Paws Giving Independence NFP

01/22/2025

Congratulations to Mojo and his new handler on passing his final placement test! That’s an amazing accomplishment! Mojo is now a fully PGI certified service dog 🐾❤️🦮

01/20/2025

Dog Diary📚🐾

Catching up with Oliver:

Oliver the Magnificent has been busy helping Mom (me) a lot and helped prepare for the past holiday season. He has been keeping me active and made it possible for me to participate in holiday activities more independently, which means the world to me. We've had several adventures from rock concerts to going to the Oddities Expo in Chicago. Recently he escorted me to my daughter's winter dance recital and he also enjoyed seeing the little ones singing for their school Christmas concert.

Most of our little town know who Oliver is and he is always happy to "say hi" to a new friend. Before Oliver, I struggled going into public. Not only physically (I am a wheelchair user paralyzed from the chest down and have chronic pain) but also emotionally. It was terrifying and overwhelming to be out in the world before, but with Oliver by my side I feel so much more at ease.

He is the best boy and always helps me pick up dishes around the house left by the kids and happily takes them to the sink. It's probably one of my favorite tasks he does without even being asked. Our favorite part of the day is bedtime. Oliver helps me get into bed and positioned comfortably, and then hops in to cuddle.

He truly is my best friend and I couldn't imagine my life without him.

Great work Oliver❤️🐕‍🦺
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Illinois Department of Corrections

01/19/2025

PGI puppies, like Pepper, are working hard and growing to one day make an impact on their recipient’s life! 🐾❤️ PGI’s motto is “saving a life to change a life” and our pups and volunteers work constantly to fulfill that statement! 🐕‍🦺

Comment down below a story of how a PGI pup has impacted your life!! ↓↓
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01/17/2025

Dog Diary📚🐾

From Auggie

We just finished our semester at school and we enjoyed a much deserved winter break from our usual fast paced routine. I LOVE cramming into my mom’s twin sized bed to sleep, playing with
my mom’s parents dogs, and seeing old friends.
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01/16/2025

New PGI gear‼️

PGI newest t-shift design and notebook“ what we do” created by our very own Helping paws trainers are now available!! Get yours today and support PGI❤️🐾

Every order makes a difference🐕‍🦺🦮

LINK FOR SHIRT : https://www.bonfire.com/what-we-do-pgi/?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=post_campaign_launch&utm_campaign=what-we-do-pgi&utm_content=default

LINK FOR NOTEBOOK- https://www.bonfire.com/what-we-do-notebook/?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=post_campaign_launch&utm_campaign=what-we-do-notebook&utm_content=default
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01/15/2025

Myth or Fact: Are recipients are required to show documentation that their animal is a service animal in public places?🐾

If you said myth, you’re right! Recipients do NOT have to show documentation in public places to “prove” their animal is a service animals! In fact, businesses shouldn’t even ask for documentation! The only questions businesses can ask is if the dog is a service animal and what task the dog is trained to do! 🐕‍🦺
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01/14/2025

Celebrate good times! 🎉

Gunner turned 2 and got to celebrate with all of his friends at the Mary Culver Home where he is a facility dog. His party was filled with all of his favorite things; tennis balls, treats, and love! 💙
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01/13/2025

For those of you following our pup's journey with our new sponsor Fresh Cravings Salsa, she has a name. HONEY. Thank you to everyone who joined in on the fun and voted. Welcome to the family Honey!!

🐾 Meet Honey! 🐾

Thanks to your votes, our sponsored service pup officially has a name—and we couldn’t love it more! Everyone, say hello to Honey! 🍯🐕‍🦺

Honey is the newest member of our Salsabrate the Good Initiative in partnership with Paws Giving Independence NFP. With your support, she’s on her way to becoming a certified service dog, ready to bring independence, confidence, and joy to someone in need.

Stay tuned as we share updates on Honey’s training journey. Thank you for helping us give this sweet girl her perfect name! ❤️

01/13/2025

Meet Service Dog Team, David and Ace! ⭐️

Ace and David have been working together for about 1.5 years and are a spectacular team! Below is a message from David:

Ace has a way of reading the room. My wife will often say, “Tell me about the people Ace had you meet today.” For me the service from Ace have led to improved balance walking, more fitness, new challenges, learning to train, and giving back. Ace is ready to harness up and assist. If I get up, he gets up. His expression is a mix of “What’s next?” and “Let’s go!”

