Author: Hailey VanderWilt, Communications Coordinator
Get tickets to Tails, Trails & Triumphs.
This fall, Paws With A Cause (PAWS) will introduce a brand-new event celebrating the people and partnerships at the heart of its mission. Tails, Trails & Triumphs will bring the PAWS community together for an evening inspired by nature, community, and the life-changing bond between people and PAWS working dogs.
On Wednesday, September 16, guests will gather at Indian Trails Camp in Grand Rapids for a cozy camp-like atmosphere, inspired bites, fall sips, and meaningful stories. Tails, Trails & Triumphs will celebrate the life-changing partnerships between PAWS facility dogs and the communities they serve, while honoring two dedicated volunteers who have spent decades supporting the organization.
Honoring the Heart of PAWS
At Tails, Trails & Triumphs, PAWS will honor longtime volunteers Dave and Sandy Smith with the 2026 Heart of PAWS Award. Their connection to PAWS spans four decades, beginning as donors in the 1980s and growing into a lifetime of service to the organization and its mission.
The Smiths raised their first PAWS puppy, Cece Marie, in 2016. Since then, Dave and Sandy have raised a total of seven PAWS puppies and expanded their involvement in countless ways.
Their volunteer service has included puppy raising, mentoring and recruiting new puppy raisers, assisting a PAWS Puppy Club, serving as a breeding host home, volunteering with the PAWS Prison Program, helping in various roles on campus, transporting PAWS dogs, assisting with veterinary care, serving as PAWS ambassadors and docents, and volunteering with Visiting PAWS dogs PAISLEY and ASTRO. Dave also previously served on the PAWS Board of Directors.
For the past four years, the Smiths have opened their home to two mama dogs as a breeding host home. During that time, they have whelped four litters and cared for a total of 24 puppies. Every litter brought new challenges, new lessons, and a strong sense of fulfillment.
Being trusted with the responsibility of whelping puppies was meaningful to the Smiths, but their commitment to PAWS has always been about more than one volunteer role or one dog.
A Lifetime of Giving Back
For Dave and Sandy, volunteering has been part of their lives for generations. Sandy’s family raised a puppy for another service dog organization in the 1970s, and both Dave and Sandy grew up watching their parents lead by example through service to their communities and church.
The Smiths began donating to PAWS in the 1980s through workplace giving. Years later, friends and fellow PAWS puppy raisers encouraged them to take the next step and become puppy raisers themselves. Since raising their first PAWS puppy in 2016, Dave and Sandy have continued finding new ways to support the organization.
What continues to inspire them is the people that create the PAWS community, the incredible work PAWS dogs are trained to do, and the many community partnerships that help bring the mission to life. They have seen how a PAWS working dog can open a world of independence for clients and communities, and they value the opportunity to play a part in making those partnerships possible.
For Dave and Sandy, their involvement with PAWS has brought a deep sense of connection and purpose. They feel valued as members of the PAWS community and find joy in knowing their time and talents help make a difference.
“Giving really does fill our souls,” they shared. “When you volunteer, you get more than you give.”
The Ripple Effect of a Facility Dog
The impact of a PAWS working dog can extend far beyond a single person. Facility dogs are specially trained to support multiple people in settings such as hospitals, schools, universities, and other community environments. 
At Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, PAWS facility dogs have provided this kind of support firsthand, helping families navigate moments of medical uncertainty and emergency. In moments when families may be facing fear, uncertainty, and overwhelming emotions, the presence of a professionally trained facility dog can provide comfort, connection, and a sense of safety.
Unlike assistance dogs, which are trained to support one individual, facility dogs are placed with designated handlers to serve multiple people. Their calm, steady, and friendly temperaments make them well-suited for environments where people may benefit from social interaction, comfort, motivation, and emotional support.
From hospitals and mental health care facilities to schools, courthouses, child advocacy centers, and senior living communities, facility dogs have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many people each day.
INDI’s work at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is one example of the ripple effect made possible by these remarkable partnerships. A single facility dog can touch the lives of countless people, offering comfort and support when it is needed most.
Together, at Tails, Trails & Triumphs, we will celebrate the triumphs that happen when compassion, community, and canine companionship come together.
Join Us at Tails, Trails & Triumphs
The inaugural Tails, Trails & Triumphs event will take place Wednesday, September 16, at 6 P.M. at Indian Trails Camp in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Guests will enjoy a camp-inspired fall evening surrounded by nature, complete with tasty bites, fall sips, and meaningful moments celebrating the PAWS mission.
Join us as we honor Dave and Sandy Smith with the 2026 Heart of PAWS Award and celebrate the life-changing impact of PAWS working dogs and the people who make their work possible.
Purchase your tickets or explore sponsorship opportunities today.
