When Israeli-born dog trainer and behavioral specialist Shay Maimoni saw the effects of the war in his homeland, he knew he needed to help.
Maimoni, who served in the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces), decided to create the Loxahatchee-based nonprofit organization Pawz 4 Heroes. Paws 4 Heroes selects dogs from shelters, trains them and transports them to serve as service dogs for veterans in Israel.
Dog training has been a part of Maimoni’s life since he trained his first dog while still serving in the IDF. He later moved to the United States and worked in the jewelry business for a time.
However, after reading an article about how many dogs were being put down in the U.S. each day due to behavioral issues, Maimoni realized he could help. He started WooF Dogs out of his home, and when people saw his talent, they began recommending his training services to family and friends.
WooF Dogs moved to a separate facility with a full-time staff and has been helping dogs and their owners for more than 15 years. Maimoni has been featured on Animal Planet and various local news stations.
For him, Pawz 4 Heroes is a labor of love. In addition to choosing the dogs and training them, he ensures they are situated with the veteran they are helping. WooF Dogs has a branch in Israel run by Maimoni’s brother at WooF Dogs Israel, a school that trains and certifies dog trainers and helps in getting the dogs to their new homes.
For more information, visit www.pawz4heroes.org, e-mail info@pawz4heroes.org or call (561) 440-3949.
