Independent evaluation findings show that Pawsitivity service dogs significantly improve daily functioning and quality of life for clients.
Your donation supports a program whose outcomes have been independently assessed and used to guide how we serve U.S. military veterans today.
“The impact was substantial and often life-changing.”Source: Independent, third-party Impact Evaluation (Dec 2019) |
The highlights below continue to inform our program design and service delivery as we serve veterans today.
A third-party evaluator assessed Pawsitivity’s service dog program by reviewing our work, including inputs, outputs, activities, outcomes, and overall impact. After receiving a Pawsitivity service dog, participants reported:
- Improvements in physical health
- Improvements in emotional well-being
- Improvements in social interactions
- Improvements in overall quality of life
- Increased independence and confidence in daily life
On this page, you’ll find key highlights from the evaluation, plus real-world examples of what those outcomes look like for the people we serve.
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Did you know?
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December 2019
The author of this report. Al Onkka is a principal consultant at Aurora Consulting, a Minnesota-based firm serving nonprofits. He works at the leadership level to help nonprofits plan for the future and evaluate their impact. Al has worked in the field of evaluation, promoting data-based decision-making and organizational learning, since 2009.
Aurora Consulting. 1229 Tyler St. NE, Suite 285, Minneapolis, MN 55413. www.auroraconsult.com
INTRODUCTION
Pawsitivity Service Dogs is a small Minnesota-based non-profit with a big impact on the people it serves. Pawsitivity has a highly individualized approach that matches unique animals with unique people to build a powerful partnership.
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This evaluation examines the impact that Pawsitivity service dogs have on the people they serve. As you will see, the impact was substantial and often life-changing. People with disabilities made important progress with the help of their service dog. - People were supported and motivated by the caring companionship of their service dog. - People improved their emotional regulation in the moment and over time. - People gained the confidence, independence, and self-esteem to live how they wished. Caregivers and families experienced ripple effects from having the service dog. - Caregivers gained independence. - Families’ dynamics improved. |
Aurora Consulting is a full-service evaluation firm. Our role as independent evaluator is to accurately portray the impact of a Pawsitivity service dog from the perspective of the individuals and families who received one. We used a rigorous qualitative evaluation method to describe the results in this report.
EVALUATION OVERVIEWTo identify the intended outcomes of a Pawsitivity service dog, Aurora interviewed staff and reviewed logic models and theories of change. We identified four areas of impact to explore:
We also examined the qualities of Pawsitivity as an organization that were helpful or challenging for the people who received service dogs. We audio-recorded and transcribed the interviews. We did a qualitative analysis of the transcriptions looking for common themes or important outliers. Throughout this report, we provide interview quotes to illustrate each theme. The quotes come from the interview recordings and have been lightly edited to improve readability. Aurora conducts confidential interviews and does not identify speakers. |
INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS
This evaluation examines the impact that Pawsitivity service dogs have on the people they serve. As you will see, the impact was substantial and often life-changing.
INDIVIDUALS DEVELOP A CARING COMPANIONSHIP
People everywhere believe that dogs have a special bond with their humans. The people who received Pawsitivity service dogs are no different. Most of the families and individuals described how their service dog made a difference in their lives by simply being there, physically and emotionally, when they needed them.
“Having a service dog’s unconditional love - a bond that never goes or redirects or gets mad at you – is huge.”
Some people interviewed for this study remarked that they sought out a service dog because they believed in the benefits of having an animal in the house but knew an untrained pet would not work. The training that Pawsitivity gives to both their service dogs and handlers prepare them to be successful companions.
“Our service dog is the best tool we’ve ever had.”
INDIVIDUALS IMPROVE EMOTIONAL REGULATION
Almost everyone reported that the service dog helped the individual manage these feelings and return more quickly to a calmer state. They reported a change both in the moment and over time. Many caregivers reported that the service dog’s response was the most effective calming tool they had.
“My service dog has helped me a lot in the middle of my panic attacks.”
Individuals were calmer overall with fewer emotional events. One family said that the presence of the service dog helped “take the nervous energy down a notch.” Others said the dog was comforting, providing stability or emotional security.
INDIVIDUALS GAIN CONFIDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE
For many, confidence came from the reassurance that with their service dog they could safely handle new or challenging situations.
“After my husband’s accident, he couldn’t even go out the front door. With the help of his service dog, he gained the confidence to be able to do some of the things that he desired to do. It was like he blossomed back to life. His whole demeanor improved. He wasn’t so scared of life itself.”
