PAALS, Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services, is a proud recipient of a $2,000 grant from the Build–A–Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation.

The money received will go toward the S.H.A.R.E. – Students and Seniors Helping Animals Reach Everyone – program.

The S.H.A.R.E. program utilizes local retirees and school children to help train and socialize assistance dogs during the two–year training period. This process is as beneficial to the dog as its training, because being introduced to all types of people from an early age better prepares the dog for its lifelong working role to help those in need.