also is a former Pawsitivity client.
Frannie is our media liaison and she has trained extensively with both dogs and horses. She also runs the Instagram account, "Respect the Lex." "Respect the Lex."
The board:
Dr. Kris Butler, President; Dr. Michelle Parkinson, Vice President; Dave Mackmiller, Treasurer; Julie Coleman, Sergio Valverde.
The professional volunteers:
Dr. Jen Seidl DVM, from the Grand Avenue Veterinary Center, volunteers her medical services. Dr. Kim Halvorson, a Professor of Psychology at Metropolitan State University, donates her professional expertise and guidance. Dr. Beth Rausch, DVM, from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, is a medical advisor for Pawsitivity and has partnered with them for a research study.
We hope you enjoyed learning about our organization. Now, it's time to take the next step: donate to help us continue this important mission. Your donation will help us train more service dogs, which will in turn help more veterans live better lives.
Every dollar counts. Even a small donation can make a big difference. So please, donate today and help us save the lives of America's heroes, who have given so much for our country.
Thank you for your support!