


Trish Byers
Sep 9, 2022
United States
Categories:
Dogs, Disability, Service Animals
In an article dated June 13, 2022, The Press Democrat Newspaper outlines the new campus that Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) is building to provide service dogs to those living with a disability. The Press Democrat originates out of Sonoma County, California. CCI, a non-profit health and wellness organization, based out of Santa Rosa, California, breeds and trains service dogs to provide for those in need. CCI is building a 32,000-square-foot center to house a research facility, early development breeding space, and veterinary hospital. The expected completion of the new center is August 2023.
The founders saw how burros assist people with disabilities in other countries, inspiring them to found CCI. CCI was founded in 1975 and placed its first service dog, Abdul, in 1976. Since then, the organization has made remarkable progress. In 1978, CCI homed its first hearing service dog and began its formal breeding program in 1985. The organization became one of the founding members of Assistance Dogs International in 1986. By 1988, CCI bred the Labrador/golden retriever cross as its primary service dog. In addition to helping disabled people, CCI has a prison puppy raising program and a veteran initiative program. In 2014, CCI placed the first service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder; in 2019, CCI began its therapy dog program.
Today, Canine Companions for Independence is the world's largest provider of service dogs. The need is greater than the supply, and CCI has a backlist of over 400 people with disabilities who need service dogs. The new facility is important because it will allow the organization to breed more puppies and continue to be a leader in research for the comprehensive breeding of service dogs. Once trained, the service dogs can be sent anywhere in the United States and matched up with disabled people.
From their first dog, Abdul, in 1976, CCI hopes to breed over 1,000 service dogs annually when their facility opens next year. CCI will own the new, $19 million facility. Volunteers all over the United States help through every step of the process.
Can the work of CCI inspire you to make a difference in your hometown? Here are some practical tips to consider. Is your pet suitable to be a comfort animal? Check with your local hospitals and foundations to find out if programs exist in your area to bring animals into hospitals to help emotionally comfort patients. Most people light up when they see an animal brought in for a visit.
Libraries and nursing homes may permit pets to attend reading sessions. Comfort animals can help emotionally traumatized children deal with painful experiences. Check with your local counseling centers or therapists and determine if a program exists in your community. If not, why not get one started?
Perhaps, you don't own a pet but want to help out. Volunteer your time with your local animal shelter and get one-on-one time with neglected, abandoned, and abused animals. The next time you go shopping, buy a bag of dog food for the shelter.
How about organizing a monthly dog walk with your neighbors in the community park? You will surely meet other dog owners who would like to join you. In time, you may build momentum and inspire others to go further, creating new community programs with our dogs.
Small actions can add up to significant changes. Canine Companions for Independence is proof. We love our animals, so let us share that love with everyone and the amazing connection they have with us.
To learn more about Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), please visit the link below. CCI receives a Platinum rating by Guidestar.
Image by prostooleh on Freepik.
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Catalog #:
0822.110.01.090922