Paws & Effect's "Allied Litter" send off celebration.

The Allied Litter's eighteen month deployment and training are complete. Today they, the service dogs and their handlers, gathered for a send off celebration.

These service dogs are turning about face and are now moving from basic training into active duty. 

Our hearts go out to the puppy raisers as they will now prepare their companions over the next week to be transferred to their new handler.  

Each of the handlers made an equal commitment of sacrifice without hesitation to provide the dogs with exposure to an energetic world. 

We thank you and wish the dogs all the best.

Military Dogs for Veterans

Working Dogs blog posted a short Q&A with the Executive Director of Paws & Effect.

Check it out here.

Presidents Day Interview with Mollie Cooney

KCCI's Mollie Cooney featured our Presidential litter of puppies in an interview on Presidents Day. 

A special thanks goes to Iowa Select for supporting this litter who will eventually give freedom back to our Veterans who served our country.

Click here to watch the complete interview.

Celebrity Sighting - Baconfest

A super special celebrity sighting at this years Bacon Festival in Des Moines.

Service dog Lincoln got a little bacon love and a photo op with the 2013 Bacon Queen, Kim Pfennebecker.

A finishing trip to the Big Apple

Service dogs Traverse, Bearing, and Ridge Line all made the journey to New York City this past weekend in the final step in their long process to become a service dog. They all hopped a cab, rode the subway, loaded a bus and made their way to Times Square. Enough sights, sounds and distractions to sway even the best show dogs from general obedience but that wasn't to be the case for these stoic guys.

We welcome them back and wish them well during the placement in March.

Carnival of the Animals

Paws & Effect volunteer, Michelle, and her therapy dog Lizzie spent time with the kids at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines family series event - "Carnival of the Animals".

The kids got to listen to the stories while enjoying the presence of the therapy dogs. As you can see in the images, everyone enjoyed the interactions.

Look who's ready to trial.

My goodness, he's cute. Service dog Schuyler (pronounced Sky-Ler) is ready for Paws & Effect's 2013 Winter Classic NADAC dog agility trial.

He, Schuylur, had a couple "first" experiences. One with the barn cat and the other with the horses. Both experiences went as well.

We look forward to a great trial.

See you there.

Magic at St Luke's - Cedar Rapids

We really never thought we'd ever fill our Pet Partner workshop which we set a general limit of 20 participants.

Well, we just taught a class of 28 individuals who are passionate about Animal Assisted Therapy.

Thanks to St. Luke's Hospital and Chris Montross for fostering and promoting such a positive relationship with the community.

This is a top-notch program and we are looking forward to teaching our next workshop.

Here to serve.

A man and his orders, a dog and his. Roo, a Paws & Effect facility dog is on orders to make smiles happen.

Sure looks like he's doing his job.

Get Comfortable Cadence.

Cadence is one of the nicest Pet Partner's to read with the kids at Catterell Elementary School in Des Moines.

She sure knows how to make reading comfortable for everyone.