Carolina Canines for Service Offers Pet Therapy Program in Charleston

Photo by Mike Spencer, StarNewsMedi

CHARLESTON, N.C.- Carolina Canines, the organization that conducts the Carolina Canines for Veterans program at the Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston, will begin offering their Carolina Canines for Therapy program in Charleston in April.

There is nothing like the unconditional love and affection from a friendly dog to help you temporarily forget your troubles.  In fact, studies show that human-animal interaction can help lower blood pressure and heart rate and significantly reduce anxiety and stress.

Carolina Canines for Therapy offers owners and their dogs the chance to become certified pet therapy teams to provide animal-assisted visitations in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, group homes and treatment facilities.  Handlers and their dogs complete a comprehensive six-week course, equipping them with the skills necessary for successful therapy visitations within the community.  The dog must be well behaved, well socialized, in good health, able to handle new situations well and enjoys being patted by strangers.  They also know basic commands like sit, down, stay and come, like people and have gentle temperaments.

The Carolina Canines for Therapy program was established in 2002 and has provided training to over 600 teams and certified close to 400.  The program is currently being conducted in Wilmington and Raleigh, North Carolina where certified therapy teams visit over 50 facilities making a difference in people’s lives every day.

Carolina Canines for Service brought the Carolina Canines for Veterans program to Charleston last September and since then has provided over $500,000 in services to service members and veterans who have experienced injuries while serving our country.  “Offering our therapy training program in the Charleston community is a natural expansion and growth of our programs in this community”, says Rick Hairston, President of Carolina Canines.  “The Carolina Canines for Therapy program offers the opportunity for more people to be involved in our organization and give back in the community they live and work in.  The Unitarian Church has graciously opened their doors for us to offer the course in the community.”

The program will begin on April 12, 2011 at the Unitarian Church in Charleston, Gage Hall, 4 Archdale Street and run for six consecutive weeks.  Interested individuals should review the course prerequisites and policy at http://www.carolinacanines.org/Therapy.html.  The course fee is $145 and pre-registration is required.

            Carolina Canines for Service, with the corporate office located in Wilmington, North Carolina, 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 training service dogs for veterans, provides pet therapy certification classes and helps children in our community improve their reading skills. Since its inception in 1996, the value of all the programs exceeds $4.0 million in services to our communities. For more information, call (866) 910-3647 or visit www.carolinacanines.org.

The Season of Giving

Christmas came a few days early for the Carolina Canines for Veterans service dogs in training thanks to Harry Barker Inc.  Carol Perkins, Founder, saw a recent article in the Post and Courier about the Carolina Canines for Veterans program conducted at the Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston and knew it was just the type of thing she wanted to support.    After a few phone calls and exchanges of emails, several of the U. S. Marines handling the dogs, Rick and Pat Hairston, service dogs in training Elder, Eden and Angel, Service Dog Titus and Therapy Dog Delta Mae visited the Harry Barker facility, met the incredible staff and had a little shopping spree.   The dogs and people were like kids in a candy store; they had so much fun!  

Thanks to the generosity of businesses like Harry Barker Inc, Carolina Canines is able to continue to serve our community with programs like Carolina Canines for Veterans, Carolina Canines, Carolina Canines for Therapy and Paws for Reading.  Not one of these programs would be possible without our donors, supporters and volunteers.

Thank you.  Two simple words that can’t be said enough.  Because of your generous support, George has a smile in his voice and a bounce in his step with his new service dog Ruth.  Andy can balance better with Service Dog Manna to pick up items he drops or retrieve the telephone when he needs it.  After two years of sleepless nights, Donald has Service Dog Holly to ease his night terrors and help him deal with everyday life.  Brian is more confident in public because of the skills his Service Dog Jada knows to help with his post traumatic stress disorder.  People in nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities are smiling with a visit from Carolina Canines for Therapy teams.  Children are learning to read better because of the Paws for Reading teams.   Thank you for your continued support and belief in the people we serve and the mission we do.

The Need.  The need is great and it continues. Census data estimates there are 32 million disabled adults (aged 18 or over) in the United States, plus another 5 million children and youth (under age 18).    The number of disabled U.S. Veterans has increased by 25% since 2001; 2.9 million U.S. Veterans.

