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founders had a background in service dog training and were well
aware of the health benefits associated with service dog programs
through work in the medical field. PGI exists to train service dogs
to physically assist people with various disabilities. Many of the
dogs that are trained within the program come from local rescues and
organizations right here in Central Illinois. Dogs are taught to
perform tasks for their owners, such as opening doors, turning on
lights, picking up dropped items and other tasks that would be
difficult for people with limited ability to perform without
assistance. The goal of Paws Giving Independence is to bring
together the disabled and non-disabled communities. These dogs
provide support, love, and a sense of independence for their owners.
An incredible fact about Paws Giving Independence is that they place
service dogs free of charge! Similar organizations charge in the
tens of thousands for a well-trained service dog. Your donations,
public endowments, and the generosity of Central Illinois and the
surrounding areas keeps PGI going.
The Founders
 Michelle
Yuen, Director of Animal Intake and Care, co-founded Paws Giving
Independence in 2008. She began training dogs in 2000 and her early
work focused on behavior and training of shelter dogs. She has since
trained dogs in agility, obedience, therapy work, and other
service-related activities. She completed her internship with a
Chicago based service dog program in 2006 and has continued her
work. She has a Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy and works as a
pediatric physical therapist. She has spearheaded many Animal
Assisted Therapy Programs.
 Brandi
Weyers, Director of Fundraising and Accounting co-founded Paws
Giving Independence in 2008. She grew up in the Chicago area and
moved to Peoria to study nursing at Bradley. She knew from an early
age that she wanted to help people. In 2007, Brandi volunteered with
a service dog organization in Chicago that trained dogs for
assisting with wheelchairs and mobility. She graduated nursing
school, married her college sweetheart, and continues to work with
service dogs.
Types of Dogs
Paws Giving Independence mainly focuses on three types of service
dogs.
Skilled Facilitator Assistance Service Dogs
These service dogs help people with disabilities or developmental
delays and the parent/caregiver is certified to handle the dog. This
type of dog is not certified to attend school with the individual.
To qualify for this type of service dog a family member will handle
the dog when it accompanies the individual in public places.
Facility Service Dog
These dogs are trained to perform tasks at a facility, such as a
hospital or nursing home. In order to apply for a facility dog you
must be employed at the facility for at least 30 hours a week and
have direct client contact. The service dog must live in the home of
the handler and not at the facility. Some facilities that have had
dogs placed are pediatric outpatient rehab centers, veteran’s
outpatient rehab centers, schools, juvenile residential homes, and
nursing homes.
Service Dogs
These dogs help by performing tasks for a person with limited
ability. The applicant must be able to handle the dog independently
in all public settings. Some areas that PGI trains service dogs for
are mobility impairments (wheelchair, unstable walking, balance
difficulties), medical response (seizures, epilepsy),visual
impairment, hearing impairment, other physical disabilities.
Sometimes a dog fails as a service animal due to health problems or
inconsistency in public. PGI will disclose why the dog did not pass
the program. These dogs are available to be adopted as family pets.
This dog is not certified to work as a service dog or emotional
support dog.
How To Apply
Step 1: Complete the Online Inquiry Form
If more information is needed after you fill out the form, you will
be emailed an application and a medical form. The application must
be hand signed and PGI will respond within four weeks.
Step 2: The team will review the application and a veterinary check
will be done on all the animals in your home and those offering
personal references will be contacted.
Step 3: If PGI feels that you would be a good fit then a telephone
interview is scheduled. If the telephone interview leads the team to
believe you would be a good candidate then a home visit is
scheduled.
Step 4: Information is presented to the PGI Board of Directors and a
decision will be made based on if it is felt that a dog would be a
good match for you.
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Step 5: Once you reach this stage you are added to
the waiting list and begin working towards completing 25 hours of
training at PGI in Peoria.
Step 6: You will complete 25 training hours, a workshop, and
complete at least three successful home passes with a potential
service dog match. There will be a follow up and re-certification in
six months.
Step 7: The service dog is placed in your care
Step 8: Continued training is required for the service dog’s life.
How to Volunteer
Volunteers are a vital part of PGI’s ability to offer service dogs
to those in need at no cost. If you are interested in being a part
of a very important program in Central Illinois, you are encouraged
to volunteer.
You can apply online to volunteer in several capacities. You will
learn to handle and train in weekly classes and work with dogs as
they learn skills. You can be a general volunteer, a dog/puppy
sitter (short-term sitting if handler is out of town), a furlough
trainer (have a helping paws dog for one week once a month), puppy
raiser, foster home, transition trainer, or be involved in
fundraising and public events.
Lincoln native, Lindy Belley is a volunteer and helps PGI with
furloughs, fostering, and training. Lindy has shared her home with a
few PGI dogs now and looks forward to many more.
Donna Kosner is the Director of Community Outreach,
Education, and Applications. She has been with Paws Giving
Independence since 2010. Donna became involved with a local rescue
in 2003 and fostered 100 dogs and puppies over five years. She is
passionate about animal rescue. Donna is licensed in early education
and has worked in a variety of settings.
Donna recently shared with LDN how Paws Giving Independence is
making an impact right here in Lincoln. A State of Illinois Program
with the Department of Corrections partners with PGI and the ladies
of Logan Correctional train dogs for PGI and another program like it
in the Chicago area. Training is supplied to the ladies and the dogs
to train are supplied. The ladies of Logan Correctional learn a
trade and the dogs of PGI receive socialization, training, love, and
hours towards their certification process.
Paws giving Independence is a 501 C 3 corporation and all donations
are tax deductible. This program is completely run on donations.
They are unique because there is no paid staff and the dogs are
placed free of charge, that means they rely on people like us to
continue to keep the program running. For more information please go
to www.paws
givingindependence.org
[Photos from Paws Giving Independence
Web Site]
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