To provide trained service dogs and their continued handling support to people facing physical, neurological, or mental health challenges, empowering them and their families to navigate life in their Southeastern Ontario communities with more independence, confidence, and joy.
In October 2013, the two founders of Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs met and shared their common realization that Southeastern Ontario lacked any locally based service dog training programs dedicated to assisting children and other individuals living with autism and other physical, emotional and mental challenges.
They began a partnership operating as Kingston 4 Paws Academy to try and fill this gap. Applications for dogs started being received in the spring of 2014 and the first puppies were acquired in February of 2014.
It was soon obvious that the local community shared their vision. Interest and awareness grew very quickly. Encouraged by the response, the partnership was converted into its current not-for-profit corporate status in early November and granted its charitable status on January 1, 2015. By the end of first year of operations there were 10 puppies in training with foster families and 7 approved wait list recipients. Our first trained dogs were placed in the early summer of 2015.
Head Trainer
Elizabeth gained experience as a puppy raiser with Autism Dog Services and the Lion’s Foundation of Canada for over 15 years having assisted in the training of more than 20 dogs for those organizations. She brings a wealth of hands-on experience to Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs and her passion for our dogs shows with each animal she works with.
In addition to her training role, Elizabeth is the organization’s principal liaison with the breeders who provide our dogs and our other significant product and service donors.
Trainer
Since 2016, Caitlin has been working with service dogs alongside her partner who received a Kingston 4 Paws Service Dog.
Caitlin has a life long history with dogs as pets and was amazed at what a service dog could do for individuals in need. As she became more involved through attending events and meeting others in the K4Paws community, she was immediately drawn to the life-changing nature of service dogs and developed an enthusiasm and dedication to the process of training. This led to formal training and the completion of her certification through Animal Behaviour College (ABCDT) in May 2018. She makes a point to continue expanding her education in dog training. Caitlin officially joined the K4Paws Training Team in January 2020.
Caitlin lives in Kingston with her partner and their three two dogs (including a K4Paws
Service Dog).
Client Services
Heather’s professional canine experience with the not-for-profit sector began in 2001. She fostered puppies, coordinated puppy programs and trained service dogs. Her career also included community engagement, event planning, fundraising and a very personal experience with an autistic child.
Joining up with K4Paws has given Heather the golden opportunity to combine her passion and skills with families and dogs.
Together with a great team Heather helps elevate organizational awareness and fundraising endeavours.
Her furry companions include labs, cats and a horse.
Applications Coordinator
Lisa brings her knowledge and experience from a trade unionist point of view. For thirty years, she was an advocate for equity issues such as woman rights, disability issues, health and safety, employment equity, pay equity, anti-racism, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
She is the first recipient of a K4Paws Service dog ten years ago. She attends as many K4Paws events as she can to help with fundraising and to assist in raising awareness of the organization and its impact.
Lisa lives with her spouse, 3 dogs and a cat in the National Capital Region.
Cheri began volunteering with K4Paws in 2019. She started as a part time puppy raiser, taking various puppies to work with her to expose them to different people and environments. Shortly after she became a puppy sitter, and before she knew it, she was a full-time puppy raiser! She has helped with or fully raised eight K4Paws dogs to date. Over the years, Cheri’s volunteer roles have expanded to include fundraising, event coordination, and administrative duties.
She shares this about being a part of the K4Paws team: “This organization has given me so much joy; being able to help others get back to themselves”.
Chair
Paul has had a distinguished career serving in urban, rural and remote paramedic systems over the past 50 years in the Province of Ontario; from street paramedic in Toronto to the remote James Bay coast, to Thunder Bay District and finishing his career as the Chief Paramedic of Frontenac County.
Paul has held numerous positions with not-for-profit organizations such as Rotary International, Kingston Historical Society, The Great Lakes Museum and the Canadian Paramedic Memorial Foundation. Paul is Past President of the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs (OAPC) and a Past President of the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada (PCC). Paul is the recipient of the Governor General’s Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal with 3 bars for 50-year recognition, the OAPC Lieutenant General Richard Rohmer Commendation and the OAPC President’s Award of Excellence and the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada President’s Award.
Paul’s passion for K4Paws began in its early years when he first met our Founder Elizabeth Bailey and agreed to help raise $20,000, with fellow first responders in the Kingston area, to fund a puppy for a local First Responder. Paul’s expertise is in governance and looks forward to working with the passionate members of the K4Paws Board who share their talents for the common mission of K4Paws.
Secretary
Joy brings 45 years of experience in financial management, human resource management and training development. Joy's extensive experience as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, senior manager with public, private and not for profit associations, refined her financial management expertise and strong leadership intelligence. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration. An avid sports enthusiast, Joy enjoys golfing as much as she can, bowling through the winter months and training when she must. She is an adventurous traveler, voracious reader and frustrated gardener. She cherishes time with her family and after living in nine cities Joy is happy to call Kingston her home.
Treasurer
Paul is an experienced executive specializing in governance, strategy, health-care management, and supply chain, with a strong track record leading organizations such as Mohawk Medbuy Corporation and Shared Support Services Southeastern Ontario. He has served on multiple Boards, including Community Futures and the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, and holds advanced degrees in business and management sciences. Paul is a long-time resident of the Kingston area and lives in a century-old farmhouse in the Odessa area with his wife, Kim. In addition to tending to their large vegetable garden, they raise a small flock of chickens in the old hay barn. Helping to patrol the property are two overly friendly Landseer Newfoundlanders. In their spare time Paul and Kim enjoy travelling across Eastern Ontario to enjoy local music artists.
Founder & President
Elizabeth gained experience as a puppy raiser with Autism Dog Services and the Lion’s Foundation of Canada for over 15 years having assisted in the training of more than 20 dogs for those organizations. She brings a wealth of hands-on experience to Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs and her passion for our dogs shows with each animal she works with.
In addition to her training role, Elizabeth is the organization’s principal liaison with the breeders who provide our dogs and our other significant product and service donors.
Sabrina is a "newer" member of the Kingston community, having moved here from the GTA to expand her work with Queen’s University. By day, she serves as a Career Coach and Educator at the Smith School of Business. In her spare time, she loves to spoil her rescue puppy and his mischievous cat brother. Sabrina dreams of being surrounded by as many animals as possible, although her husband doesn’t fully share that vision. This motivated her to join the K4 Paws team, where she can combine her passion for animals with her expertise. With nearly 20 years of experience in corporate pharma and her background in professional coaching—both as an entrepreneur and as a staff member at Queen’s—Sabrina is excited to leverage her skills to support this heartfelt and worthy cause.
For the past 25 years, Varley's career has focused on working with people facing barriers to employment and education. She is passionate about equality of opportunity, particularly for those experiencing disability. A proud British and Canadian miliary spouse, Varley and her family lived in 15 different locations, before settling in Kingston, Ontario in 2013.
Varley is a keen runner, member of Toastmasters International, long-time volunteer at Martha's Table Community Program and operates a seasonal cut flower business, Oopsie Daisy Farm. She and her husband, Steve, have been puppy raisers with Kingston 4 Paws since 2016.
(Bio coming soon!)
Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs
829 Norwest Road, Suite 202,
Kingston, Ontario K7P 2N3
Phone: 613-766-4441
Email: info@k4paws.ca
Registered Charitable Organization
# 82942 4993 RR0001
