Canine Companions

Best organization ever they provided me with my service dog Dario completely free of charge! They are top notch I highly recommend them.

Our family has been involved with Canine Companions for over 23 years, as our son was matched with a service dog from them. I have only the highest things to say about CCI. Their training and matching our son with a dog was exemplary, and that dog completely changed our son’s life. Their follow up and support of graduates is amazing, and the trainers were always reachable if we had any questions on unique situations in our son’s life. Because of what they saw happen for our son, one friend of ours became a breeder caretaker for CCI, another friend became a repeat puppy raiser, and two friends went on to become matched with their own CCI service dog. Again, only the highest, most positive experience was had in every situation and interaction.

This is a quality service dog organization with decades of wisdom and success. They KNOW service dogs, and they provide them free of charge to qualified individuals. I have volunteered as a puppy raiser for over 10 years, donate and will continue to do so.

I just want to tell you what a fantastic charity Canine Companions for Independence is,not only do we have the very best dog's around,we have some of the most caring professional people working there and awesome volunteers. I am honored to be a small part of such a great organization. Thank You very much.
Steve Hofmaster

"Sara can you please come here?" CCI graduate Oscar VI came into my life November 2013. He is a black Lab/golden mix. He has taken over many of the chores Sara use to do. I'm in a wheelchair so he makes me independent by opening doors, picking up items I drop on the floor, turns on room lights and he can pull the pull the covers over me. I am greatfull for all the volunteers that bred Oscar with his "O" litter, puppy raisers that prepared him for advanced training, the professional trainers that did the advance training and matching Oscar to me and the amazing few administrators that tie Canine Companions for Independence activities together.

Absolutely wonderful organization! I am thrilled to be part of their mission. I am raising my first of hopefully many puppies for them.

I could never give enough thanks to Canine Companions for Independence and everyone involved with this wonderful organization. My Hearing Dog Tatiana has given me a second chance at independence, happiness and life, and has touched countless lives. My life has been forever changed and saved (literally) because of her. Heroes are not born, but are made… And Canine Companions made Tatiana. I can never return the gift I have been given, but I can do my best to keep paying it forward. Thank you CCI!

CCI is my family and beyond special to me, love!!!

I was given a service dog at no cost to me. Oscar VI helps me be indepandant. He picks up my clothing by name: shirt, socks, undershirt, slippers, etc. He opens drawers, pulls off my socks, and helps me get dressed. Opens and closes doors, turns lights off and on and much more.

Canine Companions for Independence started in California where they breed their own dogs. When these exceptional dogs are 8 weeks old they are sent to one of several regions to initiate their puppy raising and training with volunteers. Then they ascend to advanced training at a Canine Companions for Independence location, Oscars is Orlando, Florida. After 9 months Oscar was ready to be considered for placement with a disabled person that would be helped to be independent. My wife and I went to CCI Orlando for 2 weeks of training to learn how to lead, care for, manage and think like a dog.

Canine Companions for Independence does this all with a very small professional staff of highly motivated and very dedicated people. They provide highly-trained, exceptional dogs at no charge to disabled Veterans and others with disabilities. This is why I recommend CCI.

Exceptional dogs, exceptional people. I feel LUCKY to be part of such an amazing organization.

Our 12 year old has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and a rate immune disorder. We received our skilled companion working dog in February of 2013. Nickel III has been a Godsend. He's a faithful companion, he can help retrieve objects when our son has bad JRA days and he been a great social bridge for our son.

From breeders, to puppy raisers, to trainers and vets and full-time staff: there simply isn't a more qualified - people-passionate - assistance-dog organization out there.

I signed up to raise my first puppy in 2013. I turned in May 2015 and look forward to receiving my 2nd puppy in training either end of 2015 or beginning of 2016. What they do for people with disabilities is beyond amazing. Not many organizations offer fully trained dogs free of charge. CCI does and they do support their graduates for the life of the dog.

