What's In A Name?

Do you ever wonder how the Carolina Canines service dogs are named?Every service dog entering training receives a name that is biblically based. It is not always an easy process and the name initially selected may not be the name that the dog ends up with.

First, if a service dog has been placed or is in training, that name will not be used again. Next, a search starts with the day of the year and looking at the scripture in the bible for that day. This usually happens after we have picked up a puppy or two so we know we need a male or female name or both. If we have received several puppies from the same litter, we try to name the puppies within a family group. If it is a seasonal time of year, like Christmas, we may name the puppy something to do with the time of year, such as Joy or Holly or Star. Then there is the need to have a one, two or three syllable name so it is easier for the puppy to learn it’s name. And, we prefer not to use common names such as Peter or Mary or names that can be shortened. We will also look for names with specific meanings. For example, using one of many internet tools, we may ask “what names have the meaning of blessed?”, and then use a name with that meaning which may be of various cultural descent. We also test the name against some of the common training commands so the name is not too close to a command that is frequently used (Levi is too close to the command ‘Leave It’).

Once a name is selected, we say it over and over and over again to see if we like the sound of it. And, then we test the name with the puppy to see if the name fits. The puppy is usually named when it is goes to its’ foster family to raise, but sometimes for our families that have fostered multiple service dogs for us, we let them help select the name. Of course, final approval is always the responsibility of the CCFS staff.

So, the next time you meet one of our service dogs or service dogs in training, you’ll know just what has gone into finding that perfect name.

3rd Wounded Warrior Receives His Service Dog

Carolina Canines for Service, Inc. is completing the third placement of a service dog with a wounded warrior. Joey Bozik, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom was severely injured in Iraq in October 2004 and is a triple amputee. Joey, a native of Wilmington, is receiving the third service dog trained in the Carolina Canines for Veterans program at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Joshua is trained to assist Joey with his many daily tasks.

BENEFITS OF A CAROLINA CANINES SERVICE DOG

• People with mobility limitations benefit from a service dog because the dog is trained to do different tasks, from helping individuals that use a wheelchair to assisting those who are still mobile but have stability issues
• People with disabilities gain freedom, independence and a sense of self because of the service dog
• Dogs best suited to assist people through service work are from the "working class" category, which include Labradors and Golden Retrievers, as well as mixes of these breeds
• Some tasks a service dog does for a person include: Retrieving dropped/distant objects, Pulling wheelchairs and loading wheelchairs into vehicles, Retrieving dropped/distant objects, Pulling wheelchairs and loading wheelchairs into vehicles, Opening doors and cabinets, Carrying items/packages, Rising to high counters, Physical support for mobility and transfers to/from wheelchairs, Physical assistance to recover from a fall, Dressing or undressing, Assisting with household tasks such as bed making and laundry
• Each person receives a service dog valued at $38,000

CAMP LEJEUNE TRAINING PROGRAM

• National pilot program developed by Carolina Canines and the Camp Lejeune Brig called “Carolina Canines for Veterans”
• Participating dogs have been rescued from local shelters
• Carolina Canines on site at the Brig 2 to 5 days a week
• Dog training cycle lasts 9 to 15 months
• Purposes: Assist in the rehabilitation of prisoners , Train and certify dogs for service
  Provide service dogs to wounded warriors with mobility limitations
• How it works: Brig staff and Prison Psychologist select primary and alternate handlers, Handlers chosen based on custody classification, sentence remaining, social worker recommendations, All training dogs are between 9 months and 2 years old, have come from shelters or rescues and are evaluated on temperament, aptitude to work and health before entering the program, Handlers and dogs are housed together in a dormitory and follow written procedures on everything from feeding to recreation
  

Individual contributors, Veterans organizations, corporate and civic groups, fundraisers and grants fund CCFS. For more information, call (866) 910-3647 or visit http://www.carolinacanines.org/.

Happy New Year!

I want to extend a very grateful thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers and amazing supporters. The 2008 year has been a rough one for the economy but we have been so blessed to have made it through another year!