The Wait. People are waiting for the gift of independence.   More people in our communities want a visit from a pet therapy team and children need your help to learn to read. 

The Ask.  In this season of giving, ask yourself what you can do to help someone in need.  Foster a service dog in training, sponsor a dog with a monthly financial gift, give an end-of-year gift, train and become a certified Carolina Canines for Therapy team, or volunteer.   Get involved and experience the joy of giving in a whole new way.

Giving Thanks

Brian Jarrell enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 2001, never knowing his service to our country would change his life, significantly.  While deployed to Haiti and Fallujah, Iraq, Jarrell served as an ambulance driver and supported operational needs for humanitarian work.  In September 2005, Jarrell returned to the states and started showing signs of PTSD, major depressive disorder, anger, insomnia and anxiety.  Deployed again in 2006, Jarrell to Al Asad, Iraq, where he was a vehicle recovery operator.  After his tour in Iraq, he became a Marine Corps recruiter and while on recruiting duty, Jarrell's symptoms became increasingly worse and he started getting help at the local Veterans Administration Medical Center in Syracuse, New York.  After three months, he was sent to the Wounded Warrior Detachment at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.  There he received treatment for his symptoms and in April he was sent to the Wounded Warrior Battalion-East aboard MCB Camp Lejeune for continued therapy.  After learning about Carolina Canines for Veterans, Sgt Jarrell working with his case manager at Wounded Warrior Battalion-East, applied for a service dog. 

On November 14th, Brian met Jada, a Boxer-Labrador mix rescued from Adopt-An-Angel, a Wilmington based rescue group.   Jada was with Adopt-An-Angel for several months; she was a real handful and often overlooked or her trial adoptions did not work out.   There was a reason for her not being adopted and when Carolina Canines was in need of another dog for the training program, her mission to serve a service member through her training in the  Carolina Canines for Veterans program was realized.  Jada was in training about 14 months including the transition time due to the program relocation to the Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston.

Brain and Jada spent an intensive week of team training in Charleston so he could learn to work with his service dog.  Jada will work specifically to help mitigate Sgt. Jarrell's issues related to PTSD.  Of his new partner Jarrell says, "Me and Jada are starting to really bond. I am having a great time with her. She is a true blessing. I really need something like this in my life."

To read more about the placement, visit

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/nov/19/a-soldiers-best-friend/

Carolina Canines for Veterans is proud to serve our service members that need the assistance of a quality trained service dog.  Thank you to our volunteers, supporters, funders and fans for helping to make our mission possible and allowing us to serve our community.

Fall... A Happening Time Of Year

Now that the hot days of summer are behind us and the cooler weather has arrived, things are jumping busy again for the crew at Carolina Canines for Service.  In reality, we are always busy, but there are just times it seems like a balancing act has to occur to be all the locations we need to be and get work accomplished back at the shop. 

If you are looking for something to do or want to support our programs, there are plenty of options to choose from.  Or, support all of them.. we'll love you for that! Here's a glance at what is happening on the next couple of weeks:

Coastal Hounds Walk the Town - Join Shallotte and Leland Rotary Clubs for the 2nd Annual Coastal Hounds Walk the Town on October 9, 2010 from 10 am- 1 pm at Shallotte Middle School. This event supports Carolina Canines for Veterans. For more information visit Coastal Hounds Walk the Town.

Military Appreciation Day - October 16, 2010 from 10 am - Noon aboard USS North Carolina Battleship.  An opportunity to show our gratitude and appreciation for our troops who are embattled in the trenches for our country. For those who have served in the past or are currently serving a tour of duty, we want to thank them for putting their lives on the line and an opportunity to support the friends and families of those serving in the military.

Hounds for Hero's - A Canine Good Time, October 17, 2010 from 3 to 6 pm Sweetgrass Pavilion at Wild Dunes Resort. Sponsored by Charleston Referral Exchange and Wild Dunes, Charleston's Island Resort. Advanced Tickets $15; $20 at door; Children under 7yrs Free, 7-13yrs $10. Food, Live Music, Local Vendors, Silent Auction, Prize Drawings, Beer and Wine Available at $2 For more information and to purchase tickets visit the Charleston Referral Exchange.


