PEORIA MAGAZINE July 2023

S P O T L I G H T

A LIFE-CHANGING RELATIONSHIP, ON BOTH SIDES Two local organizations

train service dogs to help people with disabilities and struggling military veterans

Steve Kouri and his service dog Bard from Paws Giving Independence

BY LINDA SMITH BROWN PHOTOS BY RON JOHNSON

A rchaeological evidence shows that dogs and humans started getting friendly with one another some 30,000 years ago. Humans gave the wolves shelter, and canines helped humans hunt for food. All along their shared journey, the loyal dog has been a trusted companion. Two non-profit organizations in the Peoria area are building upon that historic relationship by training and matching service dogs to people with disabilities. PAWS GIVING INDEPENDENCE Paws Giving Independence was started in Peoria in 2008 by Donna Kosner, her daughter Michelle Yuen and their friend Brandy Weyers. The three women had been volunteering for a service dog program

in Chicago when it disbanded. They weren’t ready to walk away, and Paws Giving Independence was born. With the help of four Bradley University professors, students were recruited to help train dogs right on the campus. Another student training group was started at Illinois State University. “Students do a great job with socializing and the basic skills training,” said Kosner. “The people our dogs go to are going to lead active lives. They’re going to go to concerts, basketball games, Cubs games and Bears games. Besides learning the skills of pulling doors open and doing the light switches and things like that, they need to be comfortable in all settings.” The student trainers give them that experience. All dogs from PGI are given to their recipients free of charge.

The group must raise $55,000 a year to cover costs, with veterinary costs being the largest expense at $30,000, even though local veterinarians treat PGI dogs at a reduced cost. Uftring Auto Group and the First Federated Church of Peoria were among the first to provide financial support to PGI and continue that support to this day. PGI is an all-volunteer organization. Some dogs come from rescue groups and others are donated by breeders in the area. “The breed of dog is not an issue,” said Kosner, “but because we’re placing a lot of dogs with recipients who have mobility issues, they have to be bigger dogs.” They look for dogs that will grow to be 50 to 75 pounds and tall enough to reach a light switch on the wall. Most PGI dogs are trained to assist people who have mobility issues or are in a wheelchair. The dogs also must

30 JULY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE