“CCI Salutes Independence” – Open House for Veterans, Families, And Friends
Put this one on your calendar if you’re gonna be anywhere in Southern California on Saturday, July 11th. In fact, this event is so great, you might want to plan on making a special trip to SoCal for it, especially if you’re a veteran considering getting an assistance dog.
The Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) Southwest Regional Center in Oceanside, CA is hosting their second annual “CCI Salutes Independence” event, an open house for active duty military members, veterans, their families, and friends, from 11AM to 3PM on that date:
Places You Should Know: NEADS “Canines for Combat Veterans”
I explained the logic behind the Places You Should Know series a while ago in this introductory post (“Places You Should Know: Assistance Dogs International (ADI) Accredited Service Dog Organizations”) – please review it, but here’s the short version.
There’s a lotta confusion or just plain lack of knowledge about service dog organizations, what they offer, and which are the best ones, especially those that focus on serving returning OEF/OIF veterans. To top it off, there’s also a seemingly ever-increasing number of service dog places out there vying for your attention and help, some with some big name celebrity endorsements.
Canine Companions For Independence Benefactor Dean Koontz Interviewed
I think most people know that Dean Koontz is one of Canine Companions for Independence’s biggest supporters – if not the biggest. He’s donated millions to CCI (last number I saw was $5.5 million); the Southwest Region campus in Oceanside, CA, is named after him, his wife Gerda, and their now-departed former CCI dog, Trixie; and the Koontzes have made CCI the primary beneficiary of their estate.
- Dean Koontz, at home with his CCI release dog, Anna.
Inspiring Story of How One Service Dog Family Deals With Muscular Dystrophy
This is a very tough story to read – at least it was for me – but it will give you an idea of some of the really difficult things that people with service dogs and their families deal with every day.
In this case, it happens to be a Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) graduate team – Heidi Miller, her son Mitch Ball, and their Skilled Companion Dog, Lynelle – who live in Citrus Heights, CA near Sacramento. Mitch is 24, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) with almost no ability to move his body, and, as such, requires constant care.
Maggie Thatcher To Open New Canine Partners Assistance Dog Facilities
Canine Partners, the premier assistance dog organization in the UK, will be opening a major new training facility at its site on June 2nd, and former Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher will be present for the dedication. Read more here.
It’s fantastic to see recognized top-notch service dog organizations getting this high level of attention, and I only wish we had that same level of interest here in the United States.
CCI Graduate Cole Massie Can Now Add “Surfer” To His List of Achievements
Cole Massie and his tremendous assistance dog Ilia are pretty famous. They have their own PSA you may have seen on TV and a YouTube video that I’ve often said should be the recruiting video for CCI. Show that video to a group of potential volunteers, check to see who’s crying when it’s over and keep them, tell the ones who aren’t crying “thanks for coming” and send them on their way. 
Which is Worse – To Pet a Service Dog, or To Call a Pet a Service Dog?
No question, both are demeaning to service dogs, but I vote for the second one.
Petting a service dog is a continuing problem, seems to respond to education, might actually be becoming less of a problem, doesn’t result in more bogus service dogs, and is normally done by people who don’t know any better (even though they should).
Places You Should Know: Assistance Dogs International (ADI) Accredited Members
It’s no big secret that I’m actively involved as a volunteer with Canine Companions for Independence, but, as I’ve said, they aren’t the only game in town, and I think this is a good time to start writing about some of the other great service dog organizations that I’m aware of. I will likely intersperse these “Places You Should Know” posts with others on different subjects or I could just do them all in a row – don’t know yet.
Just How Big the OEF/OIF Veteran Need for Service Dogs Could Be – And What Will Be Required from Us to Meet It
I can’t give you a definitive answer on how large the potential number of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) / Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veteran candidates for service dogs is – there are just way too many variables.
What I can do, though, is give you the official OEF/OIF casualty numbers and go from there: almost 35,000 wounded warriors with varying levels of injuries, including around 900 amputees.
( http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/gwot_reason.pdf and http://www1.va.gov/vetdata/docs/4X6_fall08_sharepoint.pdf )
If You Want More Service Dogs for Veterans, First You Have to Get More Veterans Who Want Service Dogs
“I didn’t think I needed an assistance dog. Then I saw them in action, helping other people with disabilities… Having a CCI assistance dog has really changed my life.” - Jeffrey Adams
Jeffrey Adams, first OEF/OIF vet to get a CCI service dog, with Sharif.
Most of the discussion I see about getting service dogs for disabled veterans is completely backwards – people keep talking about getting more service dogs when what we need to be talking about is getting more disabled veterans who want service dogs.
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I'm very active with Canine Companions for Independence as a former 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.
I'm actively looking for a paid position doing what I already do full-time as a volunteer.
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