Such a wonderful organization doing so much good for our local veterans. Great people and great dogs!
I walk some of the dogs in training every weekend and it is such a joy. The training and guidelines are clear and I can tell the the dogs are so loved. The company I work for is a sponsor and we spent a day at the facility. It was amazing all the simulated settings they have in one of the buildings that they use to train the dogs. What an amazing service they offer. They pick the right dogs to train, work for a year or more training them and then supply a extremely valuable asset to the service members that needs them. The fact that they use 85% rescue dogs is a blessing for the dogs being saved.
Like many companies (I suspect) we searched for a non-profit that supported a mission and cause that we could support- knowing that we wanted to make a real impact to an organization that aligned with our value and belief system. We could not be happier with our choice of Canines for Service!
Canines for Service is a great organization that helps both shelter dogs and veterans. Canines for Service rescues shelter dogs and trains them to become service dogs for veterans with mobility and/or PTSD issues. I have seen over and over what a difference it makes to the dog to be rescued and find love and a purpose. I have seen over and over the difference it makes to the veteran when that bond between veteran and dog happens and the veteran gets his/her life back.
The Canines for Service individuals are wonderful and walking the dogs each morning several times a week is a great way to start a day. Not only do I get fresh air and exercise but each dog brings me joy. Some are quiet, some have boundless energy, some are curious and some a little timid. But each one has endless love which will brighten your day.
Canines for Service is an organization where you will see and feel the difference you are making in both a dog's life and a veteran's life. It's an unbeatable combination.
This is a charity that has proven it's worth time and time again for military veterans needing assistance at no cost to the veteran. Other service dog entities provide a similar service, but at a cost to the veteran. That means the need for support dollars exists every day of the week and every month of the year.
Canines for Service trains and provides service dogs to address mobility and PTSD issues for veterans and in short, gives them their lives back. Veterans told me through tears of gratitude, of gaining the ability to sleep through the night after just a week with their dogs, of being able to get outside into society again, and of being able to be part of their family instead of dealing with constant anger, fear, or depression.
You have to see the joy in the faces of the vets and hear the zest of renewal in their voices to truly understand how meaningful the relationship between veteran and dog becomes.
Working as a volunteer to help these dogs through months of intensive training brightens up every day that I am with them. I know that the training works, the results show, and more importantly, someone's life has improved as a result.
In 5 years, I have never had a bad day working with these dogs and the staff and I feel this organization and it's dogs do in fact make a difference!
I've had the pleasure of working with Canines For Service piecing together a short video highlighting a veteran and his service dog Ethan. The moment Ethan officially "graduates" into service is truly emotional, and the images are most powerful.
Canines For Service is a great organization, run by great people, who are doing great work.
Helping foster for Canines for Service is such a joy! We love interacting with the staff and the highly skilled trainers who dedicate their lives to preparing the dogs to be of service and to bring joy to our veterans.
A beautiful organization that saves 2 lives - that of a rescue dog and that of a veteran. How can that not be wonderful!? And the people behind the scenes are amazing and passionate about this non-profit as well and put their hearts and souls into it.
I have been volunteering at Canines for Service for a few years now and especially love training the dogs and meeting wonderful friends. Rick and Pat Hairston are very dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to provide quality service dogs to people in need. They are always willing to help me and give me advice on how to become a better trainer. I love spending time there and can't think of a better place to volunteer my time
My wife and I have been doing dog therapy work with Carolina Canines for about 10 years. We started in the therapy dog program with our dog Bunker. Bunker is now in doggie heaven. Currently we have 3 certified therapy dogs. Sara age 9 visits patients and families at Hospice and nursing homes. Hannah age 3 and Rebekah age 2 also visit patients and families at Hospice and nursing homes. In the past we have been involved in the elementary school reading program and other programs and events involving the therapy dog program. What a blessing it is to see family members of a person in the hospice bed be able to pet and love the dogs and talk about dogs and for a brief period, be able to get some assistance during their concern and grief.
For the past four years , I've been a foster puppy parent, and have advanced trained the service dogs in training. It's exciting to learn how to train them, it's fun and the friendships developed with other volunteers is an added benefit . Where else can you work with a whacky puppy, share your funny and not so funny experiences with other volunteers, as we marvel at the love these dogs have to please! It's a wonderful experience watching these whacky puppies mature into thinking, loving dogs. The Fun, , feelings of accomplishment, and the love these animals give is priceless! But the best of all is when they're matched with their new partner and that forever bond is formed. They definitely are "Miracles with paws!"
My wife and I learned about Carolina Canines for Service in 2006 when we moved into the area. We retired to the Wilmington, NC area and were looking for areas where we could volunteer our time and energy.
After much searching we decided that Carolina Canines were the group we would like to give our time and money to.
The founder is fully dedicated and works extremely hard to make sure the dogs accepted and trained meet a very high standard. After several years of training the dog is placed with a very needy individual
Carolina Canines mission is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to achieve greater independence and enhanced quality of life and to improving piople's lives through the services of a specially trained dog.
They recently added a Carolina Canines for Veterans due to the number of wounded Veterans returning from abroad.
They also, train Therapy Dogs and have a Paws for Reading Program.
This is a wonderful organization and we are proud to be a small part of it.
