ARKANSAS SERVICE PAWS

Arkansas Service Paws (ARSP) provides Service Dog Training classes, dogs, and specialized equipment to our clients so they can train their own Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Military Sexual Trauma (MST) service dogs. Veterans and First Responders give so much of themselves to protect our society and protect our freedoms, we want to do everything we can to help support them. The United States loses approximately 22 Veterans a day to suicide and law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. ARSP trained service dogs save our clients’ lives. Our dogs are trained to identify each client’s unique stressors and perform tasks that directly disrupt escalation of symptoms, thus enhancing their quality of life. Tasks may be performed for anxiety, hypervigilance and generalized fear. They do this in a variety of ways, including nightmare interruption, turning on lights, and retrieving items. The dog also supports their handler in crowded public situations by creating barriers and distance in situations that might provoke anxiety for individuals with PTSD.

ARSP does this through training classes that last between 12-18 months. These classes are broken into four phases of training: Handler's Training, AKC Canine Good Citizen Training, Public Access Training, and Disability Mitigation Training. The first phase is completed before receiving a canine partner and the final three phases are completed with their canine companion.

Arkansas Service Paws provides each handler and canine team with over $4,000.00 in equipment and supplies at no charge. This includes equipment such as a head halter, body harness, kennel, service dog vest, treat bag, clicker, portable water container, waste pickup bags, treats plus many more required items.

ARSP procures dogs from a variety of sources, including animal shelters, rescues, and dog donations. The majority of our dogs will always be from the local animal shelters as this is critical to our mission. We make it our mission to save two lives — a Veteran/First Responder and a shelter dog. Our procurement team diligently searches surrounding animal shelters, seeking suitable Service Dog candidates.

Graduates of the program learn to live happier, more fulfilled lives. Many reunite with their families and friends, go back to school, find renewed enjoyment in life, and are able to reduce their medications. We give our clients’ the ability to live a more independent life while not isolating from their communities.