I cannot tell you how much I'm in love with one of our CSR programs the team here at HQ has pulled together.  I'm in puppy love!

We'll have the great opportunity to work with Pacific Assistance Dogs (PADS) at WEC in Vancouver.  PADS raises and trains assistance dogs for people who are facing the daily challenges of life with a physical disability or who are Deaf or hard of hearing.  PADS is a charitable, non-profit organization located in Burnaby, B.C., with an office in Calgary. PADS relies entirely on fundraising, grants and donations to finance the care and training of our amazing dogs.

MPI is excited to work with PADS and to sponsor one of their clients who works in the meeting and events industry to attend the full conference and participate in all the meeting’s activities.  Their client will be accompanied by the service dog throughout the meeting.  And better still, we'll also offer the attendees the opportunity to cuddle with the puppies.  PADS will bring several dogs that attendees can spend time cuddling with, petting or just stare at and smile.  These puppy cuddling sessions will give the dog some down time from their serious training.  This cuddling time allows the puppies to explore the world and get acquainted with new surroundings and people.  This is valuable socialization tool for these dogs.

Because there is no way of knowing exactly what kind of job the dog will eventually have, puppies must be exposed to as many different human situations as possible when they are young. They go to work with their puppy-raisers to learn the patience needed for human employment. They travel on every mode of transportation possible. They shop regularly with their raisers to learn that the meat counter in a grocery store, or the stuffed animals lined up in a toy aisle, are not provided for their personal enjoyment. They learn how to meet and greet people politely and with reserved interest, so that when they are eventually teamed with a client, they will know how to be steady and supportive at the client's side.

We hope that the attendees enjoy the participation in this event.  With their help the puppies will become better socialized and assist early on in the puppies very extensive and highly involved training.  This event will leave a lasting impact not only on the Vancouver community, but will help positively impact individual lives throughout Canada.