Introduction:
At RocDog we are: “People helping Dog’s help People” and to this end we want to rescue and help place as many dogs as possible out of shelters and into loving homes and in turn support these families. This effort has several parts and pieces that mix well to help Dogs and People.
Current PAWS Project efforts are:
- RocDog Rescue (finding and rehoming dogs that deserve another chance).
- PAWS for Hearts Project (dogs and training for special needs families homes).
Future PAWS Project efforts are:
- PAWS Seniors (rescuing and placing Senior Dog’s into new forever homes).
- PAWS Pantry (food resources for dogs in need).
The PAWS Project from RocDog is a community outreach initiative by RocDog, Inc., a nonprofit therapy dog organization based in Rochester, New York. Founded in 2021, RocDog focuses on training and deploying therapy dogs to support various community needs, including visits to over 500 facilities across New York such as schools, hospitals, and senior centers, and so much more.
PAWS for Hearts Project:
The heart of the PAWS Project is to help special needs families get and train dogs to support their families.
In the last 4 years we have seen firsthand what dogs can do to improve the quality of life for special needs families.
At RocDog we Rescue dogs and Train them to do amazing things for Special Needs families. The Project is broken down into five distinct Programs:
- PAWS that Connect: Special Therapy Dog visits for comfort and joy for a Special Needs person.
- PAWS that Comfort: Place Emotional Support Dogs for Special Needs Families
- PAWS that Support: Place Therapy/Support Dogs for Special Needs Families.
- PAWS that Serve: Place Psychiatric Service Dogs for Special Needs Families.
- PAWS that Help: Place Service Dogs for Special skills (coming at some point in the future).
While these five projects are different with their outcome with training, they are remarkably similar in many regards. All of these Projects look to focus on helping Special Needs Families, with amazing dogs that can support their families in the right way. Every family is different and requires specific skills and support.
Western New York has very limited resources for Special Needs Families and the costs can be so high that these special dogs are not able to become part of many families. RocDog’s goal has been simple. Help anyway we can help these families understand what options are available to them and assist them if possible.
PAWS Rescue:
The PAWS Rescue Project is a very specialized group of people working together to seek out and find dogs with the right temperament to more into one of 2 Projects created by RocDog. These are:
- PAWS for Hearts Project (rescuing dogs to be able to place and trained to support special needs families).
- PAWS Seniors (Rescuing and rehoming senior dogs to give them one more chance at love).
for Hearts Project is a specialized initiative by RocDog (Community Working Dogs) aimed at rescuing dogs from shelters and training them to serve as therapy, support, or service animals for special needs families. It b
Dog Rescue and Intake Process:
Foster Network: Place dogs in volunteer foster homes for ongoing evaluation and early socialization.
Sourcing Dogs: Partner with local rescues, shelters, breeders, and community networks to identify dogs with calm, empathetic temperaments.
Initial Evaluation: Health check: Vaccinations, spay/neuter, and treatment for any medical issues. Temperament testing: Assess sociability, stress response, and trainability using tools.
Foster Network: Place dogs in volunteer foster homes for ongoing evaluation and early socialization.
PAWS Seniors Project (under construction):
The RocDog “PAWS Seniors” is an exciting new PAWS Project designed to help Senior dogs that are in Shelters or in need of being Rehomed and chance for a great live with a new family for their remaining years..
PAWS Pantry Project (under construction):
The RocDog “Paws Pantry” is an exciting new effort within the PAWS Project. We are currently working to flesh out what this effort will look like and how best to Serve our communities, More Soon.
PAWS: How to get Started (under construction):
The RocDog “PAWS that SERVE” is geared to support Special Needs Families that need a Psychiatric Service Dog. This program is an extension of our Therapy/Support Project, but so much more effort around Training for everyone. The goal is small group specialized training for you and your dog. This training is e low paced training. Not easily to be found in the community.
The process is straight forward:
- We find a Special Needs Family in need.
- Then we find the dog we think can fit.
- Dog goes into foster care with a Volunteer/Mentor
- Dog Training with Mentor and family in very small classes.
- Dog placed into Special Needs Families home when ready.
- Therapy Dog Training and Certification.
- Service Dog Training and Certification.
- Continue to Mentor family after placement.
Special Needs families have been told they need special Service Dogs that can cost up to $50,000 or more. At RocDog we believe that our Psychiatric Service Dog Project can do amazing things with a family if given a chance. Through the generous donations from businesses and people in the community, families only pay a small fee for their dogs.
Contact us and let us help you.
PAWS: Dog Highlight: (under construction):
The RocDog “PAWS Dog Highlight” is place we can showcase a dog in need of a new home. Whether the PAWS for Hearts Project or the PAWS Seniors Project. Working to get set up soon.
Help Support our Efforts (under construction):
How can you help? As RocDog grows we have more and more different opportunities for people to get involved with RocDog and a number of different levels. Come make a difference within your community as you partner with us to improve the lives of everyone we meet.
The following are some resources to help you with this entire process:
The 3-3-3 Rule for Rescue Dogs: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help Your Dog Adjust – YouTube