See assistance dogs in training prepare for ambulances, emergencies during EMS Week

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Trainers acclimated future assistance dogs to the sights, sounds and smells of ambulances to help better prepare them for emergency situations in Grand Rapids on on Wednesday, May 24.

Paws With A Cause and Life EMS Ambulance have been partnering for the last 17 years for their mutual benefit. Their meet-ups, at Life EMS Ambulance's Grand Rapids station, 1275 Cedar St. NE, allow the assistance dogs in training to have a new experience and LifeEMS gets to celebrate National EMS Week with cute puppies.

National EMS Week was May 21-27 this year, celebrating and honoring such hometown heroes as paramedics and EMTs who work on the frontlines of emergency healthcare.

Related: Paws With A Cause showers ‘puppy love’ on EMS workers for National EMS Week

MLive was there to document the experience, which was part of preparing the dogs for placement with individuals who have challenges as chronic seizures, restricted mobility and balance issues.

Boulder sits for John Stephan, of Grand Rapids, as part of Paws With A Cause (PAWS) puppy training at Life EMS Ambulance's Grand Rapids station, 1275 Cedar St. NE, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. PAWS trainers acclimated future assistance dogs to the sights, sounds and smells of ambulances to help better prepare them for emergency situations. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)Cory Morse | MLive.com

Deann Hurn, of Hudsonville, tours an ambulance with Avery as part of Paws With A Cause (PAWS) puppy training at Life EMS Ambulance's Grand Rapids station, 1275 Cedar St. NE, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)Cory Morse | MLive.com

Deann Hurn, of Hudsonville, is silhouetted as she walks near ambulances with Avery as part of Paws With A Cause (PAWS) puppy training at Life EMS Ambulance's Grand Rapids station, 1275 Cedar St. NE, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)Cory Morse | MLive.com

Diana Moore, of Wayland, pets Panko during Paws With A Cause (PAWS) puppy training at Life EMS Ambulance's Grand Rapids station, 1275 Cedar St. NE, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)Cory Morse | MLive.com

Puppies greet each other as part of Paws With A Cause (PAWS) puppy training at Life EMS Ambulance's Grand Rapids station, 1275 Cedar St. NE, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)Cory Morse | MLive.com

Paramedics Brittney Losey, top and Alicia Saenz, left, greet Yargo with trainer Glenn Gamsby as part of Paws With A Cause (PAWS) puppy training at Life EMS Ambulance's Grand Rapids station, 1275 Cedar St. NE, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)Cory Morse | MLive.com

Paws With A Cause (PAWS) puppy training at Life EMS Ambulance's Grand Rapids station, 1275 Cedar St. NE, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)Cory Morse | MLive.com

See more photos of the event in the picture gallery below or click here to view the gallery.