2015 Walk and Dog Dash

Less than a month away and we are in full swing.  We always need help

planning!  We look to our network of volunteers and supporters for help with this event in many different ways and your participation plays a significant role in the success of the event.  Please consider helping in some way.  Here is a list of ways for you to participate:    

• Register to Walk or Dash  (CLICK HERE)

• Build a team of friends or family to Walk or Dash (Teams of 4 or more can register together for a discount, the discount appears at checkout) (CLICK HERE)

• Ask your business to be a sponsor by choosing one of the cost conscience opportunities below or clicking here.

• Ask your business to sponsor and build a team.

• Spread the word.  How?  Post a flyer, share the event on FACEBOOK, email everyone you know, place a stack of postcards at your place of business.  Contact our office at 910-362-8181 to get some post cards.

• Create an online fundraising page. (CLICK HERE) This is easy to do and you can reach people far and wide for donations to the cause.

• Buy a memorial for a pet or loved one for our Memory Lane portion of the Walk.  (CLICK HERE)  and select Memorial Lane.

• Become a Vendor.  Do you have something you sell or a service you provide? See attached Info.

• Become a Sponsor.  We have a variety of new levels starting as low as $25.  See attached info. 

• Volunteer to staff our booth.  People love to meet our dogs!  Volunteer at our tent for an hour and you won't need to register to Walk.  (CLICK HERE)

• Donate a Raffle Item.  (Anything goes!) We can pick it up!

Email Christy by clicking here to get involved and help out!
Sponsor Opportunities

SponsorLevel	Donation Level	Description
Memory Lane Memorial	$25	Remember a loved one, human or pet, with a sign on Memory Lane.    (The last half mile of the walk)
Program Insert (Limit of 10)	$25	Sponsor provides insert to Canines for Service to be included in the Walk Program.  Must be no larger 8.5 X 5.5 inches.  Sponsor must provide the insert to CFS a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the event. (March 14, 1015)
Vendor Space	Early Bird (Until 2/28/15): $75 Nonprofits: $25 3/1/15 or later: $100	Vendors will receive a space at the event of approximately 10 X 10 feet.  Vendors provide all of their own equipment including tables, chairs, tents etc…  CFS only provides the space for set up.  Electricity not available.  Nonprofits must provide a copy of their 501(C) 3 and may only distribute information and sell items.  Adoptions and donation requests are not permitted.
Hospitality Vendor  (Limit of 6)	$100	Guaranteed table reservation in our hospitality area which provides covered shelter and a picnic table.  No tent needed.
Food Truck Vendor (Limit of 4)	$100	Bring your food truck out to our well attended annual event.  You must be properly licensed and insured.  CFS reserves the right to limit food types to one truck.
Walk Route Sponsor	$100	Display your company banner along the Walk Route.
Pet Costume Contest Sponsor Limit of 1	$100	You name the Pet Costume Contest and choose a prize for the winner.  It will be advertised in social, print media and on Walk Day.
Start/Finish Sponsor  (Limit of 2)	$100	Hang your banner with the start and finish signs.
T-shirt Sponsor	Name: $100 Logo: $200	Sponsor name and/or logo imprinted in one color on Walk T-shirt, which is given to the first 200 pre-registered walkers.  Due no later March 9, 2015.
Specialty Booth Sponsor  (Limited)	$200	Sponsor one of our fun booths and set up your table in the activity booth.  Examples include Photo Booth, Paw Prints booth, Dog Reiki/Massage Booth, etc….
Stage Sponsor  (Limit of 1)	$250	Hang your business banner on the stage during the event.
Ad Package #1	$500	Vendor Space, Logo recognition on Walk Website, Onsite Sponsorship mention
Ad Package #2	$1000	Vendor Space, Logo recognition on Walk Website, Onsite Sponsorship mention, out bound link on website, Company logo included on print ads, prominent logo recognition on promotional materials (TV, radio, newsprint, posters)
Custom packages available	$1000+	Negotiable
Raffle Sponsor In Kind Donation	Your choice	Donate any item to our Raffle.

CFS Happenings

There is so much happening here that we are trying to keep up with it all!!  

Service Dog Ava

Gotha-ya Day

On June 15th team training begins with a Marine receiving his service dog.  Sgt Kyle Miller and his wife, Vanessa, will spend one intensive week learning to work with Service Dog Ava.  This is always a very exciting time filled with many emotions for the recipient and the team of trainers and volunteer handlers at Canines for Veterans.  Service Dog Ava came  Francis Willis SPCA in Summerville, one of our rescue partners, in July 2013 and has completed her training in just under one year.  Ava with assist her person with balance and post-traumatic stress related issues.

