HOUSTON 501(c)(3) PROVIDING FREE SERVICE DOG TRAINING FOR VETERANS AND
PAID TRAINING FOR CIVILIANS
SUFFERING FROM PTSD AND OTHER DISABILITIES

DO I QUALIFY?

Veterans and civilians with a documented disability as defined under the ADA, "...a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities," are quailfied for the assistance of a Service Dog. Veterans with PTS (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and other disabilities receive priority for training and financial assistance from Give Us Paws.
MORE

OUR TRAINING

Give Us Paws Service Dog training follows an eight to twelve-month training program which requires the completion of private training courses, public access training, and customized, one-on-one, disability-specific training. We utilize only positive, clicker-training methods. Dogs are kept motivated and eager to please using treats, excitement, fun, rewards and other surprises.
MORE

SUPPORT A TEAM

Animal/handler teams need your support for training. We rely on your donations to fund our training programs for those with a financial need. Tax-deductible corporate and private sponsorhips available.
MORE

FAQs

If you're looking for a quick reference to information about Give Us Paws, here are some of the most common question that we're asked. If you don't see an answer to your question, please email us at: [email protected].
MORE

Are you or do you know a veteran or civilian with a disability that may be able to use the assistance of a Service Dog?

Please Apply Now

About Us

Give Us Paws is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation based in Houston, Texas. We provide subsidized and free training of eligible candidates' dogs as assistance animals. We focus on veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST),Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and limited mobility. Subsidized services are also provided to civilians determined to be disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Veterans receive priority for funding and training. We train Service Dogs for handlers suffering from disabilities in order to mitigate the symptoms and to improve the quality of their lives.

Give Us Paws is committed to evidence-based training methods and to setting service dog training standards to a high level of reliability that their handlers can depend on. We train in the most efficient manner possible, making sure our trainers are skilled in using positive reinforcement to build the behaviors people with disabilities need to make their service dogs safe and reliable in public.

Give Us Paws helps train Service Dogs to assist their disabled handlers to improve the quality of their lives. Give Us Paws is committed to working with the handlers and dogs as they learn to work together as a team.

There are thousands of returning veterans suffering from PTS having issues adjusting to normal life. The VA does not supply any funding for the training or care for service animals of veterans with PTS and there's a large gap that needs to be filled with extremely limited resources.

*We are not currently training Diabetic Alert Dogs
MORE

Latest news

  •  align= I’m Adam. I am currently going through a medical retirement from the Army after nearly 22 years of service in the Texas National Guard and the Army Reserve. During that span, I had a yearlong deployment to Iraq in 2005-2006, plus another 4-5 years’ worth of stateside active duty tours. Making the decision to accept retirement was a difficult one. While I am proud to be leaving the serv ...more

     align= On September 11, 2001, I started thinking about going into the military, and it took me til 2003, after the Iraq invasion to finally decide to do what I knew that I had to do. So on October 21, 2003, I arrived at basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, as an infantry trainee. After my basic training and infantry AIT, I reported to airborne school and then once completed moved onto RIP (Ranger ind ...more

     align= My name is Natalie, I was in the Army for about six years.  My last rank was E4.  My disability occurred during deployment to Iraq in 2010.  I have PTSD and it affects me by being in crowds and I get bad anxiety to the part I start to have anxiety attacks. I also have diabetes and major depression. I can’t even go to the grocery store it is very uncomfortable. I feel like ever ...more

See all

Facebook