Whether they’ve been naughty or nice, your furry pets are invited to the 20th Annual Santa PAWS Pet Photos with Santa. This pet friendly event will be take place at Active Re-Entry located at 10 North Fairgrounds on Wednesday, November 30 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, the cost for the event is $10.00 per photo.

“Proceeds benefit the Active Re-Entry PAWS program,” Kathryn Kilborne, Volunteer Coordinator. “PAWS Program is our pet therapy program. PAWS stands for People Animals Working to Serve.”

The PAWS is a volunteer based program which uses animals to facilitate positive changes in a wide range of therapeutic settings. This type of service is becoming more accepted, appreciated and valued.

The PAWS program serves a variety of locations throughout Southeastern Utah, helping many age groups, no matter their physical or mental status. “The library, the schools, in order to provide comfort or entertainment for residences or to work with a licensed therapist in the schools,” said Kilborne.  There are so many benefits that animals can provide that often times people cannot.

There are policies, procedures, guidelines and an evaluation process that handlers and animals must go through before they are considered to be part of the PAWS program. “There is a workshop for the handler, there’s an evaluation for the team and then there is a vet check and practice visit to facilities to see where the team best fits,” said Kilborne. Teams are expected to make visits to their assigned agencies, minimally two times a month; visits usually last 40 minutes to an hour.

The PAWS program takes their code from a quote by Margaret Mead “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

For more information on the PAWS program you can call Active Re-Entry to speak with Katherine at 637-4950