The Cabot Corporation Foundation recently provided a multi-year grant of $20,000 per year for three years to Freedom Paws Service Dogs Foundation. Cabot’s Tuscola, IL facility, with the support of the company’s Military Veterans Employee Resource Group, worked with the Cabot Foundation to secure the multi-year grant for Freedom Paws. 

The Freedom Paws Service Dogs Foundation provides trained post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) service dogs to “heroes.” A hero is a first responder from emergency medical services, police, fire fighters, and military personnel that suffer from PTSD. The grant will help to purchase dogs through a shelter and/or the breeder program, assist with veterinary bills, medication, food, training, and other necessary items. 

The Tuscola facility has previously worked with Freedom Paws Service Dogs Foundation as a Gold Puppy Sponsor. As part of the Gold Puppy Sponsor, Cabot was able to name the puppy, Obie. Obie is named after fallen Champaign, IL Police Officer Christopher Oberheim. 

On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, Corey James, co-founder and president, Freedom Paws Service Dogs; Brenda Olson, vice president, Freedom Paws Service Dogs; Curtis Berrier, hero, Freedom Paws Service Dogs; and Obie visited the Tuscola, IL facility for recognition of the grant provided by the Cabot Foundation and to speak to the facility about their organization. Curtis Berrier is a U.S. Army Veteran who served for 18 years. Curtis and Obie have been paired since September 2023.

Cabot is deeply committed to the communities where we live and work in. More information about Cabot’s community engagement efforts can be found at www.cabotcorp.com and more information about Freedom Paws Service Dogs Foundation can be found below. 

About Freedom Paws Service Dogs Foundation:
Freedom Paws Service Dogs Foundation, a non-profit organization, was started by Corey James, a disabled Air Force Veteran, and his wife, Teresa, in 2018. It provides trained service dogs to veterans and first responders who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), referred to as “heroes” by Freedom Paws, to assist in mitigating life’s daily challenges without charging a fee. Instead, the recipient may either provide a monetary donation and/or purchase something for the foundation such as dog food, leashes, etc.

The Foundation was started after the service dog organization that Corey had been training through closed. Due to this closure, Corey was not able to obtain the service dog he was training with for his PTSD. Without the service dog Corey’s demeanor changed and he recognized how therapeutic being around and training dogs had been for him. 

The James’ decided to pursue a non-profit Foundation at his wife’s Teresa’s suggestion. The training and caring of a service dog can cost upwards of $25,000. Freedom Paws collaborates with breeders as well as area shelters to obtain the dogs for the program. The hero fills out an application and is matched up appropriately with a dog and they go through the training together. The dog may go through a up to 24 months of training to understand the demeanor of the hero and what actions the service dog will need to take.