Creating the opportunity to provide canine support, one person and one dog at a time.
Pawsabilities Service Dog Society
Service dogs are being recognised as life-changing supports for a greater diversity of people more than ever before. “It’s our drive, and passion to provide some relief to a system that has become overwhelmed over the years”
About Us
We started Pawsabilities Service Dog Society to connect service dogs to vulnerable people who might not otherwise have the means.
Over the past several years, we have built and grown the partner businesses of Woofability Enrichment Academy and Woofability Service Dog Training, we will always be dedicated to the growth and development of dogs, who we know have a positive impact on their families and handlers. Woofability service dogs trains dogs to enable their owners to navigate in a world where they may have difficulty as a result of an illness or disability. The Heart to Home program brings temperament-tested puppies into our training program, and gives them a considerable head start with our service dog trainers. As service dog trainees, these pups are partnered with their new handlers in a thoughtful and deliberate matching process considering the dog’s personality and the needs of the handler, and this new team will complete their service dog certification journey together under the guidance of our training program. By making this unique pairing, a special bond between handler and dog begins, and continues to grow throughout their journey together.
Pawsabilities Service Dog Society was born from the knowledge that not everyone who has a need for a service dog can afford one. We started this non-profit society to give vulnerable individuals in our community the opportunity to access the support of a service dog. Through our incredible sponsors, the generous support of people like yourself, and in partnership with Woofability, Pawsabilities Service Dog Society is able to adopt, raise and begin training service dogs, connect them with a person with an identified divers ability and financial need, and continue all the way through to certification.
Close your eyes and take a deep breath, then imagine losing function of a leg and not being able to afford crutches. Yet knowing that in order to function they are a must. By becoming a sponsor you will be helping to bridge this gap. You will be making a difference , you will be making a difference by contributing to a solution. Help us in creating a way forward for those left standing still in a world very hard to navigate.
Give a gift and Make a Donation.
When you give a gift and make a donation to Pawsabilities Service Dog Society all (that’s right all) the money goes towards the cost/upkeep/training of the dogs, getting them skilled and ready to go to their prospective handler, ready to change their lives.
Each donation wether big or small enables that little bit more to go to those with diversabilities, whether it’s contributing to the cost of training and providing some relief or contributing to the overall cost of one of our Heart to Home Dogs.
Either way YOUR GIFT is a contribution to the overall solution we strive to work towards.
Bottles and Cans
Exciting news!!! We're now accepting bottle & can donations at three participating Victoria Bottle Depots!
It’s even easier to make a donation towards Pawsabilities. If you have extra bottles & cans lying around and want them to go to a great cause, drop them off at one of the 3 locations listed below and let them know at the beginning of the transaction that you’d like the refund to go towards a charitable account: Pawsabilities Service Dog Society
⁕ 4261 Glanford Ave Bottle Depot
⁕ 655 Queens Ave Bottle Depot
⁕ 3961 Quadra St Bottle Depot
We are SO appreciative of all the support towards our Service Dog Society, helping us create the opportunity to provide canine support, one person and one dog at a time.
Meet our Directors
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Mary Lou
DIRECTOR
Mary Lou Newbold is the Chief Eyecare Officer (CEO) and co-owner of locally owned Mayfair Optometric Clinic. She is passionate about community engagement and volunteer service. In 2020 she and her husband Stephen said farewell to their beloved pitbull Roo-D and she declared "no more dogs". Mixed breed Arch-EE didn't get the memo and arrived in the family a few weeks later.
With the unplanned arrival of the 10 week old Arch-EE Mary Lou went in search of a daycare and boarding business that could support their travel lifestyle - she and her husband are rabid Seahawk fans and attend most home games in Seattle. Meeting Tim and April at Woofability just before the pandemic altered the course of their lives and Arch-EE found his second home and family. If you've ever seen the red SUV with the dog having to be dragged and lifted in, that's the testament to his love for Woofability.
Arch-EE befriended service dog Buttons and Mary Lou's involvement with Woofability Service Dogs began. Mayfair Optometric Clinic serves as a training location where handler/dog teams can train around machines and clinic environments. Seeing first hand the extent of training required and the life changing benefits of service dogs, Mary Lou is excited to be supporting Pawsability in ensuring anyone in need can have access to this relationship and support.
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Corey
DIRECTOR
Growing up on Vancouver Island, Corey and his family are dedicated to service to the community both professionally and through their personal commitment to kids in sport.
Coreys love of dogs did not begin until he entered law enforcement and experienced working as a K9 Quarry. This point of ignition led him all over North America, learning from anyone who would share their knowledge.
