About Vermont Paws & Boots

Service dog teams for veterans and first responders

Vermont Paws & Boots is a Bennington program that pairs and trains a rescue dog and a handler to become a service dog team. Its mission is to help veterans and first responders who are struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Trauma and physical disabilities. Participants learn to work as a team with their dog from day one.

The trainer

The program is led by Michelle LeBlanc, a military veteran, retired Vermont State Trooper and K9 handler who serves as Executive Director and K9 trainer. Her listed K9 honors include induction into the National K9 Hall of Fame in 2019, terms as Vermont Police Canine Association President, and two K9 Team of the Year awards, and her specialized training includes Key Elements to Training Service Dogs.

How the program works

The first step is pairing each human and dog, which can take months. Michelle then builds the bond between handler and dog before training starts in earnest. The program is rigorous, requires real commitment and can take up to a year to complete, and it favors a few successful teams a year over large numbers. Nine classes have graduated so far.

What to ask

Ask about eligibility, how to apply and when the next class begins.