Carrabba's Fall Italian Feast -  The second annual Fall Italian Feast at Carrabba's Wilmington, NC on Friday, October 22, 2010 seatings at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; limited number of take-out orders beginning at 11:00 a.m. Tickets $25.00. To Pre-order your tickets, visit www.carolinacanines.org, call 910-362-1818 or email volunteer@carolinacanines.org.

A Global Masquerade -Passport 72 invites you to join us on Friday, October 29th, 7 p.m. in the ballroom of the prestigious Harbour Club in downtown Charleston for an exciting evening of mystery, intrigue and giving we are calling A Global Masquerade.
 
Christmas Tree Fundraiser Wilmington, NC - pre-order a fresh-cut Christmas trees from Sunnyside Christmas Tree Farm.  Pre-order, October 1- November 1, 2010 for delivery on December 4, 2010, Wilmington, NC, click here for information or to order on line.


Trees for the Troops - Charleston, SC - coming in November the Charleston community can pre-order fresh-cut Christmas trees to support the programs of Carolina Canines for Service.
We at Carolina Canines appreciate your continued support and we know the community we serve appreciates you too!

Witnessing the American Spirit in Our Volunteers



The Engles,
CCT Team of the Year



During one of the most severe economic crises of our lifetime, while many Americans are facing extreme hardship, losing jobs, homes and businesses, the American spirit is alive and well.  Americans have responded to this crisis by serving.  Approximately 1.6 million more volunteers served in 2009 than in 2008, making this the largest single-year increase in the number of volunteers since 2003.  This number is taken directly from the 2010 Volunteering in America report  published  by the Corporation for National and Community Service.   View the full report here.    Volunteerism lives in the heart of Americans.  It is what unites us as a nation and demonstrates America's strong sense of community.  Our desire to work together and help others is the very foundation of our country and one of the main reasons our country is the greatest nation on earth.  We are so proud of our volunteers and the work they do to serve the mission of Carolina Canines.  Simply put, we could not function without you.  Thank you for your selfless giving , endless dedication and faith in our organization. 

The Stoners,
CCT Team of the Year

Sponsored by the Board of Directors, on September 18th we gathered together for the annual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic. Sharing our success, because of the commitment of our Volunteers, we celebrated the people who give an average of 2500 hours each month as foster puppy parents raising service dogs to give someone greater independence, office and event volunteers, Carolina Canines for Therapy (CCT) teams in Wilmington and Raleigh and our corporate sponsors that come together to make each piece a part of the whole.  Today was a day to share in friendships new and old, human and canine and to celebrate the service of others.  A special thanks to the Board of Directors for arranging, organizing and serving the food catered by Angie's of Chris's Restaurant. 



Laura Kranchalk presenting
Caroline O'Brien
Overall Volunteer of the Year



Acknowledging our Volunteers is always a special time.  Each year, we look back on the work of our volunteers and we recognize just a few who have stood above the crowd and served above and beyond.  This year, we had the privilege of honoring some special people.    A few of the volunteers recognized were Katherine and Walter Engle and therapy dog Simeon and Nanc and Joe Stoner with Sarah and Hannah as Carolina Canines for Therapy Volunteers of the Year and Caroline O'Brien as Overall Volunteer of the Year.  It is a pleasure to share the blessings these folks are in our community and to our organization. 

Today, it was our honor to serve you.  Thank you.

(Photos by Glenn Blackwood)

Brightening a Child's Day

Meet Elsie and Chloe, one of our Carolina Canines for Therapy teams here in Wilmington. Elsie and Chloe have been visiting the The Betty H. Cameron Women's and Children's Hospital on the campus of New Hanover Regional Medical Center every Thursday. Chloe has taken a liking to the aquarium. After a stop at the nurses station to find out which rooms would like a visit, Elsie and Chloe spend time with patients, making their day a little brighter. "The child's first reaction is complete surprise to have a dog come into their room. Usually a parent is there and they always tell me how much the child enjoyed the encounter", says Elsie.

Elsie and Chloe are providing a tremendous gift to the patients when they visit with them. Our heartfelt thanks go out to Elsie and Chloe and all of our fantastic volunteers that are making a difference in our community with therapy visits.

If you would like more information about how to get involved as a Carolina Canines for Therapy team please visit our website at www.carolinacanines.org and we can help you get plugged in.

