At the core of our organization is the belief that working with dogs can provide a therapuetic and life-enhancing experience.

We are excited to offer an innovative program suitably named "Project YES!", which reflects our positive training methods as well as our ultimate goals which are to help "youth-at-risk" and individuals with disabilities share in the challenges of facing our world today.

As the youth learn to train service dogs they have the opportunity to develop skills such as emotional and social competence, leadership skills, increased levels of responsibility, empathy and parenting techniques. Equally important, the youth experience unconditional love and the power of giving back to their community. Project YES! has been modeled after the successful High Schooled Assistance Dog Program developed by Dr. Bonnie Bergen of the Assistance Dog Institute.

While designed with youth in mind, the program has the potential to be equally powerful in adult correctional facilities as well.

As with most nonprofit organizations, we are in great need for financial support -- please consider making PawPADs one of your top organizations to support in 2010. All Financial Donations assist our programs in covering overhead costs, purchasing food and vet services, and assisting in operating and expanding our Programs. Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs , Inc. is a 501c3 charitable organization and all contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law.

Magic: The magic of watching a troubled youth learning to control their emotions and staying in school.