Canine Companions: Shaping future service dogs
It’s all wagging tails and furry smiles at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Williamsburg, where dogs, guided by volunteer puppy raisers, weave between cones, practice commands and learn to maneuver around groups of people.
Each four-legged participant dons a yellow and blue vest with the words, “Future Service Dog.” They are part of Canine Companions, a national organization founded in 1975 that raises and trains service dogs.
Canine Companions breeds golden and Labrador retrievers or a mix of them at its Santa Rosa, California, headquarters. At 8 weeks old, the puppies are sent to spend 18 months with puppy raisers, who are responsible for basic training, socialization, food and veterinary care. The dogs then move to professional training to learn to assist adults and children with physical or mental disabilities; they might also work with a professional in an education, health care or visitation setting.
“This animal is going to impact somebody’s life and give them independence that they’ve never had,” volunteer Peter Aiello said. Aiello and his wife, Kathleen, are raising their second dog, Sidney, with friends from their church.
Tiffany Gordon works on the duration of Hans’ stay while moving a distance away. Evelyn Davidson/freelance
The volunteers and dogs are in the Old Dominion chapter, which spans Farmville to Virginia Beach. Class leader and puppy raiser Leslie Neely began hosting classes in Williamsburg almost a year and a half ago as a central spot. The classes are designed around eight elements.
In one class on body awareness, grooming practices and distractions, the dogs are walked through a cluster of volunteers who simulate strangers the service dog might encounter. In another part of the room, Neely’s husband stood with their untrained family dog and the future service dogs had to resist engaging — with the group and the dog.
“When you have a service dog, you want every predictable element to be there,” said Neely, who joined the organization in 2007 when her daughter became deaf and needed a service dog in college.
Neely hosts at least one monthly outing for the dogs, and they’ve explored Colonial Williamsburg, William & Mary’s campus and Norfolk International Airport.
The puppy raisers are people who are new to the program and others who have gone through the experience a handful of times.
Mackenzie Sherman, a first-timer, is a junior at Longwood University. She became involved through the Service-Dog Training and Education Program at Longwood, STEP@LU.
Mackenzie Sherman, a first-time volunteer puppy raiser in Neely’s class and her dog Acton. Evelyn Davidson/freelance
Sherman’s dog, Acton, attended his first class on June 2. His vest fit loosely over his fur and he could barely contain his excitement around the toys that were scattered around the room for them to play.
“I’m excited for him to be on campus and to learn all the things, and I feel like he’s going to grow a lot living there,” Sherman said. Acton lives with her on campus.
Courtney Bennis and her mom, Pam, began raising future service dogs when Bennis was 5 years old. Bennis, now 37, has trained 11 canines with her mom. Bennis teaches at Cox High School in Virginia Beach and said her students love it when she brings Griffin, her current dog, to school. Griffin only has two more months with the Bennises before receiving six to nine months of professional training in one of six regional centers.
“You always know it’s not your dog,” Bennis said. Her first was later paired with a 17-year-old with cerebral palsy. That knowledge makes saying goodbye easier.
“He can change somebody else’s life in ways that I can’t understand.”
After professional training, the canines are paired based on their strengths and abilities. For example, a good fetcher could aid someone who needs a dog to bring them items. Dogs that are not suited for service work are released for adoption. Graduation ceremonies — when the dogs are officially paired with their “forever person” — are especially emotional for puppy raisers.
Courtney Bennis and her mom, Pam, and their future service dog Griffin. Evelyn Davidson/freelance
Bennis has attended five graduations and her canines always remember her, she said. Bennis stays connected; sometimes, she receives Christmas cards or follows the dogs on social media.
Debbie Baker, who raised nine puppies for two organizations over the last 17 years, agreed that the graduations are heartwarming.
“You’re handing over the leash to someone whose life you’re changing,” she said. “That brings me back time after time: ‘What else can you do that you can make that kind of an impact on someone else that you don’t know?’”
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Evelyn Davidson, [email protected]
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