John Kahren
Chairman of the Board
Chris Dilday
Eddie Long
Paul Peterson
KYRIA H. & WYATT
Kyria is the Founder and Executive Director of paws4people foundation. She was raised with her father’s German Shepherds, and successfully convinced her family to “cross-over” to the Golden Retriever breed, receiving her first puppy when she was 10 years old. Since then, Kyria has been enveloped in the world of dog training, dabbling in disciplines such as advanced obedience, agility, rally, behavior modification, and scent work; but her true love and expertise is Assistance Dogs. Kyria founded paws4people foundation in 1999. During middle school, high school and college, Kyria worked with her certified Therapeutic Facility and Educational Facility Dogs in nursing homes, hospitals, and special education classrooms. Kyria graduated from West Virginia University summa cum laude from the Honors College with Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Religious Studies, and Speech Pathology and Audiology, with a specialization in Disability Studies. She then attended Bergin University of Canine Studies, earning a certification in Service Dog Education. While managing multiple Service Dog Training Programs, Kyria completed her Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Human Services- Marriage and Family Counseling, during which she assisted in thedevelopment of cutting-edge utilization of Psychiatric Service Dogs as adjunct therapeutic interventions within Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure Therapy techniques. Currently, Kyria is the Program Director and Instructor of the University of North Carolina Wilmington Service Dog Training Program, the first and only comprehensive Service Dog academic certificate program at a state university. Most importantly dog mom to, Assistance Dog Ambassador and Demo Dog, WYATT, and her Searchand Rescue Dog (In-Training) HOBBS.