Author: Sidney Baxter
At Paws With A Cause (PAWS), the journey to a life-changing partnership begins at our facility. When the demand for these partnerships began to grow, we built a plan to help.
In 2024, PAWS reached a monumental milestone as we officially broke ground on the largest project in our nearly 45-year history: a $9.5 million facility renovation at our national headquarters in Wayland, Michigan.
This project wasn’t just about buildings. It was about people—the clients waiting to meet the dog that will change their lives. Volunteers who give their time and heart to our mission. Staff who show up every day to make magic happen.
So, What Do Facilities Have to Do with People?
Behind every dog we train are the people and communities who need them. And while our hearts have never wavered in that mission, our walls were holding us back.
Simply put, we’d outgrown our space. Originally built in 1994, our facility had seen minimal updates in three decades. Although this space had served our team well, one thing became clear in recent years: our ability to reach more people was limited because of our surroundings.
Our facilities weren’t keeping pace with the demand for assistance and facility dogs. Training rooms didn’t reflect real-life environments. Veterinary and breeding areas needed updates to operate more efficiently. And the buildings themselves lacked the accessibility our clients deserve.
That’s why we launched the Embrace the Journey Capital Campaign, to help fund a facility renovation and create the space needed to support the life-changing work we do every day.
A Campaign Fueled by You
When we launched the public phase of the campaign in April 2024, our community showed up. Within one year, we surpassed our $9.5 million goal, thanks to the generosity of those who know just how powerful the partnership of a PAWS dog can be.
“What started as a simple goal to serve more people became a $9.5 million campaign and a full-scale renovation,” said Michele Suchovsky, PAWS CEO. “With this project, we are taking a major step toward providing greater independence, confidence, and companionship for people through the partnership of a PAWS dog.”
With enough funds secured, we broke ground on the facility renovation that summer.
A Space That Matches the Mission
Construction began in August 2024 with help from FMD Architects and Dan Vos Construction. From day one, the focus has been on how each space will better serve our clients, our dogs, and our mission.
Here’s what’s changing:
- A new state-of-the-art Training Center that reflects the setting of real homes, workplaces, and other public spaces
- Expanded breeding and foster puppy areas to welcome more PAWS dogs into the world
- Improved ADA accessibility for a more inclusive experience for all clients
- An upgraded Veterinary Clinic to provide expert care on-site
- A new Canine Village to provide our dogs more enrichment and comfort during their time in-training
Every detail was designed with purpose, so we can train more dogs and transform more lives.
What’s Next? A Ribbon, Some Scissors, & A Lot of Gratitude
Renovations are set to wrap up in October 2025, and as the final details come into place, we’re already looking ahead to what’s next: a ribbon cutting and open house events planned for early November.
But these events are about more than updated buildings and fresh paint. They’re about everything this space now makes possible. We can’t wait to open our doors and show you what you helped build. But more than that, we can’t wait for the moments that will happen inside.
With your support, we didn’t just renovate our buildings; we created more room for possibility, partnership, and the life-changing power of a PAWS dog.