From law enforcement to Schutzen to the French Ring Corey observed and absorbed all the information he could which would assist in his quest for excellence of working with an animal that did what humans can not.
His dream of a K9 partner was achieved early and PSD Rocco (Saanich PD) was the highlight of his career and has defined him since. They served together for 7 years apprehending suspects, locating evidence, meeting kids, competing in National Championships and a few cameos in movies.
Although Corey no longer handles professionally, he spends his time as a K9 grumpa to his daughters dogs Remy and Rocky who have both had the pleasure and joy of Woofability. Corey is a bit of a chatty guy and when he loves something, he tells the world and wants to be a part of the journey.
Woofability is one of those special places April, Tim and the team have brought the service dog industry and dog care industry to a new standard through education, intelligence, integrity and hard work.
It is an honour for Corey to serve and advocate in any way possible.
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Kirstin
FOUNDER/DIRECTOR
Kirstin has turned her lifelong love of animals into two careers - first as a veterinary technician and practice manager, then as a wildlife biologist. She currently spends her work life researching fish, which means she has to get her dog fix in other ways. She and her partner foster dogs for three rescue organizations, focussing on the specialized care of newborn puppies and senior dogs. Although, saying they foster senior dogs is a little misleading, since so far they have adopted every one of the older dogs they have brought into their home.
Kirstin has a young Staffordshire Bull Terrier and a senior Pointer of her own, and loves to spend her time teaching them new things, from basic obedience to trick training to agility to nosework. Like many dog owners, she is a big believer in dogs as emotional support to people dealing with all kinds of challenges. But nothing compares to a beautifully trained Service Dog that acts a lifeline to their caregiver.
Kirstin chose Pawsabilities because service dogs vastly improve the quality of life of children and adults dealing with physical and emotional difficulties, but unfortunately the cost of a Certified Service Dog from an accredited trainer means that they are out of reach for many of the most vulnerable people. Pawsabilities has identified a critical need in our community, and endeavors to meet that need, one partnership at a time.
“The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth will ever be.” (Konrad Lorenz - zoologist-co founder of study of animal behaviour)
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April
FOUNDER/DIRECTOR
April is a dedicated service dog trainer based in Victoria Canada, bringing over a decade of experience to her craft. Originally from the UK, April made the life-changing move to Canada ten years ago, where she discovered her true calling in working with dogs and individuals with diverse abilities.
Certified by both the IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants) and CPDT (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers), April is a recognized expert in her field. Her journey began with a lifelong passion for dogs, which she seamlessly combined with her skills to create a unique approach to training.
April's commitment goes beyond traditional dog training; she specializes in providing support to those in need, fostering the powerful bond between individuals and their service dogs. Her mission is “To enhance the lives of both people and their canine companions through compassionate and positive training methods."
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Tim
FOUNDER/DIRECTOR
Tim has grown up with dogs all his life and cannot imagine being without them in his life, he currently owns seven dogs with his wife April.
He built a career whilst in the UK working with young adults with diversabilities, he’s been a college lecturer, teaching Independent Living skills to supporting his clients in their own homes, helping/guiding them in building as much of an independent life as possible, enabling them to identify themselves and their place within the communities they live.
Tim continued this work when he moved to Canada 10 years a go with his wife, it was not long after moving here they got their first dog Nymera – a Bluetick Coonhound and that was when life changed for Tim and April, due to personal experiences with daycare for Nymera, April and Tim decided to start a daycare and Boarding facility themselves, and so Woofability was born, several years later and Woofability Service Dog Training was developed.
It was from this that gave April and Tim and their friend Kirsten the idea of Pawsabilities Service Dog Society, with the vision of making a difference in the Service Dog world. Tim is proud of the Society and the difference it will make and is looking forward to meeting/chatting to you all.
In his spare time, Tim enjoys participating in Axe Throwing with his local league, watching movies (Horror in particular) and attending his local board game café.
We forgot to mention he’s a very BIG FAN of Batman!!!!
Our Heart to Home Program
All the dogs that Pawsabilities provides are carefully selected and temperament tested from the beginning and at regular intervals throughout the duration of their training.This is done to ensure that they are of the right caliber dog for their intended future handler.
The Heart to Home dogs are matched/paired up with a handler based upon the needs of the handler and the dogs individual personality. From this unique pairing, a special bond between handler and dog begins, and continues, to grow as their journey together develops.
Pawsabilities Service Dog Society Application Process and Fees
INITIAL APPLICATION PROCESS
We're here to guide you in finding the perfect service dog for you and your current needs.
Our application process is broken down in to different stages.