Gotcha-ya Day

Service Dog Abner training with a harness

Later in June, Service Dog Abner will meet his partner, Air Force Sgt William Elkins, Ret., a Vietnam Veteran. Service Dog Abner came from Colleton County Animal Service, a high-kill shelter in October 2013 and is finishing his training in just under 8 months.  Abner is the brother of Service Dog Eli partnered last November also with an Air Force Veteran. 


In other news,  Wilmington Sharks invited Canines for Service, Bat Dog Titus and our service dogs in training to be a part of the 2014 baseball season in Wilmington as a sponsor of Canines for Service.  Appearances will be made during the season at one game each week.  Service Dog in training Abigail is working to step into Bat Dog Titus's paws by learning to retrieve bats.  Bat Dog Titus will be at the games on June 13 and July 11th. 

Harry Barker Inc., a supporter of the Canines for Veterans program with a line of products with a portion of the proceeds donated to us will be at the Atlanta  market in July with a special appearance by Veteran recipient Dean Suthard and Service Dog Esther.  Read the latest news here.  

Happening now, Canines for Service has launched a 2015 Calendar Contest! Through July 31, 2014, pet photos can be submitted for a donation of $10 per photo for judging by three local photographers to be included on a month in the 2015 calendar.  If folks don't want to submit a photo for a $5.00 donation your pets name will be listed on a date of your choice.  Pre-order for the calendars are being taken with the calendar planned to be available in time for the 2014 holiday giving season. For contest guidelines and how you can submit a photo visit our website Events page. 

A new store has been launched on our website and a new tee-shirt is available through Bonfire Funds for a limited time only.     

Order at Bonfire Funds

There are so many ways for your to support the mission and services of Canines for Service .  Please join us today in giving the gift of independence to those in need.

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!

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.

It Takes a Village

Every time there is a new partnering we are reminded it takes a village.  The service dog has been touched by so many lives leading up to it being partnered with a person with a disability.  From the selection process with  local shelter/rescue to one of several veterinary clinics stepping up on short notice to evaluate the hips of the dog by x-ray, spay/neuter if necessary and bring the dog up-to-date on vaccinations, to transporting the dog to it's new career and then the training and outings.  Countless people involved in the process including our funders and donors.  We congratulate and thank each and every one of you whose hands and feet make our mission possible. 

The help of our supporters, new friends and social media could not have been 

more evident than in the last week.  On Tuesday, May 14th, a Airedale Mix was spotted on a Facebook post at Woodland West Pet Resort in Tulsa OK.  A Facebook email to a friend in revealed she was in the area and would call the resort.  The dog, named Charlie, was found walking down the exit ramp of a busy highway.  No one claimed him after all the necessary advertising.  Woodland West needed to find him an adopter because they did not want him to go to the pound.  Our friend temperament tested Charlie on Wednesday and the results were good.  On Thursday Charlie was neutered, his hips evaluated and vaccinated by Woodland West Animal Hospital.  On Friday a request was put on the Canine for Service facebook page asking for anyone with contacts to help get the dog from Tulsa, OK to Charleston, SC.  One of our Board Members is in the Air Force Reserves and she posted the request on her personal facebook page.  A response came in that someone knew an Airman completing flight school and traveling back to Charleston.  On Friday night between 5 to 9 pm plans were solidified and Charlie would be on route from Tulsa to Charleston.

Does this happen often?  Well, not for us.  This is the furthest we have ever obtained a dog from for the Canines for Veterans program.  We are overwhelmed by the number of people who stepped up to assist  for the sake of one stray dog and a program that speaks to peoples hearts.  

Charlie has been renamed Rafiki, Swahili word for "Friend", seems fitting for this boy who has already become the friend of so many.  Now, it is our turn to shape him into the service dog he is destined to be.   Our many thanks to Pat, Summer at Woodland West Pet Resort, Sarah and Dr. Johnson  at Woodland West Animal Hospital, Shawna for the contacts for transport, Airman Ben for giving the Rafiki a ride to Charleston.  Without each and every one of you, this would not have happened. 

Dog Bless You Helps Veterans

Dog Bless You, a Facebook Campaign has selected Canines for Veterans as one of the recipients for their Spirit of ’76 Facebook Campaign.  From Memorial Day (May 28^th) to Independence Day (July 4^th), Dog Bless You, a non-profit community created by explore.org founder and Annenberg Foundation Director and Vice President, Charlie Annenberg, will celebrate dogs and soldiers in America and bring service and companion dogs to war veterans through a challenge grant that incorporates Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest.

