🐾 Pets Are Working Saints (P.A.W.S.) 🐾
PETS ARE WORKING SAINTS (P.A.W.S.)
The PAWS (Pets Are Working Saints) Ministry involves humans/handlers and their dogs ministering to WUMC and the community by visiting people who are having difficulties in life and/or just need a warm, fuzzy interaction to bring them some joy and make them smile. Some of the ways people benefit from interacting with dogs include:
-lowered stress levels
-reduced blood pressure
-increased socialization
-decreased loneliness
-increased psychosocial functioning
-increased social competenace
-increased life satisfaction
-improved mental functioning
-improved psychological well- being
-increased relaxation
-increased enjoyment and fun/play
-reduced suicidal ideation and behaviors
PAWS holds classes to assist handlers in training their dogs to test to become AKC Canine Good Citizens, then to test to become Certified Therapy Dogs through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Over many years, these therapy dogs teams have gone on numerous PAWS Ministry visits, including visits to nursing homexs, hospices, private homes of congregation members,The Baby Fold, ISU residence hall, public libraries, Rader Farms Days, local schools, Wesley VBS, memorial services, Carle Behavioral Health, and more. All involved – handlers, dogs, and the people we visit – benefit from this ministry.
Thus far, all dogs that have taken our training class and tested for AKC Canine Good Citizen designation and the Alliance of Therapy Dog certification have passed and become certified therapy dogs and valued members of the PAWS PACK serving WUMC and our community.
