West Michigan families and their four-legged best friends are invited to attend Paws With A Cause’s fourth annual Retriever Fever! This free, dog-friendly gathering will take place on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Riverside Park located at 2001 Monroe Ave NE in Grand Rapids.
What to expect
This event is centered around a friendly competition between Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever fans with retriever races, raffles, and merchandise sales contributing to deciding which dog breed is named “Top Dog” and raises the most money for PAWS.
Retriever Fever will also include food trucks, games and activities, local community vendors, Dog CPR/First Aid Demonstrations by Blue Pearl Pet Hospital, Pet Headshots by Tailwagger Dog Photography, and the opportunity to get your dog’s nails trimmed. Attendees will also be able to hear about the life-changing impact of a PAWS Assistance Dog from a Client Speaker and see PAWS Assistance Dogs in action through demonstrations.
Dogs enjoy the Retriever Fever Race on the day of the event (Courtesy, PAWS)
“We’re so excited to be hosting this event back to our community for a fourth year in a row,” said Kristy Blackmore, Special Events Manager at PAWS. “There are new additions this year including dog nail trims, CPR demonstrations, new community vendors, and new PAWS Dogs to meet.
“It’s going to be a fun day. We hope people bring their dogs join in on the excitement!”
Supporting the PAWS mission
Opportunities to support the PAWS non-profit in their mission to serve people with disabilities through assistance dogs are available through event sponsorships and donations.
A PAWS Assistance Dog rests at the feet of its owner (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“Thank you to our incredible event sponsors, Blue Pearl Pet Hospital, Dan Vos Construction, Outfront Media, and Chrispy Media. With their support, we’re able to host events like these and continue our mission.”
More information about Retriever Fever can be found here.
Paws With A Cause (PAWS) celebrated a milestone moment by recently breaking ground for their $9.5 million facility renovation project.
For over 45 years, PAWS has enhanced the independence and quality of life for those with disabilities through the use of custom-trained Assistance Dogs. Since its inception, PAWS has placed over 3,000 Assistance Dogs with people with disabilities.
PAWS is determined to serve even more people within the community (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Determined to do more
Four years ago the PAWS team brainstormed one simple goal: to serve even more people with disabilities.
“By 2030, our goal is to place over 100 assistance dogs with clients annually, and for 90% of our PAWS dogs to go into some kind of working career,” said Sarah Osterman, PAWS Board of Directors Chair and volunteer foster puppy raiser at the groundbreaking ceremony.
There is a growing demand for Assistance Dogs and the lifetime support that PAWS offers. Each year over 400 qualified individuals apply for a PAWS Assistance Dog. Current buildings and facilities limit the ability to address this unmet need.
“PAWS has outgrown our capacity to be able to breed, raise and train more PAWS dogs in these current facilities,” said Osterman. “Renovating our building to address these needs for improvement will allow us to expand our transformational and inspirational work.”
PAWS Assistance Dogs were in attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Embracing the journey
The first step toward attaining these renovation goals was to embark on PAWS’s first community-wide capital campaign, Embrace the Journey, in April 2024.
“The goal for the Embrace the Journey campaign is to raise $9.5 million in charitable gifts, allowing us to improve five critical areas in our existing facilities and to address the growing demand for assistance and facility dogs,” said PAWS CEO, Michele Suchovsky.
“Many community members rallied around our vision for the future. I am thrilled to share that today we have raised over $8.6 million of that $9.5 million.”
To date, more than 700 donors have supported the campaign.
PAWS National Headquarters is nestled amid commercial firms and farmland in Wayland, MI. Though the current PAWS facilities have served them well since 1994, few improvements have been made over the years.
PAWS renovation renderings (Courtesy, Dan Vos Construction, FMD Architects, Journey Construction Group)
PAWS renovation renderings (Courtesy, Dan Vos Construction, FMD Architects, Journey Construction Group)
PAWS renovation renderings (Courtesy, Dan Vos Construction, FMD Architects, Journey Construction Group)
PAWS renovation renderings (Courtesy, Dan Vos Construction, FMD Architects, Journey Construction Group)
The upcoming renovations will include:
Improved kennels
Exemplary veterinary facilities
National breeding center
New foster puppy spaces
Updated training facilities
“With these renovations we’ll be able to place more Assistance Dogs with clients, and place more working dogs in community-focused careers through our purposeful placements department,” said Suchovsky.
But more importantly, the results of these renovations will be felt by current and future PAWS clients.
Life-changing moments
“Each PAWS Assistance Dog opens a world of possibilities, something I can personally attest to as a client,” said Molly Koroleski, PAWS Board Member and client.
After contracting meningitis at the age of three, Koroleski woke from a coma to realize she had lost her hearing. She moved through life unable to hear smoke alarms, emergency sirens or a knock on the door. Though she had family to tell her when those things occurred, it was troubling to be unaware of them when alone.
“Then I discovered PAWS, and my life changed,” Koroleski said. “Through the PAWS custom matching process, I received Mater, an Assistance Dog that was custom-trained to help with exactly what I needed.”