David and Ace are a great example of the power of a service dog. We are excited to see them continue to grow and accomplish big things! 🦮💛
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01/12/2025

🐾 Service Dog Travel Fact! 🐾

Did you know that working service dogs are trained to handle all kinds of environments when they travel? From crowded airports to busy city streets, these dogs must remain calm and focused no matter the situation. 🐶✨

They even learn how to navigate through security checks, stay relaxed on planes, and adapt to different climates—all while staying ready to assist their handler at a moment’s notice. Talk about the ultimate travel companions! 💼✈️

01/12/2025

🐾 Did You Know? 🐾

Service dogs are trained to adapt to their handler’s unique needs—but here’s a fun fact: they’re also skilled at recognizing nonverbal cues! 🐶✨

These amazing dogs can pick up on subtle gestures, body language, or even a change in their handler’s breathing pattern to know when they’re needed most. It’s a beautiful example of the bond between service dogs and their humans! 💛

01/11/2025

Facility Dogs: Making a Difference Every Day! 🐾 Do you know a school or facility who would benefit from a dog? Please share!

Did you know that facility dogs are specially trained to provide comfort, motivation, and support in workplaces, schools, courthouses, rehabilitation centers, and more? These incredible dogs assist professionals in creating positive environments for those they serve.

Here are some ways facility dogs can make an impact:
✔️ Supporting children and adults during challenging moments in therapy or legal settings.
✔️ Offering motivation for patients during physical rehabilitation sessions.
✔️ Helping educators create a calming and inclusive atmosphere in classrooms.
✔️ Providing stress relief for employees and clients in high-pressure environments.

We are actively accepting applications for facility dogs! If you think your workplace, school, or program could benefit from the support of a facility dog, we’d love to hear from you.

📩 Apply today or share this post with someone who might benefit! Together, we can spread the pawsitive impact.

https://givingindependence.org/service-facility-dog-inquiry/

01/10/2025

🧩🐾 Join Us for Puzzles for Paws! 🐾🧩

Mark your calendars for a fun-filled evening supporting a great cause!

Bring your friends, your competitive spirit, and your love for puzzles to this exciting fundraising event! Teams will compete to finish a puzzle first while enjoying delicious wine and snacks, all in support of Paws Giving Independence and our mission to train service dogs who change lives.

🎟️ Tickets are limited, so don’t wait! Grab yours today and help us raise funds for our incredible service dog program.

For tickets and more details, visit https://facebook.com/events/s/puzzles-for-paws/1297820201243802/

🐾 Let’s come together, solve puzzles, and make a difference—one piece at a time!

01/10/2025

🐾 A HUGE thank you to David Hist for his incredibly generous donation to sponsor service dog puppy Griff, a handsome Golden Retriever in training! 🐶💛

Thanks to David’s support, Griff will receive everything he needs to complete his training to become a life-changing service dog — including vet care, training supplies, and so much more!

We’re excited to watch Griff grow into an amazing service dog that will make a real difference in someone’s life. 🙌

Visit David Hilst - American Family Insurance Agent at:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1995DF6ZfA/?mibextid=kFxxJD
Instagram:

Want to learn more about sponsoring one of our pups in training? Visit our website- we have a number of pups still in need of sponsors: https://givingindependence.org/sponsor-a-dog/

01/09/2025

DOG DIARY📚🐾

Message from Pax:

Pax Bellator (Latin for Peace Warrior) is excelling at his job and we are learning to work cohesively as a team. Being a successor service dog to Sampson, the Ambassador for Service Dogs in Science is no small task but Pax is making that transition a smooth one with his exceptional training. We have already traveled to New York, and Canada, to give work related presentations and do lab risk assessments. We traveled to Las Vegas where he was greeted at the airport by a chauffeur from Caesars Palace with a greeting sign with “Pax Bellator” written on it for his own private limo ride to the hotel. Together we will continue our mission to make science inclusive for service dog handlers - one paw print at a time.
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Sampson the Service Dog in Science

01/08/2025

🐾 Thank You, brutusbroth ! 🐾

A huge shoutout to Brutus Bone Broth for their generous donations to support our dogs in training at Helping Paws! 🐶💛 Your nutritious and delicious bone broth is a favorite treat for our pups and helps keep them healthy and happy as they prepare for their future roles.

We’re so grateful for your partnership and dedication to making a difference in the lives of our service dogs-in-training. Together, we’re fueling their journey to change lives!

midamericaservicedogs Illinois Department of Corrections

01/08/2025

Service Dog Etiquette🐾

As we ring in the new year, here’s a reminder of how you should approach and interact with service dogs and their handlers in public!

You SHOULD:
-Ask the handler before petting✅
-Approach the handler first✅
-Understand if the handler says no✅
-Ask questions!✅

You SHOULD NOT:
-Pet the dog without asking❌
-Yell or talk directly to the dog❌
-Feed the dog❌
-Take photos without asking❌

Remember these dos and don’ts this year to make sure you are being respectful toward service dogs and their handlers!🐕‍🦺🦮
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