A new life with four paws

Assistance dogs Helfende Pfoten

Whether with chronic illnesses, mental challenges or physical limitations: Our assistance dogs can help people to experience more independence, safety and enjoyment in their everyday lives.

I would like to help

Assistants

Information on applications, guidance and support in everyday life

Sponsors

Donations, sponsoring, participation and support projects

15 years +

of experience

How Fips changed a life

Assistance dogs can provide support in a variety of ways

Small paws, big impact

Our assistance dogs are much more than everyday helpers.
They provide courage, structure – and often the first real glimmer of hope in a long time:

More independence through targeted support in everyday life
Emotional security & genuine connection
New life perspectives for humans and animals
Reliability in everyday life – even in crisis situations
A strong partnership that lasts – day after day

Request assistance dog

What Helfende Pfoten can do for you ...

Support - you've come to the right place

You are looking for support

This offer is for you if ...

You want to help

How you can get involved

with a one-off or regular donation
as a sponsor for a puppy, a project or an assistance dog team
as a company with heart and responsibility
with campaigns, fundraising runs or own ideas
by recommending, sharing and making the Helping Paws visible

Doing what counts

Numerous reasons to trust us

Certified. Reliable. Human.

ADI-certified

Member of the worldwide Assistance Dogs International (ADI)

NRW Inclusive

Recognized project within the framework of inclusive participation in North Rhine-Westphalia

APDT

Member of the Assistance Dog Association of Professional Dog Trainers

When words are no longer enough, a paw speaks

Man + dog = unbeatable team

Many report that their assistance dog has given them a new zest for life, more independence and a feeling of security.

For many, this is the turning point in their lives. This is exactly what we are here for – day after day, dog after dog, human after human.

Our work is based on heart, experience and system:

Education

Training assistance dogs according to certified standards

Support

Personal selection & intensive support for human-dog teams

Training courses

For companies, institutions and professionals

Accessibility

For a world in which every space is open, inside and out

Your help arrives

Ongoing Helfende Pfoten projects

Whether it’s individual support, medical assistance or the establishment of our own training center – you too can give hope. Every contribution counts. For people with ME/CFS. For animals. For a shared future.

Helfende Pfoten

With heart, mind and certified training, Helfende Pfoten caringly accompanies human-dog teams on their journey together.

€ 1-10.000 benötigt

Training Center

Assistance dog training center “Aldea Esperanza”, a place of hope for people with disabilities and their families.

€ 50.000 benötigt

A dog for Zoe

Help Zoe to go through life safely again. With a trained assistance dog, she can detect seizures early – and live independently again.

€ 6.000 benötigt

Assistance dog

Many people with ME/CFS live in isolation. An assistance dog not only gives them security – but also structure, closeness and new perspectives.

€ 25.000 benötigt

A dog for Silke

ME/CFS and Parkinson’s rob Silke of her independence. A dog could help her to participate in life again.

€ 54.100 benötigt

Chris

Autism, a late diagnosis and the desire for a self-determined life: Chris wants to find his way with an assistance dog at his side.

€ 32.700 benötigt

Leo and Tobias

Tobias Meyer from Bremen was in the middle of life when a coronavirus infection threw him off course. The diagnosis: ME/CFS – myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome.

€ 20.000 benötigt

What does an assistance dog do?

When fear dominates everyday life, it takes more than words. In this documentary, Lio and Tobias show how an assistance dog can turn a person’s life around. Take a look at what hope on four paws really means.

150K+

Trained assistance dogs

450+

Lovingly changing the lives of precious people

250+

Sponsorships & fundraising campaigns

Experiences that inspire confidence

Testimonials

„Helfende Pfoten“ ist weit mehr als nur ein Verein – es ist ein Ort voller Hoffnung, Mitgefühl und Empowerment. Die Arbeit dieses Vereins berührt auf eine ganz besondere Weise, denn hier stehen nicht nur die Bedürfnisse von Kindern, Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen mit Behinderungen im Fokus, sondern auch die Kraft der tierischen Unterstützung durch Assistenzhunde.

Nathalie Wallner

Unternehmensberaterin

Katharina Küsters und ihr Team von Assistenzhunde Helfende Pfoten gGmbH leisten eine unglaublich wertvolle Arbeit! Katharina nimmt sich viel Zeit, um die individuellen Bedürfnisse und Anforderungen genau zu verstehen und stellt so sicher, dass Mensch und Hund optimal zusammenpassen.

Anja Lützen

Sprachtrainerin

Sehr kompetente Beratung, mit viel Gefühl für alle Beteiligten! Ich kann die Helfenden Pfoten auf jeden Fall empfehlen. Wer etwas Gutes tun möchte, ist hier an der richtigen Adresse.

Frank Lemke

Journalist

Reliable

Your donation arrives

Someone is waiting for help

Looking away is easy. Helping is better.

Every day, people find themselves in situations that they did not choose. Suddenly they are dependent on help. It can affect anyone.

We cannot undo it – but we can accompany and support those affected on their way to a more self-determined life.

It takes people like you to take action. Your donation reaches those affected – directly and without detours. This is how you change lives.

Every euro counts

Paws Blog

Background, specialist knowledge and current developments relating to assistance dogs

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Verfasser:

Team 30. May 2025

The legal basis for assistance dogs in Germany

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Verfasser:

Team 25. May 2025

Overstraining assistance dogs: How to recognize and protect their limits

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Verfasser:

Team 20. May 2025

Socialization of assistance dog puppies

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Verfasser:

Team 15. May 2025

Getting on the (assistance) dog with ME/CFS

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Verfasser:

Team 10. May 2025

The self-training of assistance dogs

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Verfasser:

Team 5. May 2025

The training of an assistance dog: External training

A big thank you to

Thank you for your help!

Lions Club

Global network for aid and education

Dogs'n'Tigers

Pet food developed with expert vets

Rotary

Volunteering for children and families

Messerschmidt

Quality products with a heart for social projects

NRW Inclusive

State funding for inclusive participation and projects

Vita Bona

Gastronomic commitment with a heart for social causes