Review from Guidestar
I recently trained my dog to become a therapy dog, and I also find it theraputic to me taking Biscuit [our dog] to the elementary school to do "Group" with these two sweet girls. It puts a smile on my face and in my heart knowing that I'm making a difference in their life.
Review from Guidestar
As a recipient of a service dog from Carolina Canines for Service, I am so appreciative for the opportunity to welcome Rivka into my home. I was surprised how quickly things went after speaking to Mr. Rick Hairston the first time. He was very warm and friendly and while going through the training he was very informative. Since having Rivka, she has helped especially when I had passed out while in the bathroom. No one knew that I had passed out until she came in and then went and got my wife who was then able to take me to the hospital. Who knows how long it would have been if it had not been for Rivka. I know that she is not trained for it, but she also helps with my PTSD. She helps me calm down and makes it bearable to go out in public situations when I feel extremely anxious.
We have been supporters of Carolina Canines for Veterans since January 2008. At that time, our foster puppy, Eve, became part of the Carolina Canines for Veterans program. It is a win for the dogs, a win for the prisoners at the Brig at Camp LeJeune and a enormous win for the Wounded Warriors that receive this extraordinarily well trained mobility service dogs. Supporting this organization can only be a win for everyone.
My family - me, my sons Eli (13) and Noah (10) and our dogs Jackson and Nobelle are all involved with Carolina Canines as pet therapy teams. This summer (2009) we have been working at the local library to help children improve and practice their reading skills. It has been very rewarding to be a part of Carolina Canines, to see the progress of the readers each week, and to volunteer together with my children and dogs. We had one mother tell us that her son (a delayed reader) practices during the week so that he can "do a good job for Jackson"!
Though I volunteer in other areas outside of my job, my LOVE is working with Carolina Canines!!! The other volunteers and Staff are wonderful, caring people. I always look forward to meeting them, seeing how their dogs are progressing, and sharing the funny antics of these lovable furry friends. It's exciting and awesome to see a foster puppy progress to become a service dog - to be a partner, companion and friend. When someone asks how could you give up this dog after training? My thought: How could you Not?? You're giving someone a special gift - the gift of life made easier; the gift of a partner that's always there for you - a best friend! It's also a sense of fulfillment for me - to know that I'm helping make this dog a service dog!!! WOW! It's also a lot of FUN, tears, laughs and love.
It is obvious to anyone how much passion Rick, Pat, and Amie have for animals and helping others in need. This is portrayed through their devotion of time and love into the organization. I recently became a foster parent to a service dog in training and they welcomed me with open arms which immediately made me feel like a part of their “family”. I am so proud to be a part of this organization and look forward to being able to contribute my time with training my puppy so one day he can enrich the life of another individual.
I am a nurse at Hospice, where we have AAT dogs from Carolina Canines come to visit almost every day. I cannot describe how much this helps us with our overall mission to provide a peaceful, comfortable safe place for our patients at the end of their lives. Your dogs add the extra touch we look forward to everyday. So much so that my husband and I both went through the AAT class with our dog, knowing what great teams Carolina Canines puts out. We are so blessed to have them in our community to bring people and dogs together who would never have touched each others lives.
Carolina Canines has given me the great opportunity to become registered as a pet therapy team with my dog, Griffin. The training they provided was wonderful and professional. I have enjoyed volunteering my time with Carolina Canines!
Carolina Canines for Service is one of three organizations I donate a significant amount of time to, perhaps to "pay it forward". You just never know when you might be struck with a need for a service animal and I'd like to think I'm earning "credit" while I train a dog that I will "lose" after 2 years. I originally got involved with them through Pet Partners, their affiliation with Delta Society to bring dogs into local schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Animals, dogs in particular, are a tremendous lift to many people and interacting with well-trained and friendly ones has been proven to have many long-term health benefits.
DOGGONE GREAT TIME When I discovered my new hometown had a parade every year, I couldn't wait! Off we went that fateful morning six years ago to our $10 grandstand seats. We cheered each group on with hoops and hollers that left me nearly voiceless. Then came a group of folks with physical disabilities, in wheelchairs, on crutches, whatever worked. Everyone had a dog. They were the staff, clients and volunteers of Carolina Canines for Service. One little dog wearing a flowered straw hat, sunglasses, and carrying a basket of flowers in her mouth stood out. As she neared our seats, she spit out the basket, as if she were saying, 'Phtooey! I'm not carrying that anymore,' and gave us a good laugh. The door to our new life here was opened by that little dog. As recently retired newcomers , we hoped to find some hobbies or volunteer work to keep us active. We contacted Carolina Canines and are long-term volunteers and donors with them. We've helped set up the new office as clerical volunteers. My husband did the "Vet" run, supplying veterinary offices with Carolina Canine brochures. Long ago, I attempted to organize the schedules of PAWS for Reading volunteers and took Delta AAT training so as to be able to fill-in in case of absences. There were many more tasks, some small and some unimaginable in size and scope. Although it began because a little dog spit out her basket of flowers at our first Azalea Festival parade, our admiration for the work that this group does and its dedication to its goals have kept us involved as volunteers and supporters since we made North Carolina our home. - Nancy G. Barkalow, Wilmington