WAYLAND, Michigan — For 45 years, Paws With A Cause has placed custom-trained assistance dogs with people who need them. Soon, they'll finally have the facility to support that mission.
Back in April, the nonprofit launched the public phase of its first-ever community capital campaign to allow the organization to expand, totaling $9.5 million. On Tuesday, they broke ground on the facility.
Paws has been operating out of their current building since 1994 and leaders say they've outgrown it. The expansion will include updated training facilities as well as a breeding clinic and a veterinary clinic.
“Due to the age of our buildings, we are not working as efficiently as we could be,” said Michelle Suchovksy, CEO.
The new building will have facilities to simulate real-life environments to train the dogs in focus.
"If we can train them in a real-world experience on our campus... they're going to be that much more successful for their clients," said Suchovsky.
They've raised just over $8.6 million of the $9.5 million needed. That full amount will build a 4,500-square-foot addition, making 55,000 square feet of renovations.
Suchovsky says they receive over 400 qualified applications for assistance dogs every year, but they can only serve about 50 of those requests. They hope the new building doubles that.
"We don't want to say no to people when they apply for it a service dog, and so this is going to help us to do that," she said.
A ribbon cutting on the building is planned for September 2025. You can make a donation on Paws With A Cause's website.
"This is the blessing of West Michigan. People believe in helping their neighbors, helping each other. We all know that there are times when we need a hand up and we need a space to be able to thrive and be independent. And that's exactly what a service dog does" Suchovsky said. "It helps create places for people to live with dignity, companionship, confidence and independence."