The T. Boone Pickens Foundation focuses grants to organizations that operate in its core giving categories (see "About TBPF"). The current partner spotlight is on Rockwall, Texas-based Patriot PAWS, a non-profit organization founded in 2006 to train and provide service dogs at no cost to disabled American veterans and others with mobile disabilities in order to help restore their physical and emotional independence.

Patriot PAWS, a certified member of Assistance Dogs International, trains service dogs to perform various behaviors, including help for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. The organization's primary goal is to increase an individual's self-sufficiency; services performed by each dog depend on the needs of the owner.

Pickens, an ardent supporter of programs that help wounded veterans recover and re-enter civilian life, has supported Patriot PAWS through his Foundation. As well, disabled veterans and their Patriot PAWS-trained service dogs rode with Boone and Madeleine Pickens on her "Saving America's Mustangs" foundation's float during the January 1, 2011, Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California.

"As a nation, we owe a great debt to our military personnel, especially those who have suffered life-altering injuries in service to our country," Pickens says. "Patriot PAWs provides incredible aid to these heroes."

Service dogs are initially selected from breeders, local animal shelters, rescue groups, and service dog puppy raisers. They are carefully evaluated prior to selection and only the best of the best become candidates, graduate, and are certified. The cost to train a service dog is about $20,000 to $30,000; this represents 12 to 18 months training, housing, feeding, and health related costs.

Once fully trained, the dogs are able to assist physically disabled individuals to accomplish daily tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. The dogs are trained to perform many services, including seeking help in emergencies; picking up and retrieving items; opening and closing doors and cabinets; pulling wheelchairs; providing bracing for its owners to stand, walk, and sit down; helping with chores, such as laundry; and taking its owner's shoes and socks off.

"The support of T. Boone Pickens has given Patriot PAWS a caring partner that has the same goals and mission to help military service men and women after their return home from active duty, and to hopefully make their lives as normal as possible," says Patriot PAWS founder Lori Stevens, a Certified Pet Dog Trainer with more than 20-years experience.

The current focus of Patriot PAWS is development of a prison program to train inmates to become trainers of service dogs. Patriot PAWS and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) entered into partnership to have prisoners train service dogs for disabled American veterans in 2008. This partnership affords prisoners the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than their confinement and provides Patriot PAWS a much-needed volunteer base to train quality service dogs. Two TDCJ facilities, the Dr. Lane Murray Unit and the Christina Melton Crain Women's Correctional Unit in Gatesville, Texas, are participating in the program. At this time, the program is comprised of 24 inmates and 24 dogs. The women live with their dogs in dormitory-like space in each unit, which include outdoor areas for the dogs. There is also a shared training facility onsite.

TDCJ recently approved increasing the number of women inmates in each unit and has asked Patriot PAWS to expand the program both at the current facilities and to other correctional institutions in Texas. Twenty-two women have been paroled since the program began. Patriot PAWS has hired one of the parolees' and at least 15 others are working in animal-related programs. As of July 1, 2011, the recidivism rate is zero.

For more information on the Patriot Paws program, please visit www.patriotpaws.org.