And Then There were Five (legs)

Andy met Manna, a rescued two year old Border Collie mix, in May 2010 almost 5 1/2 years after is Alive Day. Andrew Butterworth is a retired U.S. Army National Guard Sergeant who proudly served our country in Iraq. Andy's life was forever changed on November 15. Members of their platoon were on patrol near the town of Tuz Kharmatu, north of Baghdad, doing reconnaissance on a place they'd never been before in the turret of a Bradley fighting vehicle, an armored personnel carrier. There were six soldiers in the back of the vehicle and 20 soldiers in their convoy, but Andy and his lieutenant were the only two seriously injured; the insurgents were killed.

Andy was familiar with Carolina Canines; he and recipient Ed Salau (Tales & Tails Christmas 2007), 1st LT NC Army National Guard, Retired, have been through a lot together. Injured when the grenade exploded between them on that fateful day in November 2004, Andy and Ed journeyed together on their path of healing from room mates at Walter Reed, seeing who had their stitches out first, who healed the fastest, who received their temporary leg first to receiving their Purple Hearts. And, now, Andy follows a similar path as Ed, having gained a new four-legged friend to help him with his mobility.

The partnering of Andy with Service Dog Manna is the 8th pairing of a wounded veteran with a service dog from the Carolina Canines for Veterans (CCV) program. Manna was trained by the prisoners at the Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune Brig. Manna's story is like many discarded dogs. She was found on the streets of Wilmington, NC by a former employee of Queensboro Shirt Company severely underweight and missing most of her hair. When the person could not keep her, Manna was turned over to Tails U Win rescue for care and adoption. In November 2008, Carolina Canines was looking to add dogs into the CCV program, Manna, formerly know as Madison, was a good candidate.

Through this pairing of Veteran and Service Dog, one thing has prevailed, Andy's sense of humor. Fondly known as Butter, Andy now has his own "bread" to share life with. Andy is currently enrolled in college in Florida. He and Manna will return home to continue their bonding and work together as Andy learns to use his new friend to assist with his daily needs giving him four new legs.

Walk for Those Who Can't Thank You

Our fourth annual Walk For Those Who Can’t was a great success, thanks to you!


Thanks to the support of our sponsors and donors, teams and individuals walkers we were able to raise almost $50,000. There were 37 teams, 450 walkers and 300 dogs joining us for this years’ event. The money raised will be used to support our mission and help us continue to help others.


Thanks to our sponsors including Home Health Testing, Talk Inc., The Queensboro Shirt Company, DogLiving, WECT, Brightmore of Wilmington, Wilmington Orthotics & Prosthetics, Ruth Arnold Signs & Graphics, Port City Java, Sunrise Broadcasting along with SunnyFM and Surf 98.3, Papa John's, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty , Harris Teeter- Long Leaf Mall and Oleander, Health Source of Wilmington, and PawPrints Magazine.


A special thank you to our co-masters of ceremony, Sally Pressman and Rhoda Griffis of the Lifetime TV series Army Wives and to Mayor Bill Saffo, Leslie Smith and DJ Jay Tatum; your support of our programs is appreciated.

Thank you to the donors of fabulous items for the raffle including Hilton Wilmington Riverside, Jerry's Fine Dining, Porters Neck Yoga Spa, Residence Inn Landfall, Riverboat Landing, and Ruth Chris Steak House.

To our hospitality sponsors The Bagel Basket, Costco, Danette Brown- Pampered Chef, Jamie Swanson-Pampered Chef , Great Harvest Bread Company, Hercules Bags, Inc., Indian Spring Water, and McAlisters Deli, thank you.

Thank you to Carrabba's Italian Grill for the gathering for the Top Team, The Dawg Pile. And, South Beach Grill for the gift certificate for the Top Individual Fundrasier, Nina Dunn.

Thank you to the Veterinary practices that sponsored the dog bandanas: Pine Valley Animal Hospital, The Mobil Vet - House Calls for Pets, Forest Hills Veterinary Hospital, Coastal Carolina Animal Hospital.

And, thank you to the Goody Bag sponsors including Casey Petraceuticals , Great Clips, Kornerstone Pizza, Pet's Pal Inn and Westco Woodworks.