GETTING STARTED
Upon your request, we'll send you a comprehensive Service Dog Application Package. This package gathers crucial insights into your needs, aiding us in selecting and training a service dog tailored to your requirements.
After reviewing your application package, we'll schedule a meeting or phone conference to discuss dog selection and your activities and interests. Please note, there's a $50 non-refundable application fee.
APPLICATION PROCESS CONTINUED
Upon mutual agreement between Pawsabilities Service Dog Society and your family, we'll provide you with our Service Dog Training Agreement.
To secure your spot on our waiting list, we require a $1000.00 non-refundable deposit along with your signed agreement.
DOG SELECTION AND TRAINING
Our team will create a dog selection profile for your review and proceed with acquiring and holding the dog for you until training begins. This stage allows you to meet the dog, enabling us to tailor their training to your needs. Training typically spans 12-18 months, with regular updates on your dog's progress. Our standard Service dog training includes advanced obedience, public access, and task training. At this point 50% of the final cost will be due for self funding clients or an agreed amount if you are receiving funding from Pawsabilities Service Dog Society.
FINAL STEPS
Once training is being completed you will have regular meet ups with your trainer and start to develop the bond and skills needed to have a service dog. After 6 months to a year the dog will move in with you, at this time all financial responsibility for the dog is passed over to you, including their food, vet bills, grooming, insurance etc.
Once you and your dog are ready you will be supported to complete the BC certification and once this and the tasks are completed the final payment will be due.
COST BREAKDOWN
As there's no government funding for service dogs in Canada, we rely on fundraising efforts. The approximate cost of a service dog to be fully trained is between $35,000-$45,000 this includes various expenses, from purchasing the dog to ongoing training and maintenance. At Pawsabilities we offer three options for acquiring a service dog, this includes being fully funded by Pawsabilities Service Dog Society (does not exclude the $1,000 deposit), partial funding and client fully funded.
Purchase of puppy/dog from reputable breeder ($1,800-3,000)
12-18 months of training, socialization/public access, task and obedience ($15,000-$20,000)
Boarding and office costs during training ($5,000)
Vet bills, food, grooming and insurance during first year of training ($2000 approx.)
Task training, specifically to individual needs. ($10,000- $13,800)
Ongoing maintenance training for the 8-10 years or the working life of the dog, ($1,000)
Cost of first government certification test ($200)
WHY THE COST?
Our payment-for-service model allows us to expedite the process and minimize wait times for families. We're committed to ensuring a smooth and efficient journey as you welcome a service dog into your family. Pawsabilities Service Dog Society does offer partial funding and dependent on the funding needed would depend on the current funds available and the financial need of each individual, due to this some wait times for a service dog may be longer. If you are fully funding your Service dog you will be added to a separate waitlist. Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Meet Our Past Heart to Home Pups
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Bruin
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Cosmos
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Reggie
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Gracie
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Basil
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Eddie
How can you be a part of the solution?
Easy! Click donate to contribute to funding a service dog for an individual in need. Share our Facebook and Instagram. Tell your friends. Reach out on behalf of your small business. Connect us with organisations that want to contribute to the community. Help us spread the word!
The need for service dogs has never been higher and will likely continue to rise in the years to come. Waitlists for service dogs can be several years long due to the already high demand for service dogs.
The cost of a purchasing a service dog can be between $30,000 - $40,000 dependent on individual needs of the handler. This is the real cost of years of providing a home for a dog, professional training, insurance, and vet costs.
This is where our solution comes into play, by becoming a Sponsor of Pawsabilities Service Dog Society, you will be contributing to making the solution a reality for an individual who is in need.
Becoming a Sponsor
Being a Sponsor plays a very large part in supporting the training of a service dog, and the care needed to get it ready for its new handler. The impact having a service dog to support someone with their diversabilities is life changing.
Imagine being so consumed by anxiety that you are unable to step outside your front door, resulting in you always being indoors and never venturing out and exploring the outside world. Having a service dog who unconditionally supports you, could give you the confidence to step outside, do your own shopping, eat out, make new friends, independently and on your own terms.
Imagine being randomly triggered by a noise or phrase to the point where you are totally consumed by what you're experiencing, causing your body to freeze on the spot. Your service dog detects that something is wrong and starts to apply deep pressure therapy, offering you an opportunity to become grounded, get a handle on the experience, and then continue forward.
These are only a couple of examples the difference of having a service dog can make, enabling them to lead an independent and fulfilling life and feel that they are an equal member of society, rather than a prisoner to their diversabilities. You will be making a tremendous and lasting positive impact on the life of someone here in your own community.
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Click the link below to start the process!
Our Sponsors
