Stories Archive - Canine Companions

A Second Chance at Life

Hayley Gordon — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

While serving in the U.S. Army, Rob developed resilience and tenacity as a leader of a multi-cultural team. But his service took a toll.

“In combat, I saw things no human should see,” Rob shares. “The trauma caused me to isolate myself and avoid social situations.”

Dealing with effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), he sought help from Canine Companions, applying for an expertly trained – albeit furry – therapeutic intervention: a service dog.

Rob was matched with Service Dog Fritter, trained in tasks to interrupt anxiety and hypervigilance, reduce the impact of his symptoms and to awaken him from nightmares.

“I never realized how little sleep I was getting until Fritter came into my life,” shares Rob. “Fritter’s warm personality and sweet demeanor provide a sense of calm, interrupting my anxiety before it escalates. I am building confidence in our ability to go out as a team in public.”

But he didn’t just gain a companion in Fritter. He forged a bond and found a network of support in the other veterans he met during his two-week Team Training class. It was a comradery he hadn’t felt in more than a decade.

With Fritter by his side and the newfound connections he has made, Rob says he is now hopeful for the future.

“Fritter has given me a second chance at life. I am grateful to the volunteers, donors and staff at Canine Companions who made it possible for me to live with greater independence, confidence, and joy.”

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A Veteran Hero and His New Canine Partner

Hayley Gordon — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

It takes a hero to dedicate one’s life to serving others. And, Don Jones did exactly that – putting others first and protecting them – as a flight medic for the U.S. Army and as a fire fighter. This unwavering act of bravery, however, led him on an inevitable journey with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

PTSD became an invisible scar that only he can see, and it turned into a routine of anxiety and hypervigilance, not able to fully immerse himself into civilian life. “The way I describe my PTSD is that my soul has been tattooed or scarred from all the things I’ve seen,” he shares.

In 2019, Don decided to take care of himself, an act far removed from his position as a public servant; he applied for a service dog from Canine Companions and matched with Walla, whom he calls his “life saver.”

From completing commands to ease Don’s anxiety in public, to interrupting him when he’s distraught with nightmares, Walla is the glue that brings him back and makes him whole again. “Without people supporting Canine Companions, I wouldn’t have Walla. Little contributions to large contributions, it all adds up to provide all the initial care, getting the dogs trained, pairing and then all the support afterwards.” Click here to empower veterans.

Because of the generous contributions from our donors, Walla has been priceless to Don. You have the power to change the lives of many other veterans by gifting them invaluable independence and confidence that they all deserve to enjoy.

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A Life-Changing Service Dog for a Veteran in Need

Sandrine — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

For decades, Canine Companions has helped people with physical disabilities, and with the Veterans Initiative program, we help veterans who experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 13% of female veterans* experience PTSD associated with their time in service.

Kirsten is a mom of two boys and a U.S. Army veteran, and her husband is active duty. Kirsten is also a Canine Companions volunteer puppy raiser (her first dog is currently in professional training). Kirsten shares, “I think especially for post-traumatic stress disorder there’s still a stigma. It’s hard to have that invisible wound, so to speak. I think that’s a misconception about a service dog team is that not all injuries are visible. For me personally, Dean really helps with my anxiety interruption, having confidence to go into public, and not just avoiding those situations.” Kirsten says she hopes sharing her story will inspire other veterans to seek help if they are struggling.

Click here to read the full article on Boston 25 News.*

*Please be aware that by clicking this link, you are visiting sites that are not managed by Canine Companions. Website security, accessibility and privacy policies may be different than Canine Companions policies. Please read their policies closely.

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Service Dog Frankie: Cara’s Ears

Hayley Gordon — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 22:43:40 +0000

Dr. Cara Miller, an associate professor of psychology and faculty member in the clinical psychology doctoral program at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., has a deep appreciation for her unique canine partners who have been by her side. Her profound deafness prevents her from hearing most sounds in her environment. For over 15 years, she has partnered with expertly trained Canine Companions service dogs to connect her to the important auditory cues, alarms, voices and sirens that occur daily.

Cara’s newest addition is Service Dog Frank, affectionately known as “Frankie.” Frankie is her third Canine Companions service dog, and with the ever-vigilant “supervision” of her retired service dog, Turf, he’s fitting in and loving his busy life as Cara’s ears.

