Four-legged superheroes

Dear editor: Have you seen four-legged superheroes in yellow capes around town? Have you ever wondered what they’re doing or how you can help?

Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS) is a more than 90 per cent volunteer-run organization that breeds, raises and trains certified assistance dogs who go on to work with people with physical disabilities as well as community facility programs where they work with teachers, psychologists and even the RCMP.

PADS puppies start their training as young as eight-weeks old and work with a volunteer trainer until they head to “university” at around the age of one to twoyears-old. While they are with their volunteer “puppy raiser”, they go everywhere together — shopping, movies, restaurants and even on buses, trains and airplanes.

Right now, PADS Okanagan is looking for wonderful people to join us as volunteers. For some people, working with a superhero-in-training for up to 18 months is a perfect fit.

If that’s not quite right for you, our superheroes sometimes need “sitters” to take care of them for short- term stays.

If you’d like more information about becoming a full-time puppyraiser or a short-term puppy-sitter (or just want to learn more about the program), please check it out at www.pads.ca, on Facebook at: PADS Okanagan, or send an email to: brian@pads.ca

Brian Smith Okanagan Development

Coordinator Pacific Assistance Dogs

Society (PADS)