We received a CCI skilled companion dog in 2007 for my daughter born with spina bifida. The independence she gained was unimaginable. I never would have guessed how her world opened up for her by the addition of a dog. But, CCI dogs are so much more then just a dog. They become extensions of their people. They become their arms, legs, eyes, and ears. The fact that my daughter can tell Gladys II ( lovingly known as Glady) "get mom" and she will run to me and tug my clothes until I follow her back to my daughter is awe inspiring. There are no words to express our gratitude for all the hard work that goes into the raising, training, and placement of these incredible dogs. CCI is simply put, AMAZING!!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

My organizations which serves children who are deaf or hard of hearing has been fortunate in receiving a Facility Dog from CCI. This dog is a miracle maker! Children who never smiled, now smile when they see her. Kids who are having a tough day, relax when she is with them. She is an integral part of the curriculum, helping kids solve puzzles, find the right words during speech therapy, encouraging them to be physically active in the play yard. I cannot state strongly enough how great the benefits are from the services of this one dog.

Besides being a NER Board of Directors Member for CCI, I am raising my second puppy for them. I cannot think of a better way to serve the community. By volunteering for this wonderful organization I get to see first hand what these exceptional dogs can do for adults and children with a disability. It's by far the greatest joy to witness the remarkable difference it makes in a persons life. Each Recipient receives his/her dog free of charge too!!!! Bravo to CCI for all that they do to help give a person with a disability the independence to live life to the fullest by providing their highly trained assistance dogs. I'm honored to be on the Northeast Regional Board Member and thrilled to be raising another miracle for them.
~Yvonne Dagger
NER Board of Directors Member

After much agonizing over the many worthy charities listed by the Pittsburgh Foundation for its Day of Giving, my daughter chose Canine Companions for Independence, as she was touched by the work and testimonials of many people who have helped disabled people by providing trained assistance dogs.

Sadly though, despite this charity being listed as a non-profit available for matching funds on its web site [ http://pittsburghgives.org/?cat=3&s='' ], we were unable to donate as the Pittsburgh Foundation stated it as unavailable for donating. This was heartbreaking for my daughter, as she looked so forward to give, with the promised matching funds by the Pittsburgh Foundation. If the Pittsburgh Foundation no longer feels that this charity was worthy of receiving donations, I wish it had not listed it as one of the ones available.

I have been a volunteer puppy raiser for CCI since 2006. I turned in dog #4 for advanced training just last week. CCI has the most wonderful and supportive staff and volunteers. Take a few moments to learn more about this amazing organization that provides "exceptional dogs for exceptional people".

When you are a volunteer puppy raiser for Canaine Companions for Independence you are continually asked 2 questions: 1. Why is your dog wearing a muzzle? (It's not a muzzle, it's a Gentle Leader and helps to guide his head instead of pulling on his neck and choking him). and 2. How can you give him up? (It's like raising a child - you pour all your love and hard work into them. Then it's time for them to leave the house and go out into the world. You're so proud of all they've accomplished and wish them only the best in their next stage along life's journey). 13 years ago, when I was raising my first puppy for CCI, I worked as a volunteer in one of their regional offices. I was asked by one of the office staff a question that I had not been asked before: what will you do if your puppy makes it through advanced training and is matched with someone you don't think is appropriate for him? Hmmmm. What would I do? I thought about that for a short time and replied that I would then have to readjust my thinking. If the CCI trainers were matching my dog to someone I did not think was appropriate, then they must see something in my puppy and/or in my puppy's new partner that I had missed. The trainers at CCI have had many more years of experience with these dogs than I have. They understand their dogs in ways that I do not. They want the best for their dogs and want all their dogs to be successful. The trainer's decisions were not based on what was best for me - their decisions were based on what was best for their dogs.

As it turned out, my puppy did not graduate, but was released from the CCI program. We have done therapy dog work together for the last 12 years. At 13, he is still visiting an assisted living community and still spreading the word about all the wonderful work that CCI does.

CCI is an organization in which I truley believe. I have volunteered and donated to them for over 20 years. I have met many wonderful staff members, graduates and volunteers - some who have become valuable friends. I have seen first hand the life changing experiences this organization has been responsible for. I'm proud to be a CCI volunteer and proud to spread the word about this exceptional organization.

