Facility Dog Becomes First Non-Human To Receive Volunteer Service Award
You really gotta wade through this article (and there are definitely some inaccuracies in it, too) to find it, but here’s the key point of the story:
Canine Companions for Independence Facility Dog Dart at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, FL just became the first dog to ever receive the Rainbow Award from the Brevard Association of Human Services – it’s always been given to humans before.
Canine Companions for Independence Facility Dog Dart with human partner Karen Hersing, LCSW.
Wounded Warriors And Service Dogs Visit Congress To Discuss Legislation
There’s a new CNN video up today about an AMVETS and Paws With a Cause sponsored Capitol Hill visit of veterans and their service dogs last week that’s getting a lot of attention, and rightfully so.
Definitely watch the video, but the real key here is WHY they were visiting – concerns over both existing/pending legislation and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ response – and you really need to read the two AMVETS blog posts associated with the visit to understand that.
Third Canine Companions Facility Dog Coming To Chattanooga Area Schools
Nice story and audio in this morning’s Chattanooga paper about three Canine Companions for Independence Facility Dogs in the Chattanooga area schools – Reebee II, Zorro II, and a third yet to be chosen that’s been approved and is on the way. Kay Gaither, the teacher getting the third dog, says she hopes to attend the May Team Training at CCI’s Southeast Regional Center in Orlando.
Stone Creek Elementary To Get Walker’s Third Facility Dog
“We Have Always Served Veterans”
Article today at NorthJersey.com (“Canine Corps“) about service dogs for veterans that’s really just so-so (I’ve seen many better, honestly), but there is one key quote in it:
“We have always served veterans … but it wasn’t until around late 2006 that we actually embarked on what we called the Veterans Initiative to make our services known and to target veterans returning home from the current conflict.”
- Clark Pappas, Director of Participant Programs at Canine Companions for Independence
Canine Companions for Independence New 35th Birthday Logo
Canine Companions for Independence has a new logo (temporary, I think) celebrating their 35th birthday this year.
Reaction among the CCI faithful has been mixed – the complaints are mostly about the size of the CCI logo in relation to the 35. Fair enough, but I still like it, and here’s why.
Ophelia And Her Assistant Puppy Raisers
I said I wasn’t gonna turn this into a puppy raising blog – honestly, I’m not, but can’t resist sharing a picture of Ophelia with her ‘Assistant Puppy Raisers’ Zephan and Bannon.
I really can’t imagine raising a puppy without having help from dogs like this. ‘Help’ meaning the kinda influence these dogs have on a puppy – playing with it, correcting it when necessary, and so on.
More Of The Same…And Something New
Well, it’s pretty obvious I haven’t been posting much here.
That’s simply a combination of not seeing a lot to write about, still looking for a way to operate that accomplishes what I want as I’ve already mentioned, and, last, the arrival here a coupla days ago of our latest Canine Companions for Independence puppy, Ophelia.
As Good As Life Gets
Most people know Jack Hanna as a famous animal guy and Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo, but I’m not sure nearly as many know he’s also been a huge long-time supporter of Canine Companions for Independence and has helped raise many thousands of dollars for the organization.
Jack’s on vacation in Florida right now, and he posted this wonderful picture on Facebook this morning.
“A Pup’s Journey to Greatness”
Today I’m gonna give you a chance to see something most people never get to see.
When they’re 8 weeks old, Canine Companions for Independence puppies are brought to the national headquarters campus in Santa Rosa by the breeder caretaker of the mama dog who gave birth to them. They are checked out thoroughly by the veterinary staff, given an identifying tattoo in their right ear, washed, and then sent on their way to puppy raisers across the U.S., who will raise and train them for the next 15-18 months. (You can read more about breeder caretakers and CCI’s very carefully controlled breeding program here.)
Every Service Dog Placement With A Veteran Should Be As Great As This One
I said I was gonna stay positive and show you examples of how things should be rather than ones where I know they are not, and this story is a great start.
When you see someone talking about service dogs for veterans, I want the image of this team to immediately pop into your head, because this is the model, on both ends of the leash. Beyond just being a great story on its face, as you read it, compare what you see here – and, just as importantly, don’t see – with some of the other very visible “service dogs for veterans” stories of late.
« go back — keep looking »About Me
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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