P.A.D. of Central PA was founded by Linzey Zoccola. Her love for dogs, desire to serve, and her experience with raising, training and having her own service animal inspired her to create a new and organizational model for the field. Through a combination of consultations and research on topics ranging from canine over population, issues with
kenneling dogs, to the complex needs of individuals living with disabilities, the inspiration to launch a program that would assist individuals in finding healthy, suitable puppies from shelters and training them one at a time to become highly personalized assistance dogs began.

“I feel passionately that the success of the partnership between canine and human is dependent upon the dedication of the partner themselves and their desire to live with an assistance dog. I am devoted to supporting my community all of the way from finding suitable puppies that are already within my region, as opposed to having a breeding program and to working individually with the person in need of assistance.” - Director, Linzey Zoccola