8th Annual Walk and Dog Dash

Canines for Service annual fundraiser the Walk and Dog Dash will be held at

Hugh MacRae Park in Wilmington, North Carolina on March 29, 2014.  Registration is now open for individuals and individual and team fundraising at walk.caninesforservice.org.   Individual registration is $25 with children 12 and under free!  Day of event registration is $35.  Individuals and teams are encouraged to raise money for our program and virtual participation is encouraged for those not in the immediate area. Individuals raising $100 or more will receive a special recognition; just click on the link for fundraising.  Virtual participation and fundraising is encouraged. 

Businesses interested in sponsoring or participating in this event may visit our website at http://www.caninesforservice.org/walk---dog-dash.html or call Laura at 910-362-8181. Don’t miss your opportunity to promote your business while helping to change lives, four paws at a time.

Along with our Walk, this year’s event brings back the Dog Dash – a fun run for people and their favorite canines!  Anyone completing the untimed run with their canine will be eligible to win a  prize. Other activities benefiting Canines for Service include: Vendors, food and music, Pet costume and look alike contests,  Doggie “Kissing Booth”, Doggie massage, reiki & belly rubs, Canine training demos, Doggie paw prints booth, Photo booth, and a raffle.  P.T.’s Olde Fashioned Grill will be selling breakfast and lunch, with a portion of proceeds being donated to Canines for Service. Bring extra money to shop with our vendors, buy your raffle tickets, and participate in the many activities that support Canines for Service.

Support for the 2014 Walk and Dog Dash comes in part from CBS 10 WILM, Sunrise Broadcasting, Sunny 104.5, StarNews Media, Queensboro,  Dock Street Printing, PawPrints Magazine, P.T.'s Olde Fashioned Grill Food Truck, Port City Java and more.  Event, hospitality food sponsorships, and vendor tables  are available; for more information call 910-362-8181.

The Walk and Dog Dash raises money for the Canines for Service’s programs. Funding is used to support growing programs within the organization such as the Canines for Veterans, Canines for Therapy and Canines for Literacy and the service dog program. Service dogs, valued at $40,000 each, assist people with disabilities to regain their independence with the help of the quality trained dogs that can complete over 350 tasks.  “We continue to see a growth in the need for our services.  With the national visibility of our organization, now more than ever, we need the support of our local community.”  said President and CEO Rick Hairston. “This walk is a wonderful opportunity to learn about our many programs and support our mission through a sponsorship, donation, or participation.

Canines for Service is a non-profit corporation dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to achieve greater independence. The group trains and places certified service dogs with the help of volunteer foster families and military prisoners, provides pet therapy certification classes and helps children in our community improve their reading skills. Since its inception in 1996, Canines for Service has provided over $9 million in services to our community. For more information, call 910-362-8181 or visit www.caninesforservice.org.

New Year, Fresh Start, New Goals

The new year is always a time to look back at what was accomplished and look forward with anticipation of what will be. In the background all of the end of year work is happening, pulling last years’ financial records preparing for an audit, cleaning files, setting the event schedule and grant submission plan, preparing annual donor letters and creating new donor acknowledgement letters.  All this while the mission continues and goals are set.

The new year started off with team training for a retired United States Marine as he received his service dog.  

Long awaited because there were several challenges that had to be overcome to get to this day including the weather.  But mother-nature was gracious and only caused an hour delay in one flight on route to one of the biggest changes of Chris’s life.  Cpl Owens (retired) met service dog Samaria and it was difficult to tell which one had the bigger smile.    We know the miracle of this gift but the package is just beginning to be unwrapped by Chris as he learns to work with his new partner.

Stepping into a new year is also a time to set goals and one of those goals is to grow.  It just has to happen; we are determined.  The plan is set and now we need the financial support to make it happen.  Larger space will allow Canines for Service to offer vocational training in our community with a proven, comprehension service dog training curriculum.  More service dogs in training means more clients waiting can be served and more shelter dogs can be rescued.   We also need foster families; people willing to commit their hearts and their time to serving others by raising a puppy to be a service dog.  We can’t serve the people on our wait list unless new dogs are being added for training.

What are you doing in 2014?  Join our family of donors and volunteers to change a life of someone with a disability with the gift of a service dog. You never know, you might just change your own life too.

Rick Hairston appointed to the Board of Directors of Assistance Dogs International North America

Rick Hairston, President and CEO of Canines for Service has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Assistance Dogs International North America.