Thank you to the Team Captains and Team and the individuals for their support of our programs and raising money for the Walk for Those Who Can’t. And, the thank you would not be complete without extending our sincere appreciation to the Walk for Those Who Can’t Co-Chairs, Committees and Volunteers. As a non-profit we rely on the generosity of individuals like you coming together to help us help continue to help others through fundraising events.



We look forward to you joining with us to take strides for independence at the 5th Walk For Those Who Can’t on March 26, 2011.

Access, It's the Law

In a recent news story, a service dog was denied access to a local store in Castle Hayne. The sad truth is, this happens every day in our community and throughout this country irrespective of local and federal laws. There are several businesses that Carolina Canines is aware of that regularly deny access to service dogs and service dogs in training. Measures are and have been taken to educate the business owner and there staff. Sometimes those measures include legal action.

While Carolina Canines provides people with disabilities quality trained service dogs, we are also here to educate the community and business owners. Here are a few simple differences businesses owners should be aware of:

A companion dog is just that; a companion. It is a persons’ pet. And, while we love our pets, most have not been appropriately socialized and should not be allowed to accompany the owner everywhere they go.

A therapy dog is a person’s pet that has been trained to volunteer with the person in the community. These animals provide affection and comfort to many people in different environments. THIS DOG HAS NO LEGAL ACCESS and can only gain entrance to a facility by invitation. There are many organizations that train therapy dogs, but the standards of training are all different.

A service dog is one that is trained to do specific tasks for a person with a disability. The Codes of Federal Regulation for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 define a service animal as "any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair [sic], or fetching dropped items." There are some exceptions, including churches, private clubs, federal courts, military bases, and Native American tribal council offices. And, federal laws protect people with disabilities partnered with service animals from discrimination in housing, Fair Housing Amendments Act, and on aircraft, Air Carrier Access Act.

Businesses must allow service animals into their establishment. But, it is often a difficult task determining the validity of the animal entering your business. The sad reality of the ADA is identification is not mandated, many disabilities are not visible and a proprietor cannot ask if the person is disabled. The business owner can however ask what tasks the service animal provides, such as “How does the animal serve you?” And, for both business owners and people with service animals, if the animal is disruptive such as barking, growling, defecating or urinating in the business, the establishment has every right to ask the person to remove the service animal.

The reality is countless individuals are perpetrating crimes by falsely accessing local businesses with their “pocket” pets or other animals. This is a violation of federal law, the ADA, and North Carolina state statues; both violations punishable by law. Worst yet, it makes it more and more difficult for people with legitimate service animals to have the access they indeed need to live independent lives.

Walk for Those Who Can't - Firstgiving Tip

Are you using Firstgiving.com/carolinacanines to raise money for the Walk for Those Who Can't? If you have supporters that want to donate offline (i.e. not using Firstgiving), that's okay. Here are some simple tips for recording your offline donations on your Firstgivng.com fundraising page directly from Firstgiving.com

How do I display offline donations on my fundraising page?
If someone donates with a personal check, there are two ways you can add them to your fundraising page.

Type their donation amount into your offline donation total.

Add their name, date, amount, or comment to your personal message.

Not sure how to add these? Learn how to edit your page.

If someone donates with cash, you can add them to your donor list by making a donation on their behalf to your page; just be sure to enter their name in the Display Name field.

Using Firstgiving for Walk for Those Who Can't

Firstgiving is a great tool for registration and online giving for an event like the Walk for Those Who Can't. But, with any tool, it can be confusing. There's been questions on how a person or team can see there Walk for Those Who Can't fudnraising total so, here are some commons questions and answers about using Firstgiving.

I registered for the 2010 Walk for Those Who Can’t and created a fundraising page, my amount raised still says $0.00 on my page?
Donations for registrations are tallied separately in Firstgiving from Donations made to your Fundraising Page.

How will my Team or Individual Total be determined?
Each person that registers for the 2010 Walk for Those Who Can’t makes a donation of $25 and can also create a fundraising page and set a fundraising goal. The fundraising goal does not include the registration donation.

When the Walk Planning Team tallies the donations to determine the Top Fundraising Team and Individual, we will include:
a) Registration donations for each registered person on a team or each individual
b) Donations made to the Team or Individual online using Firstgiving
c) Donations made to the Team or Individual offline

Here’s an example:
-Georgeanna has a team, The Legal Beagles
-They have a goal to raise $500; So far they have raised $0.00 online with Firstgiving
-The Legal Beagles Team has received $25 in offline donations
-The Legal Beagles have 5 adults and 1 child under 12 registered for the Walk with total registration donations of $150.00
-The Legal Beagles Team Total to date is $175.00 (Online registrations + online donations + offline donations)

How can I see who has registered on my team?

