Canines for Service Charity Partner in the 2015 American Humane Hero Dog Awards with Five Service Dog Nominees

Wilmington, NC March 10, 2015:  Canines for Service has been named one of the service dog Charity Partners in the 2015 American Humane Hero Dog Awards.  The eight categories for 2015 are: Military Dogs, sponsored by the Zoetis Rimadyl K-9 Courage Program; Arson Dogs, sponsored by State Farm; Service Dogs, sponsored by Modern Dog magazine; Law Enforcement Dogs; Search and Rescue Dogs; Guide/Hearing Dogs; Therapy Dogs; and Emerging Hero Dogs, a category that pays tribute to ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things. Zoetis is the official online sponsor for the competition. 

In the category of Service Dogs, Canines for Service has five (5) nominees: Luke, Mordecai, Sela, Titus and Zebby.  The top dog in each category will win $2,500 for a designated charity partner and the overall winner's charity partner will win an additional $5,000 for their chosen charity. Each partner is dedicated to celebrating the role of dogs in our lives, and like American Humane Association, focuses on the importance of the human-animal bond.

Beginning today, dog lovers across the country are invited to visit www.herodogawards.org and vote once per day for their favorites in each of eight categories. Following the first round of voting, which ends May 15 with the selection of 24 semifinalists (the top three in each category), a second round, featuring a combination of public and celebrity voting, will narrow the field to the eight category finalists. The winning dog in each category will be flown to Los Angeles and celebrated at a red carpet, star-studded awards gala on September 19^th, when this year's American Hero Dog will be revealed. The fifth annual Hero Dog Awards will air nationwide as a two-hour special on Hallmark Channel this fall.

Key Dates.

Key dates for the 2015 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™ contest include:

• March 9-May 15: Voting to determine 24 semifinalists
• May 25-June 26: Voting to determine the 8 category finalist
• July 4-September 7: Voting to determine 2015's American Hero Dog
• September 19: Fifth annual American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards event in Los Angeles

About American Humane Association.

American Humane Association is the country's first national humane organization and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today we're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.

About Canines for Service.

Canines for Service is a North Carolina based 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. It is the only service dog provider in North Carolina accredited by Assistance Dogs International. Since its inception in 1996, Canines for Service has provided over $11 million in services to our community. For more information, call 910-362-8181 or visit www.caninesforservice.org.

Media Contact: Patricia Hairston, Canines for Service Telephone: 866-910-DOGS (3647) phairston@caninesforservice.org

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Rain Drops Can't Stop Our Supporters!

The rain didn't stop our awesome volunteers, supporters, clients, vendors, walkers and dashers from coming out and having a GREAT time at our 8th Annual Walk and Dog Dash on March 29th, 2014 here in Wilmington, NC.  There might have been lots of soggy doggies but there were also lots of wagging tails and smiling faces.  A good time was had by all.  Here are just a few pictures.
       

   

Check out our Facebook photo albums here and here to see more great photos of this event.  We had so many fun activities this year including a new "Kissing" booth to get your photo taken with your pooch, a costume contest, a booth to make your dog's paw prints and a chance to let your dog try some Pet Reiki.


Thanks to the generosity of so many individuals, we came together to raise more than $30,000 in cash and in kind gifts that will help another person receive the gift of independence through a specially trained service dog.  This event was a true community effort for which we are eternally grateful.

If you attended the event and have some pictures you would like to share please tag us on Facebook or email them to us at information@caninesforservice.org, we would love to see them!


Of course we could not make this event happen without our sponsors. Thanks to all of our community sponsors that help to make this event possible!

Hope to see you all next year at the 9th annual Walk and Dog Dash!

Looking Ahead

Happy New Year! 

Now that all the excitement is over and the holiday break has been had, we are back to business we are looking forward to a promising 2012.

Programs

Canines for Service – continues to be based from the Wilmington corporate office.  Demands for services continue and we need foster families (individual, couple, traditional or non-traditional) to step-up to the cause.  We cannot serve people in need unless we have puppies in training coming up the ranks to fill those needs in 2-4 years.   The commitment is great, but the reward is even bigger.  Our goal for 2012 is to bring the foster program to Charleston, SC.    Our second goal for this program is to obtain our U.S. Department of Labor approval for service dog technician training program.  Canines for Service continues on the forefront of service dog training standards and the U.S. Department of Labor approval confirms a level of standards for the trainer.  This apprenticeship program approval will make it possible to offer a vocational curriculum in service dog training. 

Canines for Veterans – continues to serve our wounded and injured service members from 1991 – current.  We know the demands are high and Canines for Veterans is on track to meet the needs with 10 to 15 service dog partnering planned for this year.    Working with the brig to increase the number of prison handlers and then increase the number of dogs in training is a goal for this program.

Canines for Therapy – continues in Wilmington and in Raleigh taught by Teamworks Dog Training.  To meet the continued needs in Wilmington, two staff members are in the process of becoming AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluators so our enrollees will be able to complete this evaluation before enrolling in the therapy class.  Our goal is to bring this program into Charleston within the first quarter of 2012.

Canines for Literacy – continues in the greater Wilmington area in 5 elementary schools.  Request for the program have never been higher, but we need certified Canines for Therapy teams so we can increase the number of children served.

Events

Events already on the calendar:

Canines for Therapy Class (Wilmington), January 17th

Conscience Fair (Wilmington) on Feb 4th

Run for the Roses (Raleigh) on Feb 12th

Southeastern Wildlife Exp (Charleston) on Feb 17^th- 19^th

Coastal Living Show (Wilmington) on March 17^th – 18^th

Walk for Those Who Can’t (Wilmington) on March 24^th

Azalea Festival Parade (Wilmington) on April 14th

Locations

Canines for Service is seeking facility space in Charleston/North Charleston, preferably donated or very low cost, to offer the Canines for Therapy program and begin the service dog training curriculum.  A minimum of 2,000 to 5,000 sq feet of space is needed.  If you know of space or have space you would like to talk with us about, please call, 866-910-3647.

Volunteers

Don’t be shy, we need you!  In Wilmington area, Canines for Therapy teams are needed and Canines for Literacy teams.  Foster families to raise a service dog for someone in need and event volunteers are always needed.  With our 6^th annual Walk for Those Who Can’t on March 24^th we need a team of folks to help gain sponsors and tabletop exhibitors or volunteer for hospitality or event day activities.  And, opportunities are available for Board Members.  

Can’t volunteer?  How about holding a fundraiser?  Check our information on being CFS Supporter.

We've got a lot going, but we need your continued support; financially, and as  corporate sponsors or volunteers. Help us make 2012 a great year.  We can’t do it without you!