4 Paws for Ability Mission & Vision Statements, Goals, & Competitive Advantages

Mission Statement

• Enrich the lives of people with disabilities by the training and placement of service dogs to provide individuals with companionship and promote independent living
• Educate the public to accept the use of service dogs in public places
• Assist with animal rescue whenever possible by obtaining many of our animals from shelters and rescue groups

Vision Statement

It is 4 Paws vision to have a large corps of volunteers to assist in all areas of the day-to-day operations of the agency as well as serving on committees to assist in specialized areas of need, such as marketing and fundraising.

We would also like to see a sufficient number of employees to manage a growing organization though it is 4 Paws desire to have volunteers meeting most of the agency's needs, to keep the costs associated with service dog placement at a reasonable level.

The Corporation seeks to be financially independent with funds available to those clients who are not able to participate in the fundraising process.

One of the Corporation's visions is that 4 Paws would become the preferred provider of service dogs for children at a national level, within the scope of the organization's abilities.

Primary Goals

• Provide as many people as possible, within the scope of our ability to serve, and with disabilities falling under the definition of such in the Americans With Disability Act (1990) with access to a qualified service animal trained specifically for their needs, regardless of age and severity of disability.
• Reduce the number of unwanted animals who would otherwise be destroyed by obtaining the majority of our animals from shelters and rescue groups.
• Increase public awareness of the laws regarding service animals and the value they provide their owners.

4 Paws Unique Competitive Advantages

1. Faster turnaround time for training and receipt of a service dog. The process typically takes 12 - 18 months from start to finish with 9 - 12 months of this being after the funds are raised. These months (9 - 12) are the months the dog is in training. The waiting period for most service dog organizations is 2 - 3 years, with some waits as long as 5 years.
2. Challenges are welcomed. 4 Paws is willing to reach out and tackle the more difficult placements.
3. Enviable success rate. We have a 98% success rate in placements using donated and rescue animals: we have a 90% success rate with the first dog placed in the home and an overall success rate of 98%.
4. Flexible training. Training that can provide unique and highly customized kinds of placements.
5. Nationwide. National outreach rather primarily regional.
6. Open to more individuals. No restrictions placed on age at placement. 4 Paws has no minimal age requirement and does not discriminate based on severity of disability within the programs it provides.
7. Pet Friendly. 4 Paws does not require that recipients give up their pets to receive a service dog as many agencies do.

4 Paws for Ability relies on the generosity of individuals, as well as corporations, and accepts donations for operating expenses, training, food, toys, training supplies, medication, and our building fund. Fundraising occurs primarily by the applicant with the assistance of 4 Paws. Given our current facility expansion at 207 Dayton Avenue, alternate sources of funding are necessary to achieve the required renovation and expansion plans.

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