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.


Unlike other organizations, we prove our impact.

As you will see, the impact was substantial and often life-changing.”

- Quote from our independent, third-party Impact Evaluation.


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?

  1. 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 clients with the resources and support they need to live full and independent lives.

  2. 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.

  3. 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 we track 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). We are completely transparent about our finances and our IRS 990s, CPA reviews, and annual reports publicly available. All our 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.

    We are committed to being open and honest about how we use your donations. We believe that donors have a right to know how their money is being spent, and we are proud to share our 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 are 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. 

Who is Pawsitivity Service Dogs for Veterans?

Who we are at Pawsitivity Service Dogs

The staff: 

Pawsitivity is 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 are a happily married couple, and in the past, they have had 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, their 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, they took the necessary training and founded Pawsitivity in 2012. The 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 we gradually shifted their focus to "empowering veterans and their families."

They 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 service 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.

We are supported by 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."

The board:

Dr. Kris Butler, President; Dr. Michelle Parkinson, Vice President; Dave Mackmiller, Treasurer; Julie Coleman, Sergio Valverde.

Local partners:

Local partnerships include the Veterans Administration Medical Center Minneapolis, the Epilepsy Foundation Minnesota, the Minneapolis Foundation, and the University of Wisconsin River Falls.

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 us for a research study.

Real Stories of Impact

“He saved my life. He's my guardian angel." – Pawsitivity Testimonial


  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.

Proven. Effective. Our dogs save lives.

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