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When you witness the work of a charitable organization, you often expect to be moved by its charity.  What you don’t always expect, however, is to be moved by its organization.  And yet, that is exactly what you can expect from Canine Companions for Independence. 

Founded in 1975, CCI is a nationwide non-profit organization committed to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities through highly trained assistance dogs free of charge. 

As you can imagine, it isn’t hard to fall in love CCI’s mission and the sweet animals that bring that mission to thousands.  But where some organizations might struggle to find their footing to support their worthy convictions, CCI stands strong.  The more you learn about them, the harder you search for a pen to start taking notes. Perhaps because they deal with variables of the canine kind, CCI has been carefully molded to carry out their mission in the most efficient way possible.

THE JOURNEY

The journey begins with adorable puppies like this one:
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These baby Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and a cross of the two are born and then cared for in the homes of volunteer breeder caretakers.
At two months, the puppies are put into the homes of volunteer puppy raisers, who are responsible for providing basic obedience training, socializing, and lots of love.

At a year and a half, the puppies receive six to nine months of professional training at Canine Companions where they master more than forty commands including:
  • Retrieving dropped or out of reach items
  • Opening and closing doors and drawers
  • Pulling a lightweight wheelchair
  • Turning lights on and off
  • Alerting the hard of hearing to sounds
  • Showing partners the source of those sounds

Through this training, each dog's specific set of skills and gifts are then evaluated and classified into one of four types of assistance dogs:
SERVICE DOGS 
assist adults with physical disabilities by performing daily tasks

HEARING DOGS 
alert the deaf and hard of hearing to important sounds

SKILLED COMPANIONS 
enhance independence for children and adults with cognitive disabilities

FACILITY DOGS 
work with a professional in a visitation, education, or healthcare setting.

At this point, you'd think the journey would be over, and for some it is.  But for others, the journey is just beginning… 

THE TEAMS

Philip Rogers, of Colorado, was born with spinal bifida, and while many would find the physical restrictions of that disease to be devastating, they have allowed him to meet Romeo.

Philip was one of the lucky applicants chosen to receive a dog from CCI.  After making a trip to the Southwest Regional Center for an extensive two-week orientation, he was paired with Romeo after only three days and says it seems like a perfect fit.

While Philip is an active participant in, among other things, his church youth group, he says that beyond the physical help that Romeo will provide, he is most looking forward to the companionship.
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Phillip and Romeo
When Susan Daynes's son broke his neck at the age of 19, his life changed.  Once an active high school student in Utah, Tim found himself in unfamiliar territory, both physically and emotionally.  His friends, in hopes of avoiding his new disability, avoided him.
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Tim and Yaz

Then, he met Yaz.  According to Susan, with Yaz by his side, things suddenly changed.  Strangers approached Tim in his wheelchair. They got down on their knees to look at the dog and then naturally made eye contact.  Yaz became not only a facilitator of Tim's mobility, but of his confidence.

Tim eventually graduated from the University of Utah with Yaz by his side.  And though she passed away thereafter, Tim found a pattern that propelled him on to get married, receive a Masters degree, and make a career in Vocational Rehabilitation. 
Canine Companions for Independence has also created the Wounded Veterans Initiative which provides assistance dogs to veterans with physical disabilities resulting from military service.

The video to the right is a touching look at one such veteran named Calvin and his Service Dog Chesney.

GETTING INVOLVED

So how does one support a fantastic organization like Canine Companions for Independence?

First and foremost, if you see a CCI team walking around, say hello!  As you approach the team, however, remember to refrain from petting the dogs.  If they're wearing their CCI capes, they are hard at work.

But beyond "hello," there are plenty of ways to promote this great cause. Since CCI receives no government funding for their programs, they are 100% dependent upon the generosity of others and have left no stone unturned in finding ways to encourage that generosity. 

At their website, www.cci.org, you will find access to everything from planning a fundraising event, to sponsoring a team, to giving CCI-themed gifts.  You can even donate an old car you're no longer using.

And if you're interested in a more hands on approach, you can apply to be a volunteer puppy raiser!  It is an 18 month long commitment that will provide an animal with a home, and a human with a more independent life. Visit www.cci.org for more information.

THE SPOTLIGHT

We, at theroadbackhome.com, are in awe of how many homes Canine Companions for Independence is able reach.

With the help of their faithful companions, CCI is able to touch the homes of their volunteer puppy raisers who guide these dogs through an essential period of their development.  They, of course, reach the homes of those who receive the dogs.  And lastly, CCI reaches the homes of all of us who witness their labor of love.  For it is through them that we learn that "love" and "help" might just be "four-legged" words.

TheRoadBackHome.com Spotlights Canine Companions for Independence
as they continue to provide love and help to homes along the road-

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