Certification Celebration: October 2018

Congratulations to the Assistance Dog Teams that were certified in October!


Ashley and REASON
Breeding Host Homes:
Mama Dog housed by: John and Kathy Barnes
Foster Puppy Raiser: Kathy Moore


Darlene and NIKE
Breeding Host Homes:
Mama Dog housed by: Stuart and Ellen Dykstra
Foster Puppy Raiser: Duane and Laurie Wright


Guinrvere and SOLSTICE
Breeding Host Homes:
Mama Dog housed by: Scott and Kathy Yeske
Papa Dog housed by: Ken and Mary Blain
Foster Puppy Raiser: Jennifer Trout


Jannette and SAPPHIRE
Breeding Host Homes:
Mama Dog housed by: Scott and Kathy Yeske
Papa Dog housed by: Ken and Mary Blain
Foster Puppy Raiser: Lori and Autumn Melton


Katrina and KYRA
Breeding Host Homes:
Mama Dog housed by: Scott and Renee Fles
Foster Puppy Raiser: Wayne and Debra


Pam and DAYA
Breeding Host Homes:
Papa Dog housed by: Heather Miller
Mama Dog housed by: Erin Taylor Werth
Foster Puppy Raiser: Kay Luce

Thank you to all of our PAWS Dog Volunteers and supporters for making these Assistance Dog Teams possible!

PAWS Welcomes New CEO

Welcome Michele Suchovsky!

The Paws With A Cause® Board of Directors has announced that after a national search, the PAWS® Board has selected Michele Suchovsky to serve as the new Chief Executive Officer of Paws With A Cause. Michele will officially join PAWS on Monday, November 12. She succeeds Mike and Candye Sapp who served as co-founders of PAWS and Jane Timmer who very graciously and ably has served as Interim CEO during the past several months.

Michele believes that all people should have the right and opportunity to live independent, full lives and that PAWS is a critical resource for helping people to find and maintain independence. She is excited to join us in this important work.

“I am honored and grateful to the board for this opportunity to lead Paws With A Cause to its next level of growth and impact. The visionary leadership of Mike and Candye and their exceptional team of dedicated and talented staff set an incredible level of excellence and have enhanced the independence and quality of life for thousands of people with disabilities and their families across the country. I am thrilled to join this extraordinary team and to build upon the PAWS tradition of innovation and transformational change in the field of custom-trained Assistance Dog Teams.”—Michele Suchovsky

An experienced nonprofit leader, Michele has served for 15 years as executive director of two nonprofit organizations, the first an arts and disability organization and the second an education organization. In these roles, she helped to grow both organizations into thriving nonprofit agencies impacting the lives of children and adults throughout West Michigan. She most recently served as Executive Director of the Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation (GRSAF), a strategic fundraising partner of the Grand Rapids Public Schools that advances education opportunities for all students in the district.

Prior to her career in nonprofit management, Michele served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable George R. Corsiglia in Allegan County and as an Associate Attorney at Straub, Seaman & Allen. Michele received a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School and a B.A. from The University of Michigan. In March of this year, Michele was named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan by the Grand Rapids Business Journal.

Michele’s career has been focused on making a difference in the lives of others, and we are confident that her leadership, vision and experience will strengthen our mission and ability to enhance the independence and quality of life for the individuals and families we serve.

Certification Celebration: September 2018

Congratulations to the Assistance Dog Teams that were certified in September!


Amy Jo and BEAUTY
Breeding Host Homes:
Mama Dog housed by: Stuart and Ellen Dykstra
Papa Dog housed by: CJ Davis
Foster Puppy Raiser: John and Shelie Ross


Elliot and ULA
Breeding Host Homes:
Mama Dog housed by: Chuck and Katie King
Foster Puppy Raiser: Jim and Patti Borlee


Joe and CALVIN
Breeding Host Homes:
Mama Dog housed by: Bill and Diane Haddix
Papa Dog housed by: David and Diane Rottiers
Foster Puppy Raiser: Jeff and Sara DeYoung


Jim and NINA
Breeding Host Homes:
Mama Dog housed by: Stuart and Ellen Dykstra
Foster Puppy Raiser: Nate and Jessica Stuart


Lisa and ZOWEE
Breeding Host Homes:
Mama Dog housed by: Mike and Michele Ripka
Foster Puppy Raiser: Nicholas McKenney


Mary and DAISY
Breeding Host Homes:
Mama Dog housed by: Scott and Kathy Yeske
Foster Puppy Raiser: Kim Bissinger


Molly and MATER
Breeding Host Homes:
Mama Dog housed by: Erin Werth
Papa Dog housed by: Heather Miller
Foster Puppy Raiser: Janice Flanery


Noah and CLAY
Breeding Host Homes:
Mama Dog housed by: Mike and Michele Ripka
Foster Puppy Raiser: Tina Reynolds

Thank you to all of our PAWS Dog Volunteers and supporters for making these Assistance Dog Teams possible!