When you're surrounded by the swirling, cold prairie winds, with the full Wolf Moon of January casting shadows over the deep snows of midwinter Minnesota, it's hard to believe the story behind PawPADs had its roots in the remote tropical mangrove swamps of the humid Mosquito Coast in Honduras...(read more...subscribe to our free newsletter)

Our innovative Programs are designed to work together to create powerful, life-enhancing experiences through working with dogs, both for persons with disabilities who receive the dogs, as well as for those involved in all aspects of training them!

PawPADs' Founder and Executive Director, Linda Ball , has spent over 25 years in the social services and non-profit field and holds her M.S. Degree in Experiential Education. An experienced professional dog trainer and non-profit manager, Linda studied under Dr. Bonita Bergin, the originator of the service dog concept, at the Bergin University of Canine Studies (formerly the Assistance Dog Institute) where she received a degree in Service Dog Education and an Instructor's Certificate in the High Schooled Assistance Dog Program.

Her education and accomplishments include:
• B.A. Speech Communications
• M.Ed. Experiential Education
• M.Ed. Deaf Education (pending)
• A.S. Assistance Dog Education
• Formerly the Regional Director, GOAL Ireland (an International Humanitarian Aid Organization), in Bosnia, Kosovo and Central America
• Peace Corps Volunteer, Mongolia '93-'95, and author of the first Mongolian American Sign Lanuage dictionary
• Four times trans-continental crossing of the United States by bicycle - raising donations and awareness for cancer research and the Susan G. Komen foundation, the world's largest breast cancer organization.

In 2005 Linda returned to the United States' from her GOAL-Ireland posting in Central America with the vision of creating a program utilizing the power of animals to create powerful change, thus was born Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs). PawPADs started its success on the steep, rocky cliffs of the Oregon Coast and in 2008 Linda brought the program back to her home-state of Minnesota. She is committed to creating life enhancing experiences and partnerships between canines and people facing the many challenges life can present!

Request Linda as a Speaker Request a PawPADs speaker and demonstration for your next event.

Share a Story Submit a story about service dogs or an idea for a story for inclusion in our Newsletter, "PawPADs Unleashed."

Schedule a Visit Schedule a visit with our dogs at our Campus or at your School, Senior Center, or Hospital.