During this month of July, all of us here at NonProfitShoppingMall would like to recognize and give thanks to the amazing team behind Canine Companions for Independence who redefine the meaning of independence far beyond the concept first proposed by our Founding Fathers.

Canine Companions for Independence is the largest assistance dogs' organization worldwide. Founded in 1975 in Santa Rosa, California, Canine Companions provides highly trained assistance dogs for children and adults with a wide range of disabilities, all free of charge!

This incredible service that Canine Companions provides, requires the help of extraordinary citizens with deep compassion and intense dedication to the concept of liberty and freedom for all. The cost of breeding, raising and training service dogs is incredibly expensive. For a large percentage of people with disabilities, the blessing of obtaining a service dog is nearly impossible, particularly in our current economy.

The work of the people at Canine Companions depends largely on funding from individual donations, businesses gifts, foundation grants, civic groups and fundraisers. There are currently 92 active breeder dogs within the organization, with 1,013 volunteer puppy-raisers and more than 3,000 active volunteers nationwide.

Each dog is first introduced to service duties by a volunteer puppy-raiser who provides specially bred puppies a safe home. They are required to take the puppy to obedience classes, serve up a healthy diet, provide socialization opportunities and give lots of love. In a twist on affording freedom to those in need, Canine Companions for Independence also uses female inmates at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Oregon in its puppy-raising programs. The prison puppy-raising program has a very high success rate in the training process and has also had a profound effect on the women inmates during the process.


boy and dog

At the age of 15 months the puppies are returned to CCI where they attend additional training courses with professional instructors. The breeding and training process for each assistance dog is very extensive and only the very best dogs are chosen to be assistance dogs. Canine Companions utilizes three different breeds of dog for their services -- Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and crossbreeds of the two.


Within their five (5) regional training centers there are four (4) specific types of service dog teams:

  1. The Service Dog Team: These dogs assist adults with physical disabilities.
  2. The Hearing Dog Team: These dogs assist those who are deaf and hard of hearing.
  3. The Skilled Companion Dog Team: These dogs are for children and adults with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities.
  4. The Facility Dog Team: These dogs work with professionals in a visitation, education or healthcare setting.


Canine Companions for Independence (www.cci.org) is quite literally a life saving program for millions of disabled people nationwide. The donations given to CCI are by far the most important component in keeping their service available to the public. There are numerous ways for each of us to donate, but one of the simplest and most affordable ways to give is through CCI's private label shopping mall here. It's as simple as turning your everyday online shopping into a priceless donation without spending a penny more than your total purchase price from hundreds of amazing retailers. Speaking from my own personal experience, I can tell you that the quality of life for a person with disabilities is a thousand times greater with the gift of a service dog. I have had the pleasure of working with a service dog specifically bred and trained for children with autism and it was a truly enlightening experience. These dogs are impressively brilliant. Their presence alone had immense healing power, but it takes a great deal of money, time, and dedication to keep the organization functioning and available to those in need.

Imagine if you will for a brief moment what it would be like to lose your ability to function independently. You don't need to be disabled or even know someone who is disabled to understand how important your financial support is to this organization. If you would like to obtain more information about the Canine Companions, the requirements for applicants or how to donate to the organization just click this link www.cci.org. There you will find all the information you need to get involved and begin your path towards helping a very large community of disabled people seeking the freedom and independence these dogs provide.


girl and dog

"Thanks to an extraordinary dog, Nikita's just an ordinary kid." -Nikita and Skilled Companion Morell


There is a reason that dogs are referred to as man's best friend and Canine Companions for Independence has no doubt proven this to be true!



Canine Companions
canine companions

You have the power to help Canine Companions unite people with trained assistance dogs in a powerful program that leads to greater independence for people with a wide variety of physical and intellectual disabilities. Take on the responsibility to raise a puppy and you'll change a life.

Here a few basic examples of how CCI Service Dogs help improve the lives of people with disabilities:

  • Pick up dropped items, like keys and cell phones
  • Reach the light switch and turn lights on and off
  • Open and close doors and drawers

YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP TO FUND:

  • Puppy-raising
  • Prison puppy-raising programs
  • Dog wellness
  • Training equipment
  • Graduate follow-up
two puppies

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR A CANINE ASSISTANCE DOG?

People with physical or developmental disabilities who can demonstrate that a Canine Companions assistance dog will enhance their independence or their quality of life are qualified to apply. Also eligible are professionals working for organizations that provide physical or mental health care to clients who will benefit from interaction with a facility dog.

CCI can only accept a limited number of applications per year. Although many individuals with disabilities are eligible and in need of an assistance dog, CCI will determine and select those individuals where the tasks provided by CCI's highly trained dogs will be of the greatest benefit.

HOW SHOULD PEOPLE BEHAVE AROUND AN ASSISTANCE DOG?

  • Don't be afraid of the dog. Assistance dogs from organizations like Canine Companions for Independence and other members of Assistance Dogs International are carefully tested and selected for appropriate temperament. They have been professionally trained to have excellent manners.
  • Don't touch the dog without asking permission first! This is a distraction and may prevent the dog from tending to the human partner.
  • Never feed the dog. It may be on a special diet. CCI dogs are generally on a feeding schedule as well. Food is the ultimate distraction to the working dog and can jeopardize the working assistance dog team.
  • Speak to the person, not the assistance dog! Most handlers do not mind talking about assistance dogs and their dog specifically if they have the time.
  • Do not whistle or make sounds to the dog as this again may provide a dangerous distraction.
  • Never make assumptions about the individual's intelligence, feelings or capabilities.
  • Be aware of potential architectural barriers to the individual. Be respectful of the assistance dog team. They are a working pair going about their daily lives.

The Americans With Disabilities Act guarantees people with disabilities the right to be accompanied by a service animal in all areas open to the general public. Service animal means any assistance dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Here are some tips to follow when meeting or approaching a working assistance dog and his or her partner.

ARE YOU A VETERAN IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE? HERE ARE SOME SIGNS THAT YOU MIGHT BENEFIT FROM ONE:

  • Disabled in combat
  • Uses a manual wheelchair
  • Paraplegic or amputee
  • Full (or mostly full) mobility of both arms; good upper body strength
  • Good cognitive ability and clear speech
  • Stable home life to provide for a dog's basic needs
  • Completely fenced yard
  • Ready for the benefits of an assistance dog
veteran with dog