Today we’d like to introduce you to Pam Dodgen
Hi Pam, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am the President of a non-profit organization called Owen Care. I have a Doctorate in Psychology and a Marriage and Family Therapist license. My background is in mental health. Owen Care started in the United States with a focused mission to train and provide mobility service dogs with a specific focus on supporting our injured veterans and first responders as well as people with mobility disabilities.
I have a strong desire to give back and support those with the greatest need, and I am also very passionate about listening, connecting, meeting new people, and learning about who they are. Everyone I meet brings something unique and valuable, and I enjoy taking the time to listen because it often reveals interesting things about them.
Here’s a brief background on how Owen Care began. Owen Care was founded in 2010 in Mexico City by Margara Bravo, with a mission to train and provide service dogs to adults and children with disabilities and medical conditions. The organization in Mexico has specialized in training mobility service dogs, guide dogs, autism service dogs, and therapy dogs.
In 2020, when I was managing a US private foundation, I connected with Owen Care as we explored opportunities to provide service dogs to children with disabilities. From the moment we connected, I recognized that Owen Care was not just a pioneer in developing advanced training techniques and protocols, but also exemplified exceptional professionalism and attention to detail.
Owen Care’s commitment to upholding the highest standards in the health, safety, and training of their dogs, while fostering deep, trust-based relationships between the dogs and their handlers, truly set them apart.
For years, Owen Care had been receiving requests from the United States for service dogs, and to date, there are several Owen Care Service Dogs actively serving in the US.
Owen Care in Mexico laid the groundwork for what would become Owen Care Corporation in the United States. In late 2022, Owen Care evolved into a 501c3 public charity in the USA in the East Coast, but
it wasn’t until January 2024 that I joined Owen Care USA, and played a crucial role in expanding operations to California,
I am big on collaboration. Collaboration with other people and with other organizations. I believe it is essential for creating meaningful change and to reach the people that need it the most, so as the President of Owen Care USA, I am dedicated to collaborating with other organizations to promote well-being and uplift one another. Lasting impact isn’t achieved alone. By combining our efforts, expertise, and being open to new ideas, together, we can make a real difference for those who need it most. One of the most important things is that the people or organizations we collaborate with, aligns with our values, our ethics and morals, and that they share the same passion and compassion for the wellbeing of others.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think our biggest challenge has been engaging with some organizations that serve veterans and first responders, and having the opportunity to offer our services as a new partner.
One of our goals is to improve the alignment of our efforts and make it easier for veterans, first responders, and individuals with mobility impairments to connect with us. It’s crucial to bring attention to the challenges they face and for us to unite, advocate for them and most importantly, provide support.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Owen Care Corporation?
Owen Care Corporation, is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to training and providing mobility service dogs for Veterans, first responders and for people limited by a mobility condition.
Our specially trained service dogs are provided at no cost to veterans and first responders. We are committed to supporting those who have selflessly served our country and our communities and now face mobility challenges due to service-related injuries, with the goal of helping them lead more independent lives.
We also extend our assistance to individuals with mobility limitations. Our mobility service dogs are trained to support those living with conditions such as amputation, arthritis, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, spinal cord injuries, and more.
Mobility assistance service dogs are specially trained to perform various tasks to help their handlers navigate their environment more easily and maintain independence. The specific tasks that mobility assistance service dogs can perform may vary based on the individual’s needs, but they often include: retrieving fallen objects, open and close doors, help retrieve items from drawers, refrigerators, cabinets, etc., turn lights on and off, help dress and undress, press buttons, hitting an alert button in case of an emergency, companionship and greater independence, among many others.
A service dog significantly improves the independence, well-being, and quality of life of anyone living with a disability.
At Owen Care, we strive daily to achieve long-lasting positive outcomes by upholding our dogs’ health, safety, and training standards and by creating a profound understanding and trust-based connection with each handler.
The dog’s success is based on establishing a meaningful and strong bond with its handler and collaboration and adherence to specific rules and routines regarding the service dog are essential for the handler and for other family members living in the same household. Similar to humans, a lack of structure can confuse the dog, and like humans, dogs thrive on predictability.
At Owen Care, we rely heavily on grants and donations and we appreciate and value community support and contributions from those who share our mission and vision. We also deeply honor and respect the trust our donors place in us. It is our responsibility to maintain transparency, ensuring that every supporter knows exactly how their contributions are being utilized.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I don’t have a favorite memory, but I’ve always loved being near the water Swimming in a pool, ocean or just splashing around with a sprinkler. Being around water always made me happy and it still does to this day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.owencareusa.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usaowencare/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/USA-Owen-Care/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OwenCareUSA
Image Credits
Fernando Perez
