No ‘bones about it’ – this sale helps change lives
By Kim Chiomento, Staff Writer, The Times
POCOPSON – The Paws4Vets program invites the community to consider helping disabled Veterans receive therapy dogs when purchasing their Christmas trees this year.
Photo compliments of Joan Brady Photography
The tree sale lot, located on the idyllic property of Northbrook Marketplace, 1805 Unionville-Wawaset Road – West Chester, features Fraser & Douglas Firs, Wreaths and Pine Roping. Prices range approximately $45 for 5’-6’ trees on up to about $120 for the larger, majestic 10’-12’ trees. Customers will often have the opportunity to spend time with some of the therapy dogs during their visit.
The Paws4Vets organization prides itself in selling only the freshest trees to their supporters. The trees start being cut the day after Thanksgiving; and then, are immediately transported to Northbrook. Hours of the sale are: Mon-Fri: 3 – 6pm, and weekends, 8am-6pm, payments: cash, checks or credit card.
According to Paws4Vets volunteer, David Burry, it currently costs around $25,000 to breed, raise, train and place each service dog. The training and socialization process can begin as early as 8 weeks of age and takes about two years to complete. Fundraisers, like the tree sale, help make a significant dent in those expenses. In addition, recipients of the service dogs are asked to personally fundraise around $10,000 and the Paws4People Foundation works to pay the remaining portion.
‘Inzlie’ and ‘Brooke’ greet customers this week along with Paws4Vets volunteer, David Burry.
Locally, West Chester’s Paws Training Center has formed a special partnership to help train these loyal service dogs and donates 100% of their profits from their other dog-related services to Paws4People Foundation.
In addition, two community businesses – Northbrook Marketplace (famous for their apple cider donuts) and J&E Landscaping are key reasons why the sale is able to occur. Northbrook generously donates its land and parking lot; while J&E Landscaping’s Joshua Burry helps to purchase and assists with the delivery of trees at no cost to the Foundation. Between four and five volunteers brave the weather and elements daily to staff the tree lot and also assist customers loading trees into their cars.
The Paws4Vets organization is a division of the non-profit Paws4People Foundation; founded in 1999 by then 12 year-old Kyria Henry. Henry made it her personal mission to find a way to use highly trained dogs as a means of helping people. Fifteen years later, the Foundation continues to grow; and now as an adult she remains active serving as its CEO.
The Paws4People dogs assist a diverse group of citizens including active-duty members of the military, Veterans, children, senior citizens and inmates, by utilizing the highly unique, special qualities and bond that come with canine companionship. The Foundation offers highly customized service through specialized educational, private placement, therapeutic and visitation dog programs.
To date, over 300 highly trained assistance dogs have been placed and provide support in areas including mobility and psychiatric service, educational and rehabilitative assistance, and social therapy. Combined, these dogs have made more than 1,000,000 therapeutic contacts in countless settings.
For more information on Paws4People please visit: www.paws4people.org.
