CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A metro Atlanta area organization is rescuing dogs and training them to help people with disabilities and provide emotional support.
Channel 2′s Tom Regan was at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where members of Paws for Life, and their furry friends, are bringing joy to stress-filled travelers during the holiday season.
At the world’s busiest airport, a helping paw is one sure way to stop stressed travelers in their tracks.
The organization brought pooches, looking for new friends, pats, rubs and hugs.
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They’re therapy dogs and cats, trained by Paws for Life in Marietta. The nonprofit volunteer organization trains mostly dogs to become service animals to help improve the lives of people with a wide range of disabilities.
People in need include veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, those with chronic medical conditions and more.
“Someone who has POTS, somebody who has diabetes, somebody who has seizures, hearing, mobility, medical, we custom train our dogs for all types of disabilities,” Kimberly Brenowitz, Paws for Life USA, said.
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About 30% of the dogs the organization trains are rescues from high-kill shelters, so their trainers are not only giving them a new life, but they’ll also ultimately transform the lives of those they serve.
“I have a client who has children, and she was terrified to go out of her house. Couldn’t go to kids football games,” Brenowitz said. “She got her chocolate lab and she started going out into the public and her world was changed.”
One pup, Joy, was rescued from a shelter and trained to help bring joy to others.
“She had been in the shelter twice, and I wanted to adopt a rescue dog to do animal therapy,” Paula Pinion, Paws for Life, told Channel 2 Action News. “Whatever she has been through in life, all she wants to do is love and be loved.”
Paws for Life is the official animal therapy organization for Atlanta’s airport, lifting the spirits of travelers one hug at a time.
“I think it’s great, it’s so great, Rufus is amazing,” traveler Angel Martin said at the airport.
Over the years, Rufus has given thousands of hugs at the airport to those in need.
“We do miracles with our dogs every day,” Brenowitz said.
Paws for Life relies on donations to train their animals. You can learn more about the organization here.
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