A St. Cloud-based nonprofit organization is training pups with a purpose — and is trying to change the nature of invisible illnesses that some people simply might not understand.

  • St. Cloud nonprofit trains dogs to aid people with invisible illnesses
  • Pawsitive Action pairs veterans, disabled people with assistance dogs

Nicole LaBosco suffers from vasovagal syncope, which is one of the most common causes of fainting. It's when someone suffers a sudden drop in blood pressure that causes them to faint. LaBosco's service dog, Zar, is by her side during any episode. 

LaBosco works with Pawsitive Action, a nonprofit organization in St. Cloud that pairs veterans and disabled people with an assistance dog. 

Pawsitive Action specializes in training dogs through advanced classes. The organization doesn't just train the dogs, either. Pawsitive Action also breeds the dogs, raises them and places them.

"You can look at someone and they look completely fine, but you don't know what's actually going on with them," LaBosco said. 

She recently walked into a restaurant with her service dog and heard another patron complain.

"And she was just yelling and yelling, saying how I wanted to fake it and just wanted to bring him places with me," LaBosco said. "The stress that puts someone through is very overwhelming."

LaBosco said she wants to fight for more understanding when it comes to invisible disabilities. That's why she wants to tap into her community and spread the knowledge through the work she does with Pawsitive Action. 

"The most we can do is educate," she said. "I hope we can reach more and more people with what we do. But I would never want anyone to go through what I had to deal with that day."

The service animals can cost between $20,000 and $25,000.

There will be a motorcycle poker run fundraiser Dec. 4 to benefit Pawsitive Action. The event starts at 10 a.m. at the south end of the Oviedo Mall and ends at Pawsitive Action in St. Cloud.