When Koroleski learned she was pregnant with her son, she called the PAWS team.
PAWS staff, volunteers and dogs were available at the ceremony for attendees to meet (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“Mater had already been my Hearing Dog for two and a half years at that point, and he wasn’t originally trained to the sound of a baby’s cries,” said Koroleski.
Within a few weeks of making the call, the PAWS team had trained Mater to alert Koroleski to her baby crying.
“I felt much more prepared to care for my son with Mater by my side,” said Koroleski. “These renovations will allow PAWS to match and custom-train more Assistance Dogs like Mater for clients like me.”
“These children deserve an Assistance Dog that will help them,” said Suchovsky. “We know how important a PAWS Assistance Dog is for a person with a disability.”
It’s time to give back…
For years, local residents have rallied behind PAWS to help those in need.
Deann and Kevin Hurn, Hudsonville residents and volunteer foster puppy raisers, have been volunteering at PAWS for over 13 years, currently fostering their ninth puppy. Recently, Kevin became a PAWS board member.
The help of a PAWS dog can be life-changing (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
When asked why she became involved with PAWS, Deann said, “To give back, to help somebody else. We just feel very blessed with everything God has given us – healthy children, healthy grandchildren – and it’s great to give back.”
Deann is currently hosting a Visiting House Dog in the PAWS program that she brings to Pine Rest Mental Health Hospital every week to visit with the inpatients.
“I come home every week and tell my husband that I was in tears because of what she did for someone, how she loved on them and what it meant to them,” said Deann. “It’s so cool to see.”
Deann heard about PAWS when she met a woman with an Assistance Dog. The woman encouraged Deann to attend the next PAWS meeting.
“I came home and told Kevin, ‘I’m going to this information meeting, but it’s just information.’” Deann paused. “A week later we had our first dog,” she said with a laugh.
One step closer…
(Courtesy, Deborah Reed)
As PAWS renovations begin, excitement is high.
“We are excited that this project will allow us to serve more clients, and our clients are excited too,” said Suchovsky. “We are one step closer to our goals and to creating thriving communities for us all.”
U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today introduced the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, to protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence from emotional and psychological trauma caused by acts or threats of violence against their pets. Multiple studies have shown that domestic abusers often seek to manipulate or intimidate their victims by threatening or harming their pets.
“Pets are treasured members of our families, and victims of domestic violence can often get caught in a cycle of abuse because they cannot take their pets with them when they try to leave their abusers,” said Senator Peters. “This legislation provides important support to better empower victims of domestic violence to leave abusive situations, recover the cost of veterinary bills if an abuser harms their pet, and find shelter and housing that allows them to keep their pets as companions.”
“Domestic violence victims should not have to choose between their own personal safety and that of their pet,” said Senator Ayotte. “Domestic violence is about power and control, and all too often we see abusers harming or threatening to harm pets in an attempt to exercise control over their victims. The PAWS Act provides important authorities and resources to help empower victims of domestic and sexual violence and stalking to leave abusive situations and seek help.”
The PAWS Act would amend the federal criminal code to prohibit threats or acts of violence against a person’s pet under the offenses of stalking and interstate violation of a protection order. The bill also requires the full amount of the victim’s losses for purposes of restitution in domestic violence and stalking offenses to include any costs incurred for veterinary services relating to physical care for the victim’s pet. The legislation further directs the Department of Agriculture to award grants to eligible entities to carry out programs to provide specified housing assistance, support services, and training of relevant stakeholders to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and their pets.
“No one should have to make the impossible choice between leaving an abusive situation or protecting their pet,” said Nancy Perry, senior vice president of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Government Relations. “Studies demonstrate that abusers often intentionally target pets to exert control over their partners, and as many as 25 percent of domestic violence survivors have reported returning to an abusive partner out of concern for the safety of their animal. The federal protections offered by the PAWS Act will provide valuable resources to give victims and their pets the security they need to escape a dangerous environment, which is why the ASPCA is grateful to Senators Ayotte and Peters for introducing this legislation.”
“Many states allow pets to be included in restraining orders, but what happens when a domestic violence victim must go live with family in another state where pets are not covered?” said Michael Markarian, chief program and policy officer for The Humane Society of the United States. “We must have a national policy that safeguards the pets of abuse victims, and recognizes that domestic violence impacts all members of the family—including the four-legged. We are grateful to Senator Peters for working to provide victims and their families with the help they need.”
The ASPCA reported that a study in Wisconsin found that “68% of battered women revealed that abusive partners had also been violent toward pets or livestock; more than three-quarters of these cases occurred in the presence of women and/or children to intimidate or control them.” Moreover, a 2014 New York Police Department study found that 71 percent of pet-owning women entering domestic violence shelters reported that their abusers threatened, harmed or killed family pets. Yet, only a small number of domestic violence shelters permit pets.
The PAWS Act has been endorsed by the Humane Society, National Sheriff’s Association, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