For every 1,000 new subscribers on the Dog Bless You Facebook, Pinterest, or Tumblr pages, explore.org will donate the costs of one service or companion dog to a war veteran.  Through a grant made possible by the Annenberg Foundation, explore.org will donate up to 76 dogs with the help of non-profit organizations throughout the US. The Spirit of ’76 is a celebration of 1776, the birth year of our country’s independence. The campaign offers a chance for people to come together and raise awareness surrounding the healing role dogs can play in the lives of those affected by war. The Facebook page, Tumblr page, and Pinterest page will feature photos, videos and discussions aimed at educating and inspiring.

“This is a great example how foundations are incorporating social media into the opportunities for grantees” says Rick Hairston, President/CEO of Canines for Service.  Dog Bless You is a creative way to feature the service Canines for Veterans is providing to our warriors while creating a needed funding source to continue to provide this medical option to our Veterans.”

Canines for Veterans, a program of Canines for Service, is a triple win; providing quality trained service dogs to our veterans at no cost, teaching military prisoners new skills that they can use when released from prison and rescuing dogs from local shelters giving them a second chance at a new life.   The program is innovative and provides a professionally trained service dog within about one year from the dog entering training.  

So, what makes CFV different?    For one thing, 95% of the dogs in the program are from rescue  and all are temperament and health tested to ensure the right fit for the service work the dog will be trained to do.  Next, training standards have been developed and approved by the U.S, Department of Labor as an Apprenticeship program which includes 3600 hours of training for the handler and an average of 2,500 hours for each dog; the first of it's kind for a prison service dog training program.  The skills to assist a Veteran with PTSD have been developed by and with individuals that have PTSD and are compliant to federal law (Americans With Disability Act).  After completing an application and review for a service dog, each client receives individualized instruction when they learn to work with their service dog.    Because we work with each recipient individually, they get the specific training needed for the skills needed, can ask as many questions as they need to understand and we can reduce the training time for the team to an average of 5 days.  That saves the client time, money and most of all anxiety of being in a unfamiliar location. And, we don't stop there.  Once the client has completed training and goes home with their new service dog, CFV is there for the team for follow-up and we provide the liability insurance coverage for the service dog by maintaining the ownership.   

Canines for Service, previously known as Carolina Canines for Service, empowers people with disabilities to achieve greater independence through the gift of quality trained service dogs. Through the volunteer efforts of foster families and military prisoners, the organization trains certified service dogs and then partners the canines with eligible recipients.  

Canines for Service is asking the community and supporters to like Dog Bless You on Facebook from now to July 4^th and share this with your friends to help veterans receive service dogs.

Juggling and Balancing - It's All Good

Sometimes in life, even the life of a non-profit, one is pulled in many directions almost all at the same time.  The day-to-day mission becomes a balancing act of what has to get done, what needs to get done and what would just be nice to do.  One month into the new year and  Canines for Service has already been presented with wonderful opportunities.  


We are planning are 6th Annual Walk for Those Who Can't on March 24th at Hugh MacRae Park in Wilmington, NC.  In-kind sponsors have been generous and include CBS 10WILM, Sunrise Broadcasting and the radio groups of Sunny 104.5, Z 107.5, Jammin 99.9, 98.7 Modern Rock, ESPN Radio, Carrabba's Italian Grill, DogLiving Magazine, StarNews Media, Queensboro, PawPrints Magazine, Indian Springs Water Company, Port City Java and Dock Street Printing.  These donation help tremendously, but we also need financial sponsors that can help with the costs of providing services in our community.  Registration is open for the Walk and people are beginning to register and raise money.  Some of the folks are being quite creative like StarNews Media holding a pet photo session on February 4th at 11 am or Blissful Living challenging all their Facebook fans to donate just $5.00.    Our goal is to raise $60,000 that will help us provide service dogs to people who are waiting, continue to offer a comprehensive animal assisted therapy program for owners and their dogs to volunteer in the community and support our children through the Canines for Literacy program.   None of this can happen without funds to make it possible. 

Rick and Pat Hairston were recently invited to Ft. Myers, VA to share an afternoon with some of the countries bravest as we gathered to enjoy the American pastime of football. One of our clients, Leslie Smith and Service Dog Issac were on Days of Our Lives.  Canines for Veterans was recently honored as a finalist in the Joining Forces Community Challenge for our innovative program supporting military members and their families.  People can continue to help us with this honor by voting daily for as a the People's Choice.  Representatives of the organization will be invited to the White House to celebrate the honor of being a finalist later this spring. 


