
BECOME A HOME FOR A MAMA OR PAPA DOG
A Breeding Dog Home will provide a PAWS Mama or Papa Dog with a loving home! Providing custom-trained Assistance Dogs to people living with disabilities starts with our breeding program, so our Breeding Dog Homes are an important part of delivering the PAWS mission. As a Mama or Papa Dog home, you’ll provide the dog with love, general care, and basic training.
A Mama Dog Home will also assist with whelping and raising litters until the puppies are about 8 weeks old. The PAWS family is here to help our Breeding Dog Homes every step of the way!
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A BREEDING DOG HOME
- Provide a loving home for the Mama or Papa Dog
- Meet the dog’s daily exercise and nutrition needs
- Attend scheduled Breeding Host meetings at PAWS National Headquarters
- Work on training and basic commands at home
- Keep the dog’s vaccinations and heartworm medications up to date
- Transport the Dog to and from PAWS for breeding sessions and veterinary evaluations
- For Mama Dog Homes, whelp litters of puppies and provide the pups with a safe and loving home until they are 8 weeks old

THE STEPS TO BECOME A BREEDING DOG HOME
Step 2:
Attend a Breeding Dog Home Orientation
Step 4:
Complete a Home Visit & Background Check
The first step to becoming a Mama or Papa Dog home is learning more about the requirements. After determining whether this volunteer opportunity is right for you, you can set up an Breeding Dog Home Orientation. This will give you the opportunity to talk to current PAWS Dog Volunteers and ask questions of PAWS staff members. Prospective Breeding Dog Homes must attend one orientation session prior to submitting an application.
Please request a Mama or Papa Dog orientation by contacting Debby Gaylor at dgaylor@pawswithacause.org or call (616) 877-7297.
After attending the Breeding Dog Home Orientation, you can submit an application to become a Mama or Papa Dog Home. When you’re application is approved, we’ll contact you to schedule a Home Visit and complete a Background Check (for all members of the household ages 18+). This is to ensure a safe environment for our dogs and puppies, staff, and volunteers. When making a decision whether or not to allow service by a prospective volunteer with a criminal history, PAWS will consider:
- The nature and gravity of the offense or conduct
- The time that has passed since the offense/conduct and/or the sentence
- The nature of the volunteer position sought
Important Documents:
Background Check Policy FAQ
Fair Credit Reporting Act – Summary of Rights
Background Screening Authorization Form
