Paws-Ability Inc.

The mission of Paws-Ability is to provide service dogs of exceptional quality with no cost to veterans, first responders, and correctional officers who have sacrificed for our country and community, enabling them to return to their everyday lives with confidence and dignity.

At Paws-Ability, we unleash the potential of dogs by transforming them into individually-trained, life-changing assistance dogs for people in need. Each of our honored recipients deserve to have a trained companion to help him or her have better, more peaceful days. To find out if you qualify for one of our fosters, visit pawsability.org for an application or reach out to one of our team members for support at our website.

FOSTERING

Paws-Ability has volunteer foster parents that raise and train the dogs to prepare them for service. We cover the costs of the puppy, including the training, food, toys, vet care, and more.

Many of our service dogs are donated AKC certified Labrador Retriever puppies or are rescue dogs that have been evaluated as suitable for service dog work. This gives fosters a great way to spend time with a loving puppy, without all the commitment of a personal dog. Fosters are encouraged to attend regular basic training classes to get our pups ready for deployment..

Ask us about becoming a foster today! Once the initial training is complete, the dogs will be partnered with their forever companion. Together they will begin training to become a certified team.

ABOUT US

Paws-Ability was founded in 2019 as a nonprofit organization by Jim Day, John Wells and Natalie Faudree. Jim, a Vietnam Army veteran, John, a Vietnam Navy veteran, and Natalie, the wife of Joseph Faudree, a Marine Corp veteran), developed this organization with the goal of transforming the lives of Military Veterans, First Responders and Correctional Officers with a program that provides trained service dog companions.

"I spent too many years thinking others deserved a service dog more than me. Thankfully my wife and the founders of paws-ability convinced me that I deserved my service dog, Rose. Having Rose has changed my life, allowing me to re-engage in my life and enjoy the simple things again.” - Paws-Ability recipient Dwayne Draggo

Many of our board members have service dogs or have fostered and have experienced first hand the positive impact these service dogs have on someone’s life. Our board members include:

• Interim President/Treasurer - Jennifer Draggoo
• Vice President - Michaela Menefee
• Secretary - Natalie Manthey
• Board Member - Joe Faudree (Service Dog: Stewart)
• Board Member - Lakin Elzy
• Board Member - Jeff Mayott (Service Dog: Daisy)
• Board Member - Keith Auspland (Service Dog: Casey)

Our board members and volunteers are dedicated to supporting and making a positive impact on the lives of those that have devoted selflessly to our country and community.

Donors come from all walks of life with one goal in mind: to honor veterans, first responders or correctional officers that have sacrificed themselves for our country or community. We appreciate any support and thank donors for their generosity. Paws-Ability tries to make life easier for our honored recipients, one dog at a time.