Mr. Hairston will begin his four year term starting January 2014.  With the

Rick Hairston and
his service dog Titus

service dog industry being only 30-40 years old, the ability to help shape the future and define the standards of both service dogs and their trainers in the industry is very important.

Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is a coalition of not for profit assistance dog organizations. The purpose of ADI is to improve the areas of training, placement, and utilization of assistance dogs, staff and volunteer education, as well as educating the public about assistance dogs, and advocating for the legal rights of people with disabilities partnered with assistance dogs.

ADI has a comprehensive accreditation system and members have to be regularly assessed to ensure they meet the high standards expected of assistance dog programs.

Canines for Service is a non-profit corporation dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to achieve greater independence. The group trains and places certified service dogs with the help of volunteer foster families and military prisoners, provides pet therapy certification classes and helps children in our community improve their reading skills. .  Canines for Service continues to grow programs within the organization such as the Canines for Veterans, Canines for Therapy and Canines for Literacy and the service dog program. Service dogs, valued at over $40,000 each, assist people with disabilities to regain their independence with the help of the quality trained dogs that can complete over 350 tasks.  Since its inception in 1996, Canines for Service has provided over $8 million in services to our community. For more information, call 910-362-8181 or visit www.caninesforservice.org.

Raise the Roof

Raise the Roof

There comes a time for every nonprofit to ask the question, "Are we doing enough?". For Canines for Service, that time is now, but we cannot do it without you. 
How do we need you to help?  We need you to help us get into a larger facility. CFS has steadily grown and expanded over the years, providing more services within the same walls.   With a bigger facility we can begin a service dog training school, teach others how to train highly skilled service dogs while saving more shelter dogs, and serve more people faster to give them greater independence. The space we need is about 8,000 sq ft of office and warehouse; at least 6,000 sq ft of warehouse for the kennels, training area and the support services (like feed room and grooming room). New space will create an opportunity for people to learn new job skills, which is much needed in the community, and serve people with disabilities quicker. We will also have new volunteer opportunities to engage more volunteers in our mission. Your support would help us move into a larger facility in a long term lease. Let's expand the walls because together we can make a difference for people like Leila.

"Today Leila had a good day and wanted to go to the beach and give Ezra a chance to play in the water. When we arrived, Ezra surprised us and decided to lay down in the water as soon as his toes became wet. He really had a great time. He decided to take a series of short walks and let him walk in the water. When we went back to the car, we stopped at the shower station and rinsed him off. He and Leila both had a great day today, thanks for helping to make that happen. He is helping Leila regain her confidence and getting her out in the world again. “ - Doug

Our goal of $60,000 will provide for 12-months of rent plus utilities in our new space. Click here to donate.

Helping Paw

Helping Paw
Gunner's Mate Chief Jeannette Tarqueno, a wounded Naval service member officially received Service Dog Gaza on August 26 after a week of team training. She hopes Gaza will be able to provide more independence and comfort in her life.  Tarqueno has served a distinguished career in the Navy for more than 11 years including service in Yokosuka, Japan at Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam, HI onboard the USS Port Royal. 

Jeannette was struck on the left side of her head by a 30-pound armored plate bracket that was falling from the deck above. Despite the limitations of her injury, Jeannette sets the example of overcoming ones obstacles to continue to live even with the changes she has faced.   After the injury, she took and passed her chief exams, as well as competed in the 2012 and 2013 Wounded Warrior games as a key member of the Navy cycling team. Tarqueno said, "As service members, it is sometimes difficult to put aside our pride and ask for help."

Jeannette reached out to Canines for Veterans with the help of Safe Harbor and her case manager. After completing an extensive application, which included a video and documentation that she was no longer deployable, she was approved for a service dog and matched with Gaza to help her overcome her limitations and achieve her goal of completing a distinguished Navy career.   "The application process asks for a lot of information and the video was most challenging”, says Jeannette.  “but many groups require a service member to travel at their own expense for a face-to-face interview.  Canines for Veterans has found a way to make the application process work without the expense or loss of time to the Veteran.”

Service Dog Gaza will accompany Jeannette and assist her with her balance issues, PTSD and issues related to her traumatic brain injury at her new post in Rock Hill, IL.  "It's a wonderful program. I couldn't be more blessed to have such an incredible companion," said Tarqueno.