“Before getting a service dog, I craved a greater sense of security related to environmental awareness,” Cara explains. “I worked so hard to be aware, even intentionally approaching hotel managers about ways to get my attention if the fire alarm sounded overnight, as visual alert systems sometimes didn’t wake me up.” She hoped for more independence and a service dog gave that to her, supporting her awareness of the happenings around her, both unheard and sometimes unseen.

Enter Frankie, whose acute abilities allow him to alert Cara to many important sounds – starting with her alarm clock each morning – with the unparalleled enthusiasm that comes from knowing that breakfast is the first step of the day. Together, Cara and Frankie work on new sounds that people with hearing may take for granted, such as the shrill whistle of the teakettle; the sirens from approaching emergency vehicles; or the sound of someone calling out their name.

As an associate professor, Cara studies and teaches about the benefits of the human-animal bond. “Canine Companions coaches clients in expanding the skills of service dogs, like Frankie, including adding sounds that are most important to us,” she says. “I know I can rely on Frankie to support my safety and awareness, and with our growing bond, I know that trust only gets ever stronger.”

Cara repeatedly turns to Canine Companions for her service dogs because she knows she can always reach out for support, guidance and even to celebrate successes. With a Canine Companions service dog by her side, she is more aware of her environment and has greater peace of mind. Additionally, her ability to establish meaningful connections with those around her has greatly improved.

As Cara told Frankie when they were first matched by Canine Companions, “Bud, we’re going to have some adventures.” There’s no denying that this duo will make that a reality for a lifetime.

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A Newfound Independence with a New Partner

Hayley Gordon — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Sometimes, all it takes is meeting a future service dog to change one’s future. 26 years ago, Jason experienced a sepsis infection that resulted in swelling of his blood vessels, causing a stroke-like traumatic injury to his brain. Although he displayed remarkable resilience during a year of hospitalizations and therapies, the injury left its mark on his speech, movement and dexterity.

Initially, the idea of having a service dog in his life didn’t pique Jason’s interest. But, everything changed when he met Arrow, a future service dog from Canine Companions. In that encounter, a powerful understanding sparked within him – these weren’t just any dogs; they were dogs that could provide possibilities. “Meeting Arrow and seeing what he was capable of, even at a young age, immediately changed Jason’s mind,” says Tom, Jason’s dad.

In 2017, Jason was matched with Canine Companions Service Dog Hawkins. Hawkins has become Jason’s unwavering ally, helping him regain some of his mobility, and become more confident within his community. Always eager to assist using his 45-plus tasks he mastered in training, Hawkins plods directly to Jason on a mission to retrieve items, whenever Hawkins hears a sound of something falling, even when items are under Jason’s wheelchair.

Partnering with Hawkins not only provides Jason with a newfound independence navigating daily life; there’s a side of him that would have been hard to bring out – bridging the gap between Jason and the people around him.

“Jason’s interactions with people wouldn’t happen without Hawkins,” Tom shares. “I see a side of him that would’ve been hard to bring out to bridge the gap between Jason and the people around him. As a dad, being able to step back and see them together is amazing.”

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A U.S. Army Veteran’s Lifeline

Hayley Gordon — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The year was 1990, and the United States was on the brink of entering the Gulf War. In the midst of a chaotic time in the world, Tarik, an Army soldier stationed in Europe, found himself facing stressors. But, he thought that if he just buried the emotional stress, then he wouldn’t have to confront it.

After his time in the service, he shifted his focus toward his academic pursuits in both undergraduate and graduate school. However, as the pandemic hit, he found himself caught in a perfect storm, facing the loss of several family members and an autoimmune diagnosis that worsened his other medical conditions. This unfortunate combination sent him on a downward spiral, and his symptoms became even more intense. Tarik knew he had to tackle these challenges; he realized he needed help.

That’s when Tarik recalled a conversation he had with a fellow veteran, who shared that his service dog had been an immeasurable help – and Tarik applied for a service dog from Canine Companions, and he was matched with Walter.

Together with Walter, they get through the good and the bad days. Walter intervenes by nudging and laying on Tarik’s feet to bring him back to a balanced state of awareness; he also serves as the “canary in the coal mine,” alerting Tarik before his emotional state becomes compromised.

“Applying for a service dog was one of the best decisions I’ve made in 30 years. Walter is my lifeline,” Walter shares.

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A Wingman With the Power of Joy

Hayley Gordon — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 23:24:58 +0000

Happiness and beaming smiles overflow from the Swierz family’s home – that’s because their incredible daughter, Zoey, has a wingman by her side. His name is Eros, a remarkable service dog whose superpower is joy.

