The Lend a Paw program is designed to rescue dogs from the shelter and train them to be Therapy dogs to help people in need. For those less fortunate, they can provide invaluable companionship, affection and unconditional love. Our goal is to rescue dogs from the shelter and place a select few into our Lend a Paw program, not only providing a service to those in need but promoting the fact that mixed breeds and rescued dogs can be used for therapy and assistance work without relying on additional breeding.

Individuals are also invited to join our LAP team with their own personal dogs if the dogs have the required obedience and temperament for therapy work.

Rescuing and Training for Therapy Work

  • New Leash On Life founder, Bobby Dorafshar and Lend a Paw coordinator, Sharon Vincuilla, both skilled in obedience and temperament testing, select dogs from the shelter.

  • After evaluation, some dogs will be entered into the Lend a Paw program while the majority of dogs will be placed in the Adoption Program and made available for immediate adoption.

  • Dogs entering the Lend a Paw program will go through a training program, at the end of which the LAP Coordinator will evaluate each dog and determine its level of competency. Dogs that have completed training but do not have the needed temperament for therapy work will be placed for adoption fully trained and ready to go to a loving home. This is also unique to rescue groups, but helps to guarantee an easier transition into its new home while ensuring a permanent placement. The new parents will also go through training to learn to maintain the dog's good manners and obedience training.

  • The dogs who exhibit the temperament required and the ability to learn more complex behaviors will move on to begin training to become Therapy dogs. Once this training is complete, the dog will be ready to visit hospitals, schools, senior care centers and other locations to enhance the lives of people.

Our Lend a Paw team provides people and dogs with the training skills needed to be successful. We can help pair you with a Therapy dog so you can visit schools, hospitals and care centers, providing support to other individuals.

If you are interested in doing Therapy work, whether you have your own dog, are looking to foster or adopt a Lend a Paw dog or just want to volunteer your time, contact Sharon Vincuilla at sharon@k9sonly.com or 818-344-9663.