Since 2016, PawPADs has consulted with several international organizations and presented on the topic of strategies for launching international service dog initiatives.

In various parts of the world, individuals with disabilities often face a lack of recognition as contributing members of society, while dogs are not universally acknowledged as sentient beings capable of becoming invaluable partners and helpers.

PawPADs recognizes the opportunity to spearhead a transformative shift in this perspective through advocacy, consultation, education, and the training/placement of assistance dogs.

In conjunction with 2016 National Assistance Dog Month, PawPADs’ Founder and Executive Director, Linda Ball, and service dog, Tory, visited Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia at the invitation of the U.S. Embassy. They took part in a speaking tour on how assistance dogs can help people with disabilities. While there they met with the Mongolian government, international NGOs, disability related groups, schools, universities and the general public, as well as spending some time with the only animal rescue organization in Ulaanbaatar “Lucky Paws.”

With the support of IIP’s Target of Opportunity Speaker program, PawPADs and the US Embassy Mongolia conducted the first-ever service dog speaker program in Mongolia. It was a heartwarming success!