posted 10/06/10 06:42 AM | updated 10/06/10 06:42 AM
Featured Post! | Views: 371 | Comments : 0 | Non-Profits

Van Donated to Positive Partners Assistance Dogs

By jomurray
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Isabella, service dog in training, waits for a ride in the van donated to Positive Partners Assistance Dogs, Inc.

Positive Partners Assistance Dogs, Inc., which custom trains dogs for people with disabilities, has received a donated van, thanks to part-time Sun Valley residents Dr. Mark and Deborah Slonim.

“We are constantly transporting dogs and clients, as we work to train dogs to help people with specific disabilities,” said Fran Jewell, executive director of Positive Partners. “In the past, we have had to depend on our trainers and volunteers to provide their own vehicles. This is a wonderful gift from the Slonims, and it will make it much easier for everyone.”

Positive Partners Assistance Dogs trains four types of service or assistance dogs: mobility dogs for people who need balance and assistance climbing stairs or bending over, hearing assistance dogs, guide guides for the visually impaired, and wheelchair assistance dogs.    Each service dog is custom-trained for the individual.

It currently is working with the Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion David Ketchum Post 15 to train a service dog for a disabled Idaho veteran. The cost of training a service dog is approximately $25,000, and the auxiliary already has raised more than half. The veteran has not yet been selected.

Positive Partners differs from most service dog training programs in several respects. In addition to custom-training service dogs for individuals with special needs that are not accommodated by many assistance dog training programs, Positive Partners uses “clicker” training, perhaps best known for its use in training whales and dolphins.

Assistance dogs also go directly from the “puppy raiser” to the handler, eliminating the difficult and expensive kennel phase of most service dog training programs. Positive Partners’ costs for training a service dog are as much as $10,000 below those of many other organizations.

For more information or to make a donation, go to the Positive Partners Assistance Dogs website at www.ppadi.org or call (208) 721-1309.

Jo Murray is a public relations consultant to Positive Partners Assistance Dogs.

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