A PawPADs Facility Dog is a fully trained, fully graduated working dog whose unique strengths make them ideally suited to support many people rather than being matched with a single partner. After more than two years of structured training, socialization, and evaluation in the PawPADs program, these dogs demonstrate that their greatest impact comes from working in educational, professional or therapeutic environments where they can engage with multiple individuals throughout the day.
A PawPADs Facility Dog is not a “career-change” or “service dog flunkie.” These dogs meet the same training standards as our traditional assistance dogs. Their placement simply reflects a different calling — one where their personalities, skills and social attunement allow them to thrive as part of a team working in schools, counseling settings, rehabilitation programs, judicial support programs, or other facility-based environments.
Just like all PawPADs graduates, Facility Dogs:
• Have gone through many hundreds of hours of training and public access, often beginning at 8-10 weeks of age.
• Pass the same public access tests as our assistance dog teams.
• Follow the same post-placement requirements, support plans, and ethical standards.
• Have continued support from PawPADs for the lifetime of the partnership.
A PawPADs Facility Dog works under the guidance of a trained handler who integrates the dog into their professional role. The dog’s work is purposeful and skill-based – far more than offering comfort or being a friendly presence. Facility Dogs perform trained tasks and interventions that support therapeutic, educational, rehabilitative, or developmental goals for the populations they serve. They are also a gentle presence on four legs that calms, teaches and connects.
PawPADs Facility Dog Placements include, but are not limited to:
• School Resource Dogs
• Survivor Support Dogs
• Senior Resource Dogs
• VA Facility Dogs
At PawPADs, Facility Dogs reflect the heart of our mission. They extend the life-changing power of the human-canine bond to many people each day, helping create moments of hope, growth, and connection — one session, one classroom, and one client at a time.