Grant research and writing is in full swing with the hope of funding opportunities that will help us to continue our work.  The Harry Barker Canines for Veterans product line continues to gain attention in the retail world, Raising the communities awareness with attendance at upcoming events like the Conscience Fair in Wilmington on February 4th, Run for the Roses on February 12th in Raleigh, the Southeast Wildlife Expo in Charleston February 17-19th,  Coastal Living Show March 17-18th, the Walk on March 24th and a Pet Expo in Jacksonville, NC on March 31st. 


Our mission is only possible through the support of people in our communities.  People who show that support by volunteering and donating to the programs.  It's going to be a banner year, join us, you don't want to miss out!

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!

Looking Back

Twenty-eleven has been a busy year for Canines for Service.  We would like to thank the countless hours our Volunteers dedicate to our mission.  Whether serving as Board members, raising a service dog in the Canines for Service or Canines for Veterans programs, providing animal assisted therapy in the Canines for Therapy program, being a literacy mentor in the Canines for Literacy program, helping us in the office or at events, we thank you.  To our donors, supporters and corporate sponsors, thank you.  Without your financial support we could not continue to serve the people who are waiting for their service dog, or train the therapy teams that visit in our communities.  

This year we served nine individuals waiting for their service dog, visited over 50 facilities for animal assisted therapy, and served several hundred children struggling with reading.  But, there are many more still waiting. Celebrating our 15th year anniversary is just the beginning.  Our goals for 2012 include partnering 12 to 15 individuals with their service dogs, expanding the Canines for Therapy and Canines for Literacy programs to Charleston, SC, achieving the U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program for service dog training in both South and North Carolina, and moving into a facility that will allow us to serve more people, offer job-training to Veterans and civilians and economic development in our community.  


We look forward to a bright and prosperous 2012 and we need you to make that happen.  Happy New Year!

Canines for Service Continues to Serve Our Veterans

With the mission complete in Iraq, our brave troops are returning home after serving and sacrificing so much.  Now more than ever, our service members need us. Many will continue in their military careers and many will embark on a career in the civilian world.  Many will be dealing with varying degrees of physical impairment, traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder. 

Serving our Veterans is a priority to Canines for Service in the Canines for Veterans (CFV) program.  Providing a quality trained and Americans with Disability Act (ADA) compliant service dog to assist those with physical impairment, traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the foundation of the CFV program.  By the ADA, a service dog must do work or perform tasks to benefit an individual with a disability; three key words, tasks, individual and disability.  A service dog is trained to serve one individual with specific skills to help that individual mitigate their disability.  From stabilizing a person when they are walking to retrieval of items, each service dog has been trained considering the needs and variations of the disabilities trained for.  

A service dog is not a companion animal (pet), therapy animal, social or emotional support animal; these are entirely different, do not meet the intent of the ADA and have no legal rights.  Another words a companion, therapy, social or emotional animal does not by law have access to public places such as restaurants, banks, grocery stores, shopping malls, airports/airplanes[1], etc.  Those that perpetrate their pet as a service dog are in violation of the law.

There is a lot of  information about people or groups providing “service” dogs for our Veterans.  The caution to our service members is if you are truly getting a service dog that you need or are you being provided a pet disguised as something it is not. 

Veterans and family members need to do their homework.  Ask questions. 

• ·         How is the service dog trained? 
• ·         How long is the training for the service dog?
• ·         What is the method of the training?
• ·         Are the dogs trained positively or with negative methods? 
• ·         How many hours of training does each dog have? 
• ·         Has the service dog had routine veterinary care and is it spayed or neutered?
• ·         Are the veterinary records provided?
• ·         What skills does the dog do?
• ·         Is there a fee for the service dog?
• ·         How is the training provided to the person receiving the dog? 
• ·         Is the person required to train the dog themselves?  
• ·         Is there follow-up by the service dog provider? 
• ·         What happens if there is an issue after the dog is received?   

Canines for Veterans stands ready to serve our Veterans as we have done since this program started in January 2008.   A Veteran receiving a service dog from our program can be assured they are receiving a dog trained in skills to mitigate their disability.  They will have individualized training with their service dog and have ongoing follow-up consultation and/or training.  The service dog CFV provides is ADA compliant and meets all intent of the law.  Our staff is available to answer questions before application, during the application process and after the receipt of the service dog.  

Are you a Veteran or do you know a Veteran who could benefit from a service dog? Contact us today to learn how CFV can help a Veteran regain their independence in 2012.

What are you waiting for? 

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[1] Aircraft carriers act