On the Team Page, in the upper right corner, click on the Team Name and another screen opens to show all the member of the team that have registered.

Registering for the Walk for Those Who Can't, Just A Click Away

Are you interested in registering for the Walk For Those Who Can’t, but you are not sure where to begin? Here’s some simple tips to get started.

Do you want to form your own team?
Visit http://firstgiving.com/carolinacanines and click Register for An Event and select the 2010 Walk for Those Who Can’t and follow the instructions on screen to:

• Register online ($25 donation required)
• Create your own fundraising page
• Register off-line

Once you have made your selection, you can easily create your own fundraising page and recruit people to your team or ask family, friends and co-workers to sponsor you by making a donation

Do you want to join an existing team?
Visit http://firstgiving.com/carolinacanines and click Join a Team

• Register online ($25 donation required)
• Create your own fundraising page
• Register off-line
• Locate your team and join them.

Here is a link to some helpful Q&As: http://help.firstgiving.com/

Folks are welcomed and encouraged to register for the Walk, create a team, and recruit others to help you reach your goal. There will be special recognition for the Top Fundraising Team and Individual! The total of registrations plus donations will be used to determine the Top Fundraising Team and Individual. All registrations must be completed by Wednesday, March 24, 2010 to be eligible.

Come out and meet the Army Wives and let’s make this the best Walk for Those Who Can’t yet!

Stella, Already a Star

Just a little over 3 weeks ago, Stella entered the Carolina Canines for Veterans program. Stella, her name meaning Star in Latin, is a 13 week old Anatolian Shepherd donated by Full Circle Farm, Ken and Nancy Wargas, Rowlands, NC.

Ken and Nancy have been long time supporters of Carolina Canines when Ken and their Anatolian Shepherd Marky became a Carolina Canines for Therapy team in May of 2005. Marky served his community well with many visits to local children and adults, but retired a little over a year ago. Ken’s work as a volunteer did not stop there and in 2009, he and Sasquatch, Marky’s son, became a Carolina Canines for Therapy team to continue their mission to serve others.

A long time desire of the Wargas’s was to see one of the dogs from their breeding line become a service dog with Carolina Canines. There were a few attempts, but Carolina Canines always needs a foster home ready, willing and able to raise and train one of the dogs. But, this past November, when Nancy and Ken offered a puppy, with or without a foster family, we knew we could place the dog in the Carolina Canines for Veterans program for training.

Stella is already living up to the meaning of her name. At 12 weeks of age, she already knows 8 commands and has great focus on her handler. To see just what the handler and Stella have accomplished already, click below to view the video.

Disney Give A Day.Get A Day.

Carolina Canines is pleased to be a part of the 2010 Disney Give A Day. Get A Day.

"Give a Day. Get a Disney Day." is a program that celebrates and inspires volunteerism.

Starting January 1, 2010, you may sign up for the program from http://www.disney.com/. As part of the sign up process, you will search and select from a list of eligible volunteer opportunities with participating organizations. After you sign up and complete your chosen volunteer activity, and the HandsOn Network has verified your service, you will receive an email from Disney prompting you to log in to your account and print a vouchers that may be redeemed for your free ticket to a Walt Disney World® or Disneyland® theme park.

If you plan to celebrate at the Disneyland® Resort, you can choose to redeem the voucher for a 1-day ticket to either Disneyland® Park or Disney's California Adventure® Park. If you plan to celebrate at Walt Disney World® Resort, you can redeem the voucher for a 1-day ticket to any of the following 4 theme parks: Magic Kingdom® theme park, Disney's Animal Kingdom® theme park, Epcot® or Disney's Hollywood Studios™ theme park. Tickets are not valid for admission to a Disney Water Park admission, DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park or Disney's World Wide of Sports®Complex.

