The Rotary Club of South Surrey鈥檚 regular Wednesday-morning meeting was overflowing with cuteness this week, with special guests that included two puppies and their mother.

But the trio 鈥� 11-week-old Puma, her 3陆-month-old sister Denali and their mother, Cadence 鈥� were on hand for some serious business: the presentation of funds by the club to the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society, for sponsorship of an accredited facility dog for Sophie鈥檚 Place in Surrey.

The child-advocacy centre focuses on providing specialized services to physically, mentally and sexually abused children.

PADS breeds, raises, trains and supports certified assistance dogs, partnering them with people living with disabilities, and with community care professionals.

It began its accredited-facility-dog program about seven years ago, and the dogs are 鈥渏ust making a tremendous impact in the agencies we place them,鈥� said Laura Watamanuk, PADS鈥� executive director.

She credited Delta Police victim services co-ordinator Kim Gramlich 鈥� the handler of Canada鈥檚 鈥� with the roots of its success.

Gramlich approached PADS with the idea of training a trauma dog about nine years ago, Watamanuk said. There are now 24 accredited facility dogs working across the country.

The animals assist in traumatic situations in ways people can鈥檛, Watamanuk said.

鈥淗aving a dog there to comfort and touch, it鈥檚 remarkable, the healing,鈥� she told the Rotarians.

鈥淭here was such a need, and nobody else was doing it.鈥�

The Rotary club committed to raising $15,000 to help place a dog-and-handler team at Sophie鈥檚 Place, and through a series of document-shredding events 鈥� the latest on June 3 鈥� .

Judy Krawchuk, director of Sophie鈥檚 Place, predicted the dog, once in place, will make a significant difference.

鈥淭hank you all so, so, so much for supporting this,鈥� she told the club, extending the gratitude to community members who supported the shredding events.

鈥淭hank you from the bottom of our hearts.鈥�

Watamanuk couldn鈥檛 say when a dog would be ready for Sophie鈥檚 Place 鈥� or if it might be either of the two four-legged guests that are currently in training.

Quite simply, it鈥檚 not a task that just any dog can do.

鈥淭he dog will come soon,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut finding that perfect match for Sophie鈥檚 Place, that takes time. It鈥檚 not a first-come, first-serve basis 鈥� it鈥檚 the best dog for Sophie鈥檚 Place.鈥�

She added that earmarking funds for a specific agency is an unusual move for PADS, but that the society is 鈥渏ust so appreciative鈥� of the efforts and community support that followed the decision.

The full cost of raising, training and placing a dog is more than $30,000, she said.