Helping Paws Foster Families Teach Kids Valuable Lessons

When you work with a lot of different non-profit agencies as we do, you find yourself drawn deeply  to the mission of each organization.  Helping Paws in Hopkins, Minnesota is one of those entities.  Yesterday, Helping Paws announced the date and new location of its annual fundraiser called, “Wag, Walk, Run.” The event will be held at Purgatory Creek Recreation Area in Eden Prairie on May 30.  That’s the business part of this post, the purpose is in communicating what makes them so captivating.

Helping Paws mission is to train service dogs to further the independence of individuals with physical disabilities.  I know, “awwww, it sounds nice.”  But it goes beyond nice. Helping Paws relies on volunteers and touches the lives of so many people.  This is true for most charitable organizations.  What I love about the mission though, is it can also teach children the value of helping others.

Specifically, as puppies are turned into service dogs, Helping Paws depends on the support of Foster families.  These families take in puppies (usually golden retrievers) and raise them for two years.  This is a family event in which everyone chips in to walk, feed, play with, love and most importantly, train the puppies.  If you’re a dog person, then you know it takes about 15 minutes to fall in love with most dogs. Well, these families are invested for two years and at the end of that time, they give their puppy to someone who really needs the assistance of “their” dog.  The transfer from Foster Family to recipient occurs at a graduation ceremony and you can imagine, it’s an emotional event.

As a parent, it’s my hope that my children appreciate and understand the need of helping others.  So often we struggle with the best way to do that.  While we believe in the benefits of helping people at times like Christmas and Thanksgiving, we also feel that to really live and understand charity it is most effective if it’s part of your life.  That’s when connections are made and that’s what I love most about Helping Paws and their Foster Families.  It’s an opportunity to teach your kids that the world is bigger than their immediate family, that there are those that need you and your good will.  Imagine.  How would your kids be affected by this process?

Now, in full disclosure and total transparency, we’ve talked about this as a family, but unfortunately we can’t participate as a Foster Family. Everyone in our house is allergic to dog dander and we’re certain it would be detrimental to our health (which some might argue is even a greater sacrifice!). Yet, I’m committed to spreading the word of Helping Paws, their Foster Family program and the benefit of the organization.

So this May 30, let’s meet in Eden Prairie and you can learn more about these amazing animals and the people that make Helping Paws work. Who knows, you might find yourself with a new golden retriever that will truly make a difference in the world.

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