See FAQ and rules on http://www.disney.com/

Things to Remember:
· You may pre-register at http://www.disney.com/ and receive an email from Disney reminding you of this opportunity. Before January 1, 2010, you can provide Disney with your contact information so that you can be reminded of when sign up begins and receive fun downloads in the meantime.
· Starting January 1, 2010, you may search for volunteer opportunities from this site and—once you've selected one, of course for Carolina Canines for Service, —sign up to volunteer and complete your service.
· You must sign up for an eligible volunteer opportunity through http://www.disney.com/. Only volunteer opportunities signed up through the http://www.disney.com/ are eligible.
· Volunteer time beginning January 1, 2010 will be counted towards the Give A Day. Get A Day ONLY if you have registered on http://www.disney.com/.
· Your volunteer time will be verified by the organization you volunteer for. All guests who participate in the program will be notified by Disney by email when their volunteer project has been verified.

What Will You Celebrate?

It's About the Impact

Serving the mobility impaired community with a quality trained Service dog training isn’t about the numbers, it’s about the impact. In our programs in Wilmington, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC puppies are raised by volunteer foster families from the time the pup is 7-11 weeks of age until it is about 2 years old. This is an enormous commitment by our foster families. Attending weekly and bi-weekly classes, taking the pup on outings for socialization, meeting the everyday needs of the pup from veterinary care to food, toys, and love.


The service dogs in training are living, breathing “products” of our program. But unlike many “products” produced by for-profit and non-profit businesses, there are variables because the service dog is living and breathing. Variables come into play for the personality of the dog; can it handle the constant socialization in the public without shutting down? Another variable is the dogs’ health; it must be of sound health including strong hip development for the work that the dog will eventually do.



Over the years, many dogs have come through the service dog program and many had to be released for adoption because of a health of temperament issue. We are happy to say that the dogs released from the program have all been adopted into wonderful homes. And, while their release was a disappointment because it meant one less future service dog, it is always the right decision.



Every person with a mobility disability that receives a Carolina Canines Service Dog is a success. The receiving of the service dog is a culmination of many hours and many people giving their time and their hearts. Today we are celebrating the success of two recipients from the civilian service dog program; Kathy Ormsby and Diane Godwin. Kathy received service dog Eden in October after waiting four years for her dog. And, Diane Godwin received her second service dog, Issachar, in October as well. Eden was trained by the Morrison family in Myrtle Beach, SC with he advanced training completed by Stephen LeQuire and Issachar was trained by Ed and Jean Pridgen with advanced training completed by Donna Sweetman.


For both of these individuals the impact is great. It gives them the opportunity to be more independent and rely on their service dogs to assist them with the little things many of us take for granted. Join us in celebrating these gifts from the heart.

Website Design 101

For some time, we knew we wanted a fresh new look to our website. But, being a nonprofit and having a limited budget for what could cost thousands of dollars; a dedicated volunteer created and maintained our site for years. Earlier this year, our corporate sponsor Talk Inc. expanded their creative communications agency to include website design and management. When their creative team contacted us about taking on the project of redesigning and hosting our website, we were very excited. After all, we have had the direct benefit of the quality work this creative group does. Talk Inc. had redesigned our corporate brochures, helped us to name both our Carolina Canines for Veterans and Carolina Canines for Therapy programs, created our Carolina Canines for Therapy logo, prepared quality press kit information and have provided countless press releases over the course of the last two years. Needless to say, we were anxious to work on the website project with Talk.

Over the last several weeks, the creative work of Shawn, graphic designer extraordinaire, Susan with her very talented writing style and management of the project, and Nathan with his incredible web marketing and management skills, have proven their high caliber standards. Under the attentive direction of President & Creative Director, Debbie Elliott, Talk has exceeded any expectations Carolina Canines may have had. Actually, they have blown us away with the breathing website that professionally portrays the mission of our organization and our goal of helping people with disabilities.

Over the next week or so, Talk will be providing training to Carolina Canines for managing the content of our site. They will also be adding a photo gallery and a newsroom. Those pieces will go live as soon as we complete our part of those efforts.

Did this happen without our involvement? No. Step by step from the design to the copy, we were involved in every process. Even the transition to going live and changing over our email accounts was done with thoughtful guidance from Talk. Designing and implementing a website, whether new or redesigned, is an effort that takes a great deal of planning and cooperation between both parties. If you are looking for someone that will get the job done for you, using the latest technology and understanding how to market your business on the internet, I’d call Talk. They’ll get the job done right.