Our New Chapter In Training, Volunteering and Partnerships
Helping Paws is proud to launch Four Paws Forward —a future-focused strategic plan designed to strengthen our assistance dog program through innovation, science, and community. Developed in collaboration with our board, staff, and volunteers, it’s a bold step in our mission to support individuals with physical disabilities, veterans and first responders with PTSD, as well as facility partners in healthcare, education, and justice.
With rising demand and a three-year waitlist, Four Paws Forward is built around four strategic goals:
Host Homes: New Volunteers Opportunity
Host Homes provide loving care for our dogs in training without needing to participate in weekly training classes. Dogs placed in Host Homes continue their development through full-day drop-offs at Helping Paws' new Blue Coat Academy (BCA), where they work with our professional trainers to build and refine the complex skills required to become assistance dogs.
Transportation That Brings Us Together
Affectionately dubbed “D-UBER,” this van ensures that each dog receives professional instruction multiple times per week, regardless of where they’re staying. It supports our new Host Home model, strengthens our training routines, and reduces barriers for volunteers. It’s a small shift that’s already making a big difference in efficiency, accessibility, and dog development.
Strengthening From the Start
At the heart of this effort is our new Herman Puppy Enrichment Center —the first facility of its kind in Minnesota. Our puppies begin enrichment as early as 3 days old, with gentle touch, scent introductions, and sensory activities that stimulate neurological development. By 5–6 weeks, they’re introduced to car rides, problem-solving games, and early socialization.
Support Long After Graduation
We’re deepening our support of Graduate Partnerships by opening new community-centered resources at our Eden Prairie facility:
- A grooming center, including a professional-grade washing tub.
- A new indoor dog park will provide year-round opportunities.
- More opportunities for graduates to connect beyond our facility