“Her joy comes from Eros’ goofy personality and his love of being close to Zoey, no matter what,” says Kara, Zoey’s mom.

Zoey faces the daily impacts of living with a genetic disorder that affects her speech, mobility and social skills. In navigating her daily activities, she requires support and encouragement.

Before she received Eros from Canine Companions, Zoey had trouble completing tasks, such as going to school, brushing her teeth, walking longer distances and even communicating. Every transition was an uphill battle for the family.

Fortunately, they turned to Canine Companions and found Eros. “The first time we met Eros, he and Zoey immediately had this bond,” Kara says. “They sat with their noses touching – it was instant. She was so focused on Eros.”

As her canine partner, Eros inspires her to remain motivated while carrying out daily tasks, such as sitting through mealtimes or getting ready for the day each morning – all by using the over 45 tasks he mastered in professional training at Canine Companions.

The parents love watching Zoey’s excitement when Eros brings her shoes to her every morning, signaling it’s time to put them on and get ready to go. And the joy she has following him into the car to go to school, reducing the need for continuous reminders and modeling of behaviors.

Eros brings happiness to the whole family, too. “Joy is definitely one of his superpowers. While he’s Zoey’s wingman, we get to experience the trickle down of that joy through the smile that is always on Zoey’s face now. We all get to meet new people and share the amazing bond between Eros and Zoey.”

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Regaining Independence by Welcoming Help

Hayley Gordon — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 23:54:05 +0000

Asking for help didn’t come naturally to Chet. His parents raised him to be independent, relying solely on his own abilities to navigate through life, using his feet. When he dropped his phone and keys, he used to climb down from his wheelchair to get them, but, then, came Miles, his faithful service dog.

Miles has transformed his entire existence, offering a level of assistance that words can’t adequately describe. Miles is right by Chet’s side, eagerly ready to retrieve dropped items, close doors and provide support when Chet faces anxiety in public. His presence has also shifted focus away from Chet’s disability; instead, allowing Chet to connect with others about Miles’ remarkable skills.

“On one of our first public outings, I suddenly realized that no one was staring at me, they were staring at Miles. Instead of asking uncomfortable questions about my disability, they asked, ‘What’s your dog’s name?’ The first time I left the grocery store with Miles, I had the greatest feeling, much like a weight had been lifted from me,” he shares.

Chet says he has Canine Companions to thank for regaining his independence. And, as for everyone who told him that a service dog would change his life, he says, “They were right.”

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The Z Team

Hayley Gordon — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 22:35:56 +0000

Known as the “Z Team,” 14-year-old Zander and his Canine Companions service dog, Zanna, make every day a great day. Zander was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that has affected his speech and mobility. Zanna, with her long, majestic fur and loving personality, Zanna supports my son every day as he navigates his life.

Each morning, Zanna assists Zander in getting ready for school and boarding the bus, sending him off into the day. Whether they are out in the neighborhood, where Zanna taps the elevator button with her nose, or at home, where she opens the refrigerator door to grab his drink, her presence grants him newfound independence.

But the impact doesn’t stop there. Zanna’s unwavering support accompanies Zander to his medical appointments, where she keeps him grounded and motivated. Recently, he stayed calm, focusing on petting Zanna during IV placement for a sedated procedure. After the procedure, she stayed on the gurney, waiting for him to wake up. While awakening, he immediately reached for her paw and the comforting presence of his best friend.

Not only does Zanna help with Zander’s mobility and social interactions; she also motivates him to develop his strength. “It’s amazing to see Zander throw balls further each week during fetch sessions with Zanna,” Jennifer states. “It is the most motivated we have seen him when working on developing strength and mobility in his arm.”
These are just a few of the many ways in which Zanna has changed my son’s life.

Jennifer says it best: “Their bond is beautiful to behold. Life with Zanna is amazing!”

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Puppy Raising Spotlight: Linda McMahan

Hayley Gordon — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000

For her, the experience of handing off the leash of the puppy she raised to the recipient at a graduation ceremony makes her time, dedication and energy worthwhile.

“I love all aspects of puppy raising,” says Linda. “To watch those little miracles grow and mature; to see them thinking about performing a command; to experience that light bulb coming on for them; to watch them accompany you into the world and knowing they are ready to move on to their next journey; and most of all, to experience handing over that leash at graduation.”

Linda is currently raising a yellow Labrador and Golden Retriever cross named Jam, who is gearing up to enter professional training at the South Central Region. Each Canine Companions puppy has an important job ahead, and Jam is all set up for success, thanks to volunteers, like Linda.

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