Many of you know our story. But in short, it's one of freedom and joy and so much love we can't even handle it. 

PADS came into my life 14 years ago... and I've never been the same.  Initially I came for the dogs. But I stayed for the people.  The people of this organization breathe life into my soul. I am so proud to be on this team. 

The people of this organization change lives every single day. They have changed mine...they give selflessly of themselves. They take puppies at their worst, give them back at their very best and then do it all over again. 

Because of them, when my body failed me years after raising puppies for others, somehow my sweet Cadence came back to me to journey through life as my mobility Service Dog.

She does so by picking up my dropped keys and keeping me from falling down stairs. 

From the outside I look like an able bodied woman... I often share space and time with people I love... in a cafe or restaurant. Or maybe at my desk working for PADS. But my muscles seize and I often struggle to stand...what had become an awkward moment of holding on to tables or chairs of questionable stability in hopes of not falling... now I have a Golden Retriever of utter reliability. 

Cadence responds to a "pull" and keeps me moving and going. Not only is it physically helpful, it takes the focus off the negative, no one is looking at the awkward woman who has trouble getting to her feet, instead they admire the skilled and joyous pup that has stumbled into their day.  Before Cadence I used a cane regularly, while it was necessary it made me feel self conscious and "old". Most days now my "cane" is the counterbalance provided by a 65lb golden with a bracing harness. 

This dog though...while she is mine, she is also family in every sense of the word and being part of the Doherty family has always meant loving big and hard and sharing that love. There's a reason she fits in so well.

This spring, Cadence and I spent 7 weeks with my aunt after she fell and broke her hip. One morning shortly after we arrived in Calgary, the hospital called, my aunt was distressed and disoriented and they hoped a family member or someone familiar might be able to break through. 

As I came down the hall of the hospital about an hour later I could here my aunt still crying in distress... I walked into the room, masked and PPE'd to the max (gown, mask, gloves, face shield)...my aunt likely couldn't recognize me.

Her eyes followed the leash and she gasped "CADENCE!" and instantly she not only became calm, she knew where she was and who she was with. Her tears disappeared replaced with a smile from ear to ear. Cadence was then able to offer her the physical touch/comfort I could not because of Covid protocols.  There was not a dry eye present. 

Finally, I want to talk about the kinds of dogs PADS breeds.  Many dogs could do the skills that Cadence does, they are behaviours that have been taught and rewarded. But in the last 30 days she's travelled over 6000km by truck, taken 4 flights, stayed in 3 hotels, a campsite and 4 different homes that are new to her and she has not skipped a beat.  She supports fully and completely regardless of what my crazy life and schedule throw at her. She is a dog I am proud to take with me anywhere, I never worry she'll misbehave. It's far more likely I'll embarrass us if I'm honest. 

PADS breeds resilience, they breed stability. They breed excellence. 

Last year we set out to raise $2500 for PADS and blew past our goal to raise $3K. This year we plan to match that total!

Because movement is a challenge for me, Cadey promises to do double time, but I am committing to 600 steps or 60 minutes of wheeling (a day) specific to this campaign from August 1 to 31, 2021.  

- For EVERY single donation we will post a photo for the donor. 
- For donations of $60 or more we will post a video of one of the ways Cadey helps.

Donors may make special requests along with their donation (photo poses, skills to perform, etc) and we will do our very best to oblige.