COLUMBIA, S.C. — At PAALS, every paw has a purpose, and so, the safety of their dogs during severe weather is a top priority. The facility has a well-thought-out procedure in place to ensure the safety of these future service dogs.
PAALS stands for Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services and their mission is to train and provide service dogs for a variety of functional needs. Melissa Payne, the executive director at PAALS, says safety is something taken very seriously at the facility.
“If we know there's a tornado watch, for example, we'll watch the weather. If we see that it's turned to a warning, we'll make sure that all of the trainers get their dogs and we actually move them into interior spaces in our building away from windows,” says Payne.
Designated safe spaces are a must for severe weather preparation. Just like PAALS, we should have emergency kits prepared for yourself, your family, and your pets.
Payne mentions: “In case we don't have water or there are bottles of water in there. We also have toys. We have treats for them. Really everything that they would need is there. We have clean up supplies if they have an accident.”
During PAALS training, the dogs are exposed to a variety of stimuli, including storms. This training helps them remain calm and focused in challenging situations.
Remember, preparation is key as the spring and tornado season approaches.