For some individuals, the service dog performed guide or support functions allowing the person to navigate safely from their home, or back to it in the case of an emergency.
“The service dog gives me an overall sense of security and independence. I am not as afraid to go into a public area where I can be vulnerable.”
For some, the responsibility of regular walks with the dog was a physical and therapeutic benefit. For others, physical activity increased because the dog gave them the security to leave the house more frequently.
FAMILY IMPACTS
The stories of the families who received Pawsitivity service dogs were inspiring. Caregivers shared the important ripple effects that the service dog had in their life and family. Caregivers worried less, gained independence, and improved family dynamics.
CAREGIVERS GAIN INDEPENDENCE
Caregivers found the service dog to be an indispensable tool. In many ways, the caregivers benefited as much from the service dog as the person receiving care. The service dog took over some of the caregiving and companionship responsibilities that the caregiver had been performing. Caregivers gained time, peace of mind, and a new sense of life balance.
Many caregivers were comforted that the service dog was always with the handler. Adults with disabilities said their family members were reassured to know that the dog would help them when they weren’t there.
Caregivers were amazed at what the service dog noticed and alerted them to. Some caregivers relied on the service dog to signal trouble or unusual activity.
Caregivers gained healthy independence from the person needing care. Being able to continue a career, go on a date, take a walk, or even just be in a different room made a big difference.
“I’ve never come across anything tougher in my life than being a full-time caregiver. My time was being consumed. I could not have kept my job without the service dog. The dog allowed me the freedom to continue with the things that were in my life before the diagnosis.”
FAMILY DYNAMICS IMPROVE
Multiple people said that the service dog was first to notice that another family member was sick or having trouble. The dog was a comfort to them.
QUALITIES OF PAWSITIVITY
Pawsitivity builds long-term relationships with its families. The people who received service dogs took as a given the high-quality training that the service dogs and their families received. They appreciated the relationship they had with Tom and Julie through initial contact, training, and beyond.
PAWSITIVITY LISTENS AND ADAPTS
People appreciated that Pawsitivity listened to and adapted to their needs. Service dogs need care and routine to maintain their training. The family life of the people who received a service dog was often complicated. Families appreciated that Pawsitivity worked with them to successfully integrate a service dog into their unique family life.
Some people noted that they came to Pawsitivity because other service dog providers did not train service dogs for their disability or situation.
“The other places I called said, we don’t train for that, or we don’t have that available. They just shut you down right away. Tom listened to my story and said we might have a fit for you. He didn’t just cut me off. He was open to maybe we could make this work. The more we talked, we realized it was very doable.”
One critical aspect of Pawsitivity’s service was the home visiting period. Most people highlighted the importance of Pawsitivity coming to their home and providing on-site training based on their daily routines. This on-site training helped integrate the service dog into the new environment and helped the family troubleshoot with a high level of support.
“Pawsitivity did a really good job of getting my service dog into what I would be doing every day. Tom took us places that would be part of my daily routine.”
PAWSITIVITY IS AVAILABLE AND SUPPORTIVE
Pawsitivity continued to support the families and individuals with service dogs beyond the initial training. Many people and families who received service dogs maintained communication with Pawsitivity after the initial training and handoff. People felt comfortable texting or calling Pawsitivity with questions and appreciated Pawsitivity’s responsiveness.
“I feel free to text Pawsitivity. I’ll text them when something is going on or if there is a problem. I texted Tom when my service dog first got sick and I kept her from working. I didn’t know if I was doing the right thing. He said, ‘You are using your judgment and that’s good.”
Some of the families and individuals who received service dogs thought that Pawsitivity went above and beyond in providing help after the initial training. Some mentioned that Pawsitivity provided additional training to help with a unique situation that popped up after the initial transition to the home. Others commented that Pawsitivity always seemed to be sending those toys and tools for their service dog.
“I was surprised at how many products they have sent me over time.”
Perhaps most importantly, most families and individuals who received service dogs felt that they had a caring friendship with Tom and Julie. Some of the people who received service dogs said that they considered Tom and Julie a part of their family.
“Tom is so caring and thoughtful. When we first met him, instantly, the whole family felt a connection. I now consider Tom and Julie good friends. They have become very special people to us.”
CONCLUSION
While planning for this evaluation, Pawsitivity wondered if their service dogs were making people’s lives easier or harder. Through the stories of the families in this report, it is clear that while at times their lives are not always easier, their lives are most certainly better.
Full impact evaluation report (PDF, 2019)
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➡️ How dogs are selected and trained for real-world work