“I Don’t Want To Take Someone Else’s Dog.”

Posted on | April 14, 2009 | No Comments

Something CCI has heard more than once from potential candidates for a service dog, especially younger veterans, is “I don’t wanna take somebody else’s dog.” Meaning, they think there’s somebody with a more severe need than they have, and they don’t want to take a dog that would be going to that person.

Can’t happen. Lemme say that again – can’t happen.

In fact, not only is it not possible, the exact opposite might be true – they might actually provide an opportunity for a dog to be placed who otherwise would not be. Here’s why…

First, by the time a successful applicant has gone through the extensive application process (see for yourself – “CCI Application Process” ) and been selected, CCI knows that person’s needs and abilities in great detail.

Second, by the time a dog has made it through the two-year training process, the last six months of which are spent living on-site at a CCI regional center with daily full-time contact with the training staff, CCI knows each dog’s capabilities inside and out.

The result is the outstanding individual matches that CCI is famous for – and when I say individual match, I mean individual match. Longer discussion, and I know this might sound odd, but suffice to say there are a few dogs who make it all the way through training, don’t match with someone because the right combination isn’t there at the right time, and the dog ends up being released.

I guarantee you that’s not something that’s done lightly or that anyone wants to do, but it does happen.

And who knows? There could be somebody out there who said “I don’t wanna take somebody else’s dog” and didn’t apply, and a dog that was released might’ve been a perfect match for them.

So if you think you might benefit from a dog, apply – there’s no way you’re taking anything away from anyone else.