I have been involved with Canine Companions for Independence for about 17 years. I sm a volunteer, a puppy raiser, and a monthly contributor. I am VERY proud to be associated with this marvelous organization that changes the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained service dogs FREE OF CHARGE. As a "dog person", someone who has not just owned dogs, but trained and competed with them, I can honestly say that their breeding program has resulted in exceptional dogs. Their commitment to their dogs is lifelong. Their efforts to insure that the puppy raiser helps the dog develop and achieve his potential are outstanding. I have seen first hand the difference these dogs make in people's lives, enabling people with disabilities to go to work, do their household tasks themselves, reach their own potential. The volunteers and puppy raisers are also a wonderful group of people who work tirelessly and cooperatively toward the common goals. Enough praise cannot be given also to the trainers and staff. I give this organization the highest rating, deservedly.

I have been involved with CCI for about a year now. Immediately upon walking into my local chapter headquarters, I could see that this is a very special organization. I was welcomed into the fold by dedicated, compassionate volunteers and made to feel part of the CCI community. I was astounded by how hard these individuals work to help others by providing these loving companions for exceptional people and their families. I have been able to see, first hand, how CCI helps children, adults, and the people who love them. I know it sounds trite, but the CCI community truly is a family, and I consider myself very fortunate to have become involved.

I have loved volunteering and working with the fine people at CCI! Not only are the dogs exceptional for exceptional people but the organization itself is exceptional. I am proud to be a part of the community. I will continue to give what I can because you can see money and time being real components of change. Keep going guys, you are great!!!!!

I am proud to be a Volunteer Puppy Raiser for CCI- the people involved in this organization are amazing- the trainers, volunteers and graduates - everyone! To me, volunteering means doing things to benefit others- what was so unexpected is the amount of gratitude everyone in this organization has for its volunteers- this has been an incredible experience for my entire family! So proud to be a part of CCI!!!!

I was a puppy raiser and a donor for over 7 years. I raised 5 puppies. While I still support the mission to place service dogs with
people with disabilities, I stopped raising puppies for CCI and no longer support the organization via financial donations.

CCI is a very large, in my opinion insular organization. There are some lovely people who work there, who greatly care for the graduate recipients and the dogs they place. This was not my experience with the leadership, who seem unwilling or unable to acknowledge many of the volunteers and to communicate with them in an open and empathic way. I know many former puppy raisers who left feeling hurt and unappreciated by the leadership at CCI and by the graduate recipients of the dogs they lovingly raised.

In the region I volunteered in, there is a group of
volunteers, along with staff in the development department, and several members of the regional board who I, and other volunteers experienced as quite condescending and
rude. I had several personal experiences of being on the receiving end of their bad behavior.
The organization did require
volunteers sign an acknowledgement of expected behavior but while there seems to be a policy on paper, it did not come to fruition in real life. This is the case in other aspects of how the organization is run. CCI provides NO information to a puppy raiser about a dog they raised, once the dog graduates. According to the northwest program manager in an email to me, the exception to this is to let the raiser know when the dog is retired and when the dog dies. I found out quite by accident via a social media page that the first dog I had raised, had been retired, a year previous to the post on facebook. CCI once again did not follow their own policy. No one from the organization contacted me when the dog was retired. Their lack of empathy, the lack of the desire, to extend simple courtesy to me as a volunteer who raised the pup for close to two years, is sad. It just does not matter to those in leadership how anyone feels!

The situation with the development staff and other volunteers while unkind, and annoying, was certainly a manageable one in the broad scheme of things, to serve such a wonderful mission. Sometimes certain people just do not get along and often in life it is best to just stay away from people like this.

The situations where the organization did not follow their own policies was a bit more concerning to me. The longer I stayed with CCI the more I developed concern for the care and handling of some
of the graduate dogs. If the organization was not following policies regarding volunteers and puppy raisers, why would I expect they would do so regarding the graduate dogs?

