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Helfende Pfoten
Assistance dogs out of responsibility
We train assistance dogs for people with disabilities, chronic illnesses and mental stress. Based in Overath. Accredited Member of Assistance Dogs International since June 2024.
Each dog is individually trained for its human over two years – from puppy socialization to specialization in medical warning signals, PTSD interruption or mobility assistance.
What Guides Us
Three Sentences That Carry Us
We want to see children’s eyes light up – with an assistance dog at their side as a friend, partner and helper.
Helfende Pfoten mainly trains dogs for children and young people with disabilities. However, some dogs show during training that they would prefer to live with an adult. We then also accompany (young) adults on their way to becoming an assistance dog team.
May 2023 - The Merger
How Two Predecessor Structures Became One
Assistenzhunde Helfende Pfoten gGmbH has been in existence since May 2023, having emerged from the merger of two predecessor structures:
- Helfende Pfoten e.V. – Association for assistance dogs and their people
- Gut Paulshof Assistance Dogs GbR
The organization was founded by seven committed people. Three lines were set from the outset: Helping people with a disability to finance an assistance dog, training young dogs to become assistance dogs, and providing advice to those affected.
Diversity, openness towards different lifestyles and a high quality of education were the benchmarks from the very beginning.
Accredited Member
of Assistance Dogs International
At the end of 2020, we applied to become a candidate of Assistance Dogs International (ADI / ADEu). We have been an accredited member of ADI since June 2024.
This means that our training meets internationally recognized standards – from puppy socialization and special training to the final examination.
What Became Possible in 2023
Donations That Reach Their Goal
In 2023, people, companies and associations supported us with €47,527 in donations:
- 39,438 € from private individuals
- 5,300 € from associations
- 2,790 € from companies
Added to this was income from our assistance dog programs, project funding and membership fees: a total of € 109,338 for the work on the teams.
You can find our full 2023 financial report in the transparency declaration.
The Team
Our Management Team
We are small. That is our program. Every dog that is trained by us knows every person in the team by name.
Katharina Küsters – Managing Partner
Qualified social worker, expert for dogs of the state of NRW, recognized expert for dogs and assistance dogs (BDSF e.V.). Active in the field of (assistance) dogs for over ten years. Authorized examiner of the BMAS for transition teams.
Responsible for administration, donations and sponsoring, public relations, speaker and lecturer.
Heiko Küsters – Partner and trainer
Master craftsman, expert in the trade. For many years together with Katharina Küsters in the field of dog training, resocialization and assistance dog team training.
Responsible for the training of assistance dogs, teams and training with sponsor families.
Katharina Hennes – First point of contact
Office administrator, with the team since July 2023. First contact for all inquiries.
Tanja Henker-Steuber – Accounting & Conflict Management
Medical assistant and family manager, carer herself and assistance dog handler in the team. Takes care of bookkeeping and incoming donations on a voluntary basis.
Gisela Schmidt – Trainer Lower Bavaria
Qualified dog trainer, with her own pack. Part of the training team since mid-2024. Works mainly with teams in Lower Bavaria (94094 Rotthalmünster) and on intensive weeks.
Sabine Urselmann – club dog representative (extended board)
State-recognized social pedagogue B.A., mother of two “special” children with assistance dogs, assistance dog handler herself. Responsible for the acquisition and rearing of our club dogs.
What We Disclose
As a non-profit limited company, we are obliged to report transparently on the origin and use of our funds. In our transparency declaration, we show where our funds come from and what they are used for, including the complete financial reports.
