Canine Companions for Independence: Unlocking Independence and Confidence

These specially trained dogs can help individuals with disabilities live more independently, with one dog assisting up to 40 people in its lifetime.

Their presence can have a profound impact, reducing anxiety and stress in public settings.

Canine Companions for Independence was founded in Santa Rosa, California, in July 1975 by Bonnie Bergin.

The organization has grown into a national organization with seven training centers and field offices in Washington, California, Texas, Ohio, New York, and Florida.

Each chapter supports volunteer puppy raisers and fundraising efforts.

All expenses for breeding, raising, and training the dogs are financed through private donations from corporations, individuals, and foundations, as well as fundraising projects.

It's estimated that each assistance dog and a lifetime of follow-up support costs $50,000.

The Lions Club Project for Canine Companions for Independence has donated a total of $3 million since its founding in 1983.

Canine Companions partnered with Henry Schein Animal Health in 2015 to provide puppy raisers with free health care products.

The partnership with Henry Schein Animal Health has been a significant support to the organization's efforts.

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Canine Companions for Independence trains their service dogs in a four- to nine-month program that begins at one of their seven training centers across the US.

The training program reviews what the dogs have learned from their volunteer puppy raisers and includes in-depth health and temperament assessments.

Each dog learns over 40 commands to increase independence, such as pulling a manual wheelchair, retrieving dropped items, and opening doors.

Dogs may be trained as hearing dogs that alert their deaf handler to sounds in the environment and lead the handler to the source of the sound.

Canine Companions also trains service dogs to assist veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder by providing a gentle buffer in crowds, turning on lights, and interrupting nightmares and anxiety behaviors.

The organization carefully selects puppies that show the most potential based on traits like intelligence, health, and a friendly disposition.

The selection process is critical, as it sets the stage for successful training and a lifelong partnership between the dog and their handler.

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Service dogs like those trained by Canine Companions are highly trained professionals that provide specific support to individuals with disabilities.

Their training involves hundreds of hours of dedicated work, making them adept at understanding and responding to specific commands and situations.

The typical term in service for a Canine Companions team is eight to ten years, during which time they return for routine follow-up and may also participate in reunions or extra follow-up training.

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Canine Companions for Independence is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly-trained assistance dogs and ongoing support at no cost to the recipients.

Their assistance dogs are trained in over 40 commands, allowing them to perform jobs like opening doors, picking up dropped items, and turning on lights.

These incredible animals are more than just service dogs - they're also goodwill ambassadors and often, their best friends. They open up new opportunities and new possibilities and spread incredible joy.

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Canine Companions for Independence also trains dogs to provide emotional support to their 'person', making them ideal for interventions like calming individuals with PTSD or providing affection to those in need.

The bond between a service dog and their partner is a powerful one, bringing joy, confidence, and a sense of security to their human companions.

Service dogs at Canine Companions for Independence are trained to perform a range of tasks, from guiding the visually impaired and alerting the deaf to alarms, to supporting individuals with mobility issues by pulling wheelchairs, picking up dropped items, or any other physical tasks.

Mobility Assistance Dogs provide support for those with physical limitations, helping with tasks such as opening doors, retrieving objects, or pulling wheelchairs.

The bond between a CCI service dog and their partner is a crucial aspect of their partnership, as each dog is matched to a recipient's particular needs and lifestyle, ensuring a seamless partnership.

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Service dogs can be trained to detect changes in blood sugar levels, providing their handlers with an early warning to prevent dangerous fluctuations, and some can even predict seizures before they occur.

Emotional Support and Therapeutic Canines are trained to provide emotional support to their 'person', making them ideal for interventions like calming individuals with PTSD, overcoming phobias, or simply providing affection to those in need.

For some, a service dog from CCI could be the difference between living at home or in assisted care, providing robust support that allows an individual to perform daily tasks independently.

Hearing Dogs alert their deaf or hard-of-hearing partners to sounds like alarms, doorbells, or crying babies, highlighting the importance of these dogs in supporting individuals with hearing impairments.

Psychiatric Service Dogs offer invaluable assistance to those with mental health conditions, providing tasks such as pressure therapy for anxiety or alerting to dissociative episodes, and forming a vital lifeline for their human partners.

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Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) dogs have a profound impact on the lives of their human companions. They bring joy, confidence, and a sense of security that's hard to find elsewhere.

For example, a graduate named Randi Price credits her CCI dog Lucky with enabling her to start a new chapter in her life, one that's even richer and fuller than she could have imagined. Her progressive muscle disease diagnosis at age 29 was a turning point, but Lucky's companionship helped her adapt.

CCI dogs help their partners regain independence and confidence. As Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran Calvin Smith (USMC) says, getting an assistance dog like Chesney was like getting his life back after his injury. He no longer relies on others as much.

The bond between a person and their CCI dog can also help bridge the gap between the able-bodied and disabled worlds. Emily Cikra's CCI dog Dash has helped her fellow students see her as the same person, despite her wheelchair.

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Financial constraints can be a significant barrier for individuals with disabilities, including those who rely on Canine Companions for Independence.

The average cost of raising a Canine Companion is around $50,000 over the dog's 8-10 year lifespan, which can be a significant financial burden for many families.

Many families rely on fundraising and donations to help cover the costs of raising a Canine Companion.

In addition to financial constraints, accessibility issues can also present a challenge for individuals with disabilities and their families.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, public spaces and facilities must be accessible to people with disabilities, but this is not always the case in practice.

Canine Companions for Independence has worked to address accessibility issues by providing service dogs that can assist individuals with disabilities in navigating public spaces.

These service dogs are trained to open doors, pick up items, and provide other forms of support to help individuals with disabilities access public spaces.

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Canine Companions for Independence is a non-profit organization that trains and places assistance dogs with people with disabilities. They were founded in 1975.

Their assistance dogs are trained to open doors, pick up items, and provide balance support. These dogs are highly skilled and can be trained to perform up to 40 different tasks.

The organization's goal is to provide independence for people with disabilities. They believe that assistance dogs can make a huge difference in someone's life.

Their training process typically takes 18-24 months. During this time, the dogs learn to perform a variety of tasks and become well-behaved companions.

The organization has placed over 6,000 assistance dogs with people in need. These dogs have helped their owners to live more independently and confidently.

Their assistance dogs are trained to assist people with a range of disabilities, including paralysis, multiple sclerosis, and visual impairments.

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