May 15, 2012
Great description from Susquehanna Service Dogs a few days ago of their process for matching people and service dogs:
This is not how Canine Companions for Independence does it — candidates are not brought in early to meet their potential service dog, the matching is done entirely at Team Training — but the process is certainly very similar in its meticulousness and the fundamental core concept that a match is not final until the end of the process.
The paragraph that got my eye, … Read More
Apr 24, 2012
You will likely never read anything more well written about what it’s like to get a successor dog from Canine Companions for Independence than this latest post from Marianne McKiernan about Randi Price (both are friends of mine in Denver) just going through the process.
“Rocket’s DogBlog- New Beginnings”
That’s where that comment comes from, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard one of my service dog graduate friends say something just like that.
I say all the time that the most important overlooked thing when someone’s … Read More
Apr 17, 2012
Just a tremendous picture! Canine Companions for Independence wounded warrior graduate Steve Blackman with his service dog Gotti (given name Gottlieb) and three – count ‘em, three – Medal of Honor recipients. Left to right, Joe Marm, Bruce Crandall, and Jim Taylor. (Thanks to Donna Cranston from Defenders of Freedom and Steve for the picture.)
The three were part of a larger group of 14 MoH recipients who were gathered for the annual Medal of Honor Host City Program in Gainesville, TX April 11-14.
Update 4/18: There’s … Read More
Apr 13, 2012
Great new video – Seamus is the Canine Companions For Independence Facility Dog at the Drucker Brain Injury Center at MossRehab in Elkins Park, PA near Philadelphia where he works with Physical Therapist Carolyn Tassini.
Note that Carolyn very quickly reels off and demos a whole list of specific patient therapeutic goals that Seamus helps with:
Apr 8, 2012
“Canine Companions for Independence’s Ellen Torop Talks About Service Dogs from Nose to Tail!”
I’ve never heard a better interview about Canine Companions for Independence than this new podcast at Working Like Dogs with Ellen Torop, legendary long-time CCI Northeast Region Program Manager.
If you have any interest in service dogs in general, and CCI in particular, especially if you’re interested in applying for a dog yourself or know someone who might be interested in applying, you absolutely want to listen to it, and likely more than once.
Not only do you normally never hear directly from one of the five regional PMs, Ellen has been with CCI longer than most, if not everybody in the organization – 23 years. And she very directly, succinctly, and eloquently explains things in a very down-to-earth way. More
Mar 19, 2012
Big milestone event last week at DFW – Defenders of Freedom has greeted over 400,000 military people arriving there for mid-tour leaves during deployments since 2004, and Wednesday marked the final flight
Lotta well-known people were there including Medal of Honor recipient Sal Giunta (whose great speech to the crowd is at the end of the video below), Sergeant Major of The Army Raymond Chandler, and several Tuskegee Airmen.
Some not-so-well-known names were there, too, including wounded warrior and recent Canine Companions for Independence Southwest Region graduate Steve Blackman and … Read More
Mar 9, 2012
If you’re looking for a service dog, Try CCI First.
That’s it – the whole message. Try CCI First.
Sure, there are tons of things I can tell you. and lots I’ve already written here, but if there’s one thing I can leave you with, and you remember nothing else I say, remember that: Try CCI First. That simple.
Now, there are good reasons why CCI may not be the place for you, and it’s not for everybody (a service dog, period, is not for everybody) – it’s a lot … Read More
Feb 22, 2012
I didn’t write about this one back when it happened three weeks ago because I didn’t want to, honestly. It’s a horrible story and I figured the service dog world would explode over it, plenty of others would say something, anyway, and I wouldn’t need to.
But, while there has been a little discussion (most interestingly here and here), I haven’t really seen that happen, so I’m gonna add my little voice and mention it because this story simply cannot just vanish.
Feb 19, 2012
I got a kick outta this response from a trainer in the Toronto Sun yesterday – definitely pretty straight-up, but not obnoxious:
“Guide-dog trainer needs more guidance”
I got news for you – it’s not just in Canada, and there’s probably enough material there for five posts, but I’m only gonna address one key thing he mentions: breeds for use as service dogs:
“A certified pre-adult fine-boned 12″ breed known for physical frailty? Opening a dryer and then emptying it requires repeatedly jumping twice its body height. Even just hopping
Feb 15, 2012
Just in case anybody had any doubts that there are still plenty of visible injuries happening – haven’t seen much press about this one at all.
“Amputation cases among troops hit post-9/11 high in 2011″
Just confirms what I and others have been saying for years, namely this…
There is still plenty of need among veterans with “traditional” physical injuries for service dogs, and you can bet that most of those troops will also deal with post-traumatic stress because of the nature of how they got their injuries.
And, contrary … Read More
I'm very active with Canine Companions for Independence as a volunteer, to include being a past member of the Veterans Task Force and puppy raiser. Retired US Air Force Chief Master Sergeant with my last assignments at the Air Force Academy as the Fourth Group Sergeant Major and Dean of Faculty Superintendent. Actively looking for a paid position performing these functions or other similar meaningful work. More...
