Trainers at Wayland-based PAWS with a Cause tried to help a yellow lab named Mozart become an assistance dog for a person with disabilities but he wasn’t a good fit.
“The same way humans have different personalities and require different jobs; dogs are the exact same way.”
Communications Manager Sidney Baxter says some puppies can’t become service dogs due to health issues such as hip dysplasia or personality traits like being easily distracted, or a multitude of other reasons.
“The cost to breed, raise and train that dog is about $35 ,000 so it’s a big investment in that dog.
Some become facilities dogs at hospitals or schools, and PAWS has now partnered with Jordan Detection K9, a training company that re-certifies dogs for police work.
“These dogs are high-energy, their breed wants to work, they want to work with people, so we found an alternative career for Mozart.”
He eventually found a new career as an Electronic Detection Dog with a sheriff’s office in Kentucky; then just last month he earned a big promotion as the first PAWS dog to be sworn in to the United States Secret Service.
“Mozart definitely found his calling.”
Baxter says of the PAWS puppies that don’t work out as assistance dogs, they’ve been able to place 86% in new careers.
For more information: https://www.pawswithacause.org/