We have been able to provided four service dogs to those in need. Along with having touched hundred of lives through our Animal Assisted Therapy program and Paws for Reading! We have also been able to assist people in getting out of domestic violence situations through the use of our Domestic Violence Animal Assistance Program.

We could not have the effect that we do in this community if it wasn't for all of our wonderful volunteers and supporters. We can only hope that 2009 will be as blessed and successful as 2008 has been.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Volunteerism – The Cornerstone of Our Organization

Carolina Canines would not be who we are today without our volunteers. One special volunteer, Stephen LeQuire has been featured recently in the Wilmington Start News for his volunteer work with the Carolina Canines for Veterans program at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Brig (www.starnewsonline.com/article/20081220/ARTICLES/812202989), but there are many volunteers that make our mission possible.

At this time of year for giving thanks, we would like to thank the many volunteers that give every day to help others in need. From our foster families committing to raising and training the service dogs, to the advanced trainers working to ready a dog for their partner, the 63 active therapy teams that visit people in our community’s facilities, our office helpers, and Board of Director and Advisory Council, we cannot do the work we do and provide the services we do without each and every one of you.

Thank you to all the volunteers that make our organization what it is. Merry Christmas!

Won’t you be a part of the work we do in our community in 2009?

Hope For A New Year

This has been an interesting year for the economy as well as Carolina Canines for Service. We have had our up’s and down’s and everywhere in between. We are so grateful to have some of the most amazing volunteers that dedicate so much of their time to making CCFS what it is today, from the foster puppy parents to the Animal Assisted Therapy teams.

In January, we started, Carolina Canines for Veterans. In 2006-2007, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign of North Carolina selected Carolina Canines as their charitable project. The statewide organizations goal was to raise funds for one service dog to be placed with one deserving veteran. As a result of this project, Carolina Canines questioned how more veterans could receive the benefits of a service, if they wanted one. From this project, Carolina Canines for Veterans was started in January 2008. Carolina Canines for Veterans is a national pilot program that provides wounded warriors with trained service dogs. What makes our program one of a kind is that we train military prisoners to raise and train the service dogs that we provide to veterans with disabilities at no cost to the veterans. This program is unique in the United States. Prisoners get a second chance to help their comrades. Wounded vets get a second chance for an independent lifestyle. The dogs from for this program are all from rescue or shelters and have passed a strict health and temperament evaluation. The dogs are between 9 months to 2 years of age when entering the Carolina Canines for Veterans program. Training is expected to be completed within a 7 to 15 month timeframe due to using older dogs, rather than the 2 to 3 year training time in our civilian program. The service dogs trained in the Carolina Canines for Veterans program will only be provided to veterans.

We have also been able to partner four people with their service dogs. In 2008 alone, we provided 4 service dogs, at a total worth of $152,000. This brings our total amount of services provided to $1,178,000. We are at a point where our clients are retiring their service dogs and coming back to us for a second dog. We are blessed and happy that they have been served so well that they would like another one to assist them with their independence. One placement was done with a young lady named Randall Ford. She was eleven years old when she received her first service dog, Jacob. Jacob was placed with her when she was in 2nd grade and assisted her in daily activities up through her freshman year of college. This year we placed Conway with Ms. Ford to assist her through her college years and many more to come.

2008 was also the Year of the Wedding! One of our amazing foster families, Lori Gurganious, tied the knot with Andy Brinkley on May 24th. They had a beautiful ceremony with all of the service dogs in training in attendance. Also tying the knot was Ed Salau, one of our clients. Ed married Dawn at an elegant ceremony in Greenville, NC. Also making wedding news, our very own President and C.E.O., Rick Hairston and Executive Assistant, Pat Nowak announced their engagement. We wish them all the best of luck and many years of blissful marriage!

As you can see, it’s been a very busy for Carolina Canines for Service. We have been blessed to provide service dogs for those in need, begin an amazing new program to benefit our wounded warriors, and share in the joy of marriage with friends near and dear to our hearts. We can only hope that next year will be as prosperous as 2008!