Helping Paws of Minnesota, Inc., is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to further the independence of individuals with physical disabilities (other than blindness or deafness) through the use of a service dog.  As part of this mission, Helping Paws trains and places service dogs with individuals with disabilities in the state of Minnesota and surrounding areas.

How did Helping Paws get started?

The Center to Study the Human-Animal Relationship & Environment (CENSHARE) at the University of Minnesota started Helping Paws as a pilot program in 1985.  Since then, Helping Paws has incorporated and received its 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.

How is Helping Paws funded?

Helping Paws is funded by individual contributions, group and service club contributions, foundation, corporate and church grants, merchandise sales, and other fundraising activities.  Are you interested in making a donation?  Click here!

Who runs Helping Paws?

As all nonprofit organizations are, Helping Paws is guided by a board of directors. The board has hired four staff members to run the day-to-day operations.  These positions are the Director of Administration, who runs the day to day operations, the Director of Development, who manages and coordinates our fundraising activities, the Director of Programs, who manages all of our programs, and our Graduate Follow-up Coordinator, who works with our graduates as they live their lives with their service dogs.