Most of the graduate teams I met were nice people, who tried their best
to do what CCI had taught them about handling their dog so the team
worked optimally and they met the standards claimed by CCI and those set
by ADI (assistance dogs international). Unfortunately, I also had experience observing dogs not being cared for, nor handled according to these standards. One graduate told me she does not follow CCI rules regarding handling of
her dog unless the CCI trainers were around and in fact I observed her
doing just that, placing her dog in a situation that could have brought
harm to the dog. To me this was disrespectful to puppy raisers, trainers, everyone who worked to get the dog ready for her. But more importantly it was really unfair to the
dog. At the most basic of levels the graduates should be expected to keep their dogs safe from harm.

Shortly after leaving CCI, I received a survey from the national program manager asking about my experience with CCI. When I responded, I was honest, expressing my feelings about the way I, and other volunteers were
treated by some staff and board members. I also conveyed my observations and concern over the care and handling of some of the graduate dogs. I never received a reply from him.

It is important to me that the organization I raise for and financially support be able to not just place large numbers of dogs but that they ensure that all the dogs they place are
handled appropriately and cared for with love and respect once they
leave CCI. The fact that the national program manager never responded to my correspondence about the care of graduate dogs is not acceptable to me, and actually solidified in my mind that my decision stop raising and donating to support CCI was the right one. Maybe my concerns were founded, maybe not, but it seems important for someone in
authority at the organization to at the very least pursue such a matter when it is brought
to their attention. If only to acknowledge the communication and ask which teams there was concern for, so they could follow up. It would have been inappropriate
for me to say something to a graduate about the handling of a dog.
However, CCI staff has a responsibility to be sure all the dogs are cared
for, respected and handled
appropriately. I believe I followed appropriate channels. CCI did nothing. How effective the program is cannot be judged only by how they spend their money and the number of dogs placed.

Raising puppies for service dog work is very rewarding. I would suggest that anyone who wants to participate in volunteering this service look at other organizations than CCI, there are many.

I would suggest that you ask specific questions about how the organization
trains their dogs. One thing I heard many times at CCI is that no dog is forced to
work if they don't want to. However, they do use traditional training techniques including a forced retrieve. For some dog lovers wishing to volunteer as puppy raisers this and some other training practices used may be outside their comfort level. The longer I stayed and the more I learned, the less comfortable I was with some of the practices used. These types of decisions tend to be very personal choices. I am not making a judgement about CCI's training practices, they are the professionals and I respectfully defer to them. I am only making a decision about my comfort level. I heard lots of things at CCI, but what was said and what was actually done were many times two very different things.

Overall, I do think my service was important and changed the lives of the people who received the puppies I raised. I am looking for another organization to volunteer for and continue my service toward this mission. Hopefully wiser for my experience with the last one.

CCI is outstanding! The organization I work for loves to donate and support their work because we appreciate what they do and know that the money is being used responsibly. CCI provides well bred and well trained dogs to people who need them. Keep up the great work!!!

My husband and I received a facility dog that works with injured servicemen and women at military hospitals, support groups and sports rehabilitation events as part of CCI's Wounded Veteran Initiative. Our facility dog, Tali, lends her support by snuggling with injured troops as they heal in the hospital, she walks with them when they receive a new prosthetic limb and waits for them at the finish line after they compete in their first triathlon. Over the last year we have seen several CCI service dogs placed with permanently injured servicemen and women. Some of these individuals were not able to live on their own without assistance. However, with their assistance dogs, they can now live on their own without a roommate. Independence doesn't mean living alone. Many of these veterans now have "Battle Buddies" as they move on with their lives. We are grateful to have Tali and enjoy watching her as she connects with those in need. The Wounded Veteran's Initiative has and will continue to help our veterans regain independence.

I have been involved with many nonprofits in the past, and CCI has been by far the best. I am a Volunteer Puppy Raiser. I have been raising Maude II for more than a year now, taking care of her on a daily basis, making sure she's healthy, and teaching her the 30 basic commands. CCI has been incredibly supportive, giving me monthly feeback and answering questions as they arise within the day. Everyone I have met both locally and at our regional office in Oceanside, CA, has been kind, helpful and dedicated to excellence. I have had such a wonderful experience that I've applied to raise a second puppy and cannot wait for his/her arrival. I can't say enough good about CCI...they are truly a wonderful organization.