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Canine Assistants, Inc.

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Nonprofit Overview

Causes: Animal Services, Animals, Centers to Support the Independence of Specific Populations, Education, Educational Services, Human Services

Mission: Our founder and Executive Director, Jennifer Arnold, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as a teenager and spent two years using a wheelchair. It was a difficult time for her as she felt isolated, alone, and dependent on those around her. Her father, a physician in Atlanta, heard about an organiztion that trained service dogs to help people in wheelchairs. The program, which was located in California, had a long waiting list and worked mainly with those in their own region, so her father decided to start a similar program in Georgia. Three weeks after the first planning meeting for Canine Assistants, her father was hit and killed by a drunk driver while he was taking a walk. Determined to accomplish her dream and complete what her father had started, it took Jennifer and her mother ten years of hard work and dedication to open the program. Fortunately, Jennifer no longer needs a wheelchair, yet she fully understands the needs and concerns of others with physical disabilities. We no longer want people with disabilities to feel isolated and dependant on others. The dogs trained at Canine Assistants can turn lights on and off, open doors, pull wheelchairs retrieve dropped objects, summon help, and provide secure companionship. Yet, even more important than the physical skills they possess, is their ability to eliminate feelings of fear isolation, and loneliness felt by their companions. One Canine Assistants' recipient made the value of this skill quite clear when asked by a reporter what she like most about her service dog, immediately she responded, "My service dog makes my wheelchair disappear."

Community Stories

5 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

4

Sugarfoot General Member of the Public

Rating: 1

05/02/2023

This place is misrepresenting itself to applicants, recipients, sponsors, the public and media as a training facility for service dogs! This org has changed drastically from the original concepts and methodology. At one time, CA was a reputable and wonderful organization. Many dogs were appropriately trained with fosters for their early puppy years and then trained/taught tasks associated with the needs of future recipients with different disabilities, e.g. diabetes alert dogs, epileptic alert dogs, wheelchair bound children and adults, and therapy dogs. CA has morphed into an ideology that recipients should [bond, love, and give the dog choices] without asking or commanding or giving cues to do ‘anything!’. CA thinks giving commands is abusing the dog. My daughter received a dog very recently; she has a neuromuscular disease and is wheelchair bound. The "match" process of recipient to dog is a just a toss up. The dog was brought home without any training or teaching of tasks my daughter needs even though CA knew the tasks a service dog would need to know to be able to help her through a day beyond the love and bond. The dog was clueless what sit even meant. This "retriever" didn't retrieve ANYTHING. This is the main task needed for someone that drops things all the time. The dog was a nervous wreck just hearing the garage door open, a lawn mower start, a car door close, a leaf blower, the vacuum, and the necessary lift we have to bring her up the steps! And van lift! This dog should have been desensitized to noises trained! This place is misrepresenting itself to applicants, recipients, sponsors, the public and media. Go ahead, ask a dog to sit, lay down, fetch - CA says "Oh no, don't ask the dog to do anything for at least 2 weeks". They are saying just "bond and love" the dog and it will do what you want. This is BS because all the love and bonding in the world will not teach a dog how to sit, turn on lights, close doors, retrieve and bring back, not jump on people, and have service dog manners.! I am one pissed mother for all the hurt and pain they have caused my daughter and our family trying to give this dog and others to recipients, (even if there is no cost to them) that cannot remotely meet the standards of a TRUE SERVICE DOG. The dog was taken abruptly and is back at CA probably and will be re-homed or remain there. IT IS NOT the dog's fault. Investigations are fruitless and everyone there circle around in secrecy of what is happening labeling recipients that return dogs as ungrateful. There is no accountability or admission and because of many success stories in the past, and the love recipients develop for any dog they receive, so people are not willing to talk. Volunteers and employees think they are doing good and most of them are kept from the truth as well. I have tried to write a review on google reviews on CA only to find it does not appear. I can see it, but no one else can. I wonder why.

6

Laura Z.1 Volunteer

Rating: 1

02/01/2022

In theory, a great program. In practice, a poorly managed constantly changing program. As someone who wanted to volunteer, I went through their “certification” and learned that they excessively breed, have the dogs spend inordinate amounts of time in shared kennels, and feed them poor quality food and treats. There is a huge donor/fundraising effort. There is no emphasis on the dogs health and happiness, and they move through the program at a snails pace compared to other service dog programs. While unknowing volunteers are wonderful, the staff is highly secretive and there is no transparency about the dog’s progress, specific efforts to educate them, or what is being done with dogs who have issues (often due to conditions at the farm).

2

LMS1 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/06/2014

We waited for years to receive a dog for our teen daughter and we could not have been happier being a receipiant of a service dog for our child with epilepsy - daily seizures. The organization is professional, they have huge hearts and they get so many things donated... airline tickets, food to serve the families, community volunteers, etc. They work tirelessly to help families. They put families through a great training program for 2 weeks at no cost to the families. There is really no comparable organization on the East Coast to CA! They deserve accolades for bringing joy, comfort and happiness to those with disabilities who are dog lovers. My daughter is passionate about her dog and whenever she feels a seizure coming on, she goes to him. It is true love and companionship. We are eternally grateful.

1

carefulgiver General Member of the Public

Rating: 3

07/02/2013

This review is on behalf of a family who went through a two year process to get a dog for their child with seizures. After this long process they were told they were not eligible to receive a dog. This notification came in a form letter with no specifics as to why they were deemed ineligible. I think the organization does wonderful work, but they need to be specific in their rejections. How else will this family (English a second language) know what actions they might take to be acceptable to another organization? Child is now 16 and has been suffering seizures for ten years. All their hope for getting somewhere near a normal life was in getting one of these wonderful dogs and they do not know why. I am told by a staff member that something during the home visit caused the decision to be negative, but the family was never told what this is.

Review from Guidestar

3

DebbieJ Donor

Rating: 5

10/27/2012

Jennifer Arnold has a real talent with her dogs and a passion for helping the folks who need them. It is a well run program. I highly recommend supporting them with donations and volunteering your time. The volunteer program is tough, but those dogs are valuable and have important jobs waiting on them. I have taken Girl Scouts there for tours and Canine Assistants were very gracious. I am looking forward to a time when my schedule allows me to volunteer my time as well as donations.

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