About Hearts-N-paws_TM

Hearts-N-paws_TM
Fact Sheet

Hearts-N-paws_TM Program Description:

Is a joint, collaborative effort between the Human Animal Bond, Inc., Morgantown, WV and paws4people_TM, Inc., Mt. Vernon, OH.

Human Animal Bond, Inc. is a West Virginia non-profit corporation, and is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt public charity, IRS Section 170 (b)(1)(A)(vi).

paws4people_TM, Inc. is an Ohio non-profit corporation, and a 501(c)(3) tax exempt public charity, IRS Section 170 (b)(1)(A)(vi).

Both organizations train and utilize Assistance Dogs to perform their respective missions. As such, a joint, collaborative effort to acquire, train, place and manage these dogs was determined to be in the best mutual interest of both organizations. To this end, both organizations have entered into this effort and have formed Hearts-N-paws_TM to accomplish each respective organization's mission element [the acquisition, training, placement and case management of Assistance Dogs], in the most cost-effective manner.

Hearts-N-paws_TM shall be operated as a separate operational division of each respective organization and shall be managed and directed by its two Co-Executive Directors: Jean Meade, PhD., DVM, and Terry Henry.

Hearts-N-paws_TM Mission:

To enhance the quality of life for the disabled persons and/or senior citizens by utilizing the "Special Powers" of Assistance Dogs. These specially trained Assistance Dogs will aid individuals with physical, neurological, psychiatric and/or emotional disabilities.

To significantly increase the number of such Assistance Dogs available for placement within the disabled, senior citizen and educational communities.

To develop a "custom blood-line" of dogs bred specifically for personality, disposition, temperament, and trainability traits desirable for such Assistance Dogs.

To increase, through "Public Awareness Campaigns" and educational programs, the necessity for, and benefits of, Assistance Dogs within the disabled and educational communities; thereby increasing their acceptance within society as a whole.

To establish and develop curriculums, programs and facilities to train Assistance Dogs in the following disciplines:

Service Dogs - Assistance Dogs specially trained to enable the disabled and handicapped to lead more independent lives by performing tasks that the person otherwise could not, or would have extreme difficulty doing for him/herself. The Private Placement Candidates [PPC] of these dogs are generally confined to a wheelchair. These dogs are trained within our Hearts of Gold_TM Program.

Rehabilitative Assistance Dogs - Assistance Dogs specially trained to assist patients in their recovery from severe injury and/or psychological trauma such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD]. These dogs assist Occupational Therapists [OT], Physical Therapists [PT], and/or Mental Health Therapists in their treatment of the patients, aiding in, and in some case speeding up their recovery. These dogs are trained within our Hearts of Gold_TM Program.

Education Assistance Dogs - Assistance Dogs specially trained to perform inside the special and regular education classroom. These dogs assist teachers in performing their duties using a "new" educational tool, the Dog. The dog acts as motivation for the students to learn, and dramatically increasing the teacher's productivity and effectiveness. These dogs must be able to handle the school and special educational environments, as well as work with students with all types of physical, neurological, psychiatric and/or emotional disabilities. These dogs are trained within our paws4people_TM Educational Assistance K-9 [pEAK_TM] Program.

To establish and develop curriculums, programs and facilities to train Social Therapy Dogs in the following disciplines:

Companion/Therapy Dogs - Dogs generally obtained from "pounds," shelters or "rescue" groups which are then trained to perform at the "basic" obedience level. Once these dogs reach this level of training they are generally placed with "Spouseless Seniors" providing life enhancing companionship. These dogs are trained within our BestFriends_TM Program.

Community Dogs - Dogs generally obtained from "pounds," shelters or "rescue" groups which are then trained to perform at the "basic" obedience level. Once these dogs reach this level of training they are generally returned to the "pound," shelter or "rescue" group for adoptive placement. The training provided significantly increases the dogs' chances of being successfully adopted and remaining in its adoptive home. This significantly decreases the possibility of the dog being euthanized. These dogs are trained within our BestFriends_TM Program.

To establish and develop curriculums and programs to "train the trainer" of Assistance and Social Therapy Dogs. These training curriculums and program shall exceed "industry" standards, establishing a "new" level of training excellence for Hearts-N-paws_TM. To the maximum extent possible, support and/or develop training programs that provide additional "human service or community benefit," such as programs within Major State Universities, Prisons, Alternative Educational Facilities, etc.

Hearts-N-paws_TM Assistance Dogs are currently being trained in the following two programs at two venues:

Morgantown, WV		US Pentitentiary - Hazelton Bruceton Mills, WV

Hearts-N-paws_TM currently has 13 Service Dogs under management, with 7 more in the training pipeline.

Hearts-N-paws_TM currently has 30 Educational Assistance K-9s under management, with 8 more in the training pipeline.