Author: Hailey VanderWilt, Communications Coordinator
From the moment guests arrived at Indian Trails Camp, the PAWS community was there to welcome them. 14 Visiting PAWS teams greeted guests as they made their way into the event, offering plenty of wagging tails, friendly faces, and a glimpse of the partnerships at the heart of the evening.
Tails, Trails & Triumphs brought together PAWS clients, volunteers, supporters, friends, and families for an evening of connection and celebration. Throughout the night, guests shared stories, enjoyed time together, and celebrated the people and dogs who make the PAWS mission possible. Together, the community raised $65,000 to support the PAWS mission to transform lives and strengthen communities through partnerships with custom-trained working dogs.
Find photos from the night on Paws With A Cause’s Facebook page.
Stories That Bring the Mission to Life
Some of the evening’s most meaningful moments came from the people whose lives have been directly touched by PAWS.
When Dave and Sandy Smith received the Heart of PAWS Award, the room gave them a standing ovation. Their 40 years of generosity and dedication to Paws With A Cause have helped make countless partnerships possible, and seeing the community come together to recognize them was a special moment.
The Vogel family also shared their story about their experience with Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital PAWS facility dog, INDY GREY, during a challenging time. Having INDY GREY and her handler, Spencer, at the event made hearing their story even more meaningful. Guests heard firsthand about the difference INDY GREY made for Acadia and the entire Vogel family during her time at the hospital.
Want to hear more about the Vogel family’s journey with INDY GREY? Watch their full story here.q
A Celebration of the PAWS Community
Behind every PAWS dog is a community of people who make their partnership possible.
From breeding host homes and puppy raisers who welcome young dogs into their homes to trainers who help prepare them for their future work, every step of the journey requires dedication. Donors, volunteers, clients, families, and supporters all play a role, too.
Tails, Trails & Triumphs was a chance to bring that community together and celebrate the many people who make PAWS possible.
The evening was filled with conversations, laughter, stories, and plenty of dogs. It was a reminder that while every PAWS partnership is unique, none of them happen alone.
Looking Ahead
The triumphs celebrated at Indian Trails Camp are only part of the story. There are puppies just beginning their journeys, dogs in training, and future communities and clients waiting for the right partnership.
The best part of Tails, Trails & Triumphs was getting to see the PAWS community together: the people, the dogs, and the partnerships that remind us why this work matters. Thank you to everyone who joined us, raised a glass, shared a story, welcomed guests, supported the event, and helped make the evening possible.
