What is a service dog and can one help me?

Service dogs are trained to assist an individual who is visually or hearing impaired, experiencing mobility limitations or dealing with psychological disorders. There are distinctions between service or guide dogs, sometimes known as assistance dogs, and therapy, emotional support or companion dogs. A service dog has legal access to accompany the person where ever they go; a therapy, emotional or companion dog does not.

Fully trained service dogs are governed by the Americans With Disabilities Act, which defines a service animal as “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler's disability.”

Service dogs in training are governed under state statutes not the ADA; each state statue has different points and should be researched and understood by the service dog trainer. Key to the NC statute are provisions that the service dog in training must be identified, must be under control of the trainer by leash or harness, and must be the only service dog in training being handled. Further, the NC statute is clear that falsely representing an animal as a service dog is a misdemeanor.

Airman 1st Class Ashlee Galloway

Retired Marine Staff Sgt. Dean Suthard sits with his new service dog, Esther, during a ceremony at the Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston May 9. During the ceremony, NCBC, in partnership with Carolina Canines for Service, presented Suthard, a wounded service member, his service dog. Suthard deployed three times to Iraq, second tour with the 1st Battalion 8th Marine Regiment. In 2004, while on his second tour, he sustained spinal injuries while on combat patrol. CCFS is a non-profit health and human services organization that trains service dogs for people with disabilities. Through this program, military prisoners are taught to train service dogs for veterans with disabilities

Read more: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/88553/wounded-warrior-receives-helping-paw#.T8I5INWXTkU#ixzz1w523Qjqh

Canines for Service trains service dogs to assist people with mobility limitations, traumatic brain injury and, for Veterans, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After an average of 2,500 hours, the dogs know 90 commands and can pick up dropped items, open doors, be harnessed to assist someone walking or help to pull a manual wheelchair. The service dog can load a washer and unload a dryer, turn on/off light, pick up coins and give them to their person and lay quietly for hours if their person is in a meeting or just relaxing at home. The service dogs are constant assistants and can help someone with PTSD by creating space between the person and someone near them, assist them in exiting a room or provide tactile (touch) stimulation to help relieve their anxiety. Each service dog is carefully matched to a person considering many factors including the person’s needs, height, life style and the skills the dog is best at. When a match is made and the person receives their service dog, the training is done one-on-one with the person and their dog; not in a group of others receiving service dogs. And, because Canines for Service owns the dog after placing it with a person for five years, liability insurance coverage is provided by Canines for Service.

How do I find a service dog provider? There are numerous service dog providers that use many training methods, set their own selection criteria for the dog (age, temperament, size, health screening) and decide how much training a dog receives before providing it to a person. Most organizations have an application process and often there is a wait list of two or more years to receive a service dog. Some providers charge a fee for a service dog or require the person receiving the dog to fundraise to help off-set the costs of the training. One resource of service dog providers is Assistance Dogs International (ADI). While ADI does not train and place service dogs, they are a coalition of service dog providers that have agreed to define standards of training and have had a review of their practices by peers in the industry. So, what should you look for in a service dog provider? Here are just a few points to consider:

• How old are the dogs when provided to a client? 
• How have the dogs’ been evaluated for temperament and health? 
• Are the dogs hips assessed by x-ray? 
• Can the dog handle the public settings or is it timid or fearful? 
• If a private trainer or a paid provider, is there a written contract with clear deliverables and expectations of what the service dog will be able to do? 
• When training is done with a client is it provided in a group or individually? 
• Is follow-up training provided? 
• Who owns the dog after it is placed with a client? 
• Is there liability insurance coverage provided by the organization providing the service dog? 
• Is the organization a legal organization in compliance with state and federal laws? 

If you are looking for a service dog and are interested in a Canines for Service and Canines for Veterans service dog, visit our website to learn more www.caninesforservice.org or call for information 866-910-3647.

National Recognition, Changing a Life and Local Support

It has been a rollercoaster of activity since the Walk for Those Who Can’t in late March. In April the Canines for Veterans program was nationally recognized as a top 20 finalist in the Joining Forces Community Challenge at the White House. A trip to Washington DC including a tour of the White House, tour of the Pentagon with a reception with the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, General Dempsey and the Joining Forces anniversary ceremony at the White House. To be in the White House and among the many our national treasures and walk the halls of our forefathers; the experience was incredible.

This week team training is ongoing for a Veteran. He is receiving service dog Esther who was initially trained in the civilian foster program in Wilmington by a local family before going to the brig to finish her training. Here is what the foster family had to say “You know how much we loved fostering Esther but thinking about all the people who have poured time into her is amazing! She and her sister were donated; Canines for Service trainers met with us weekly or biweekly to teach us commands (in addition to being available by phone!); her Canines for Veterans trainers have worked with her for the past 9 months at the US Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston; and she lived with a handler in Charleston who obviously worked with her constantly to get her ready for her big day! All because Rick Hairston had a dream and desire to help people and his incredible wife, Pat, supported him the whole way! Please consider supporting Canines for Service with your time or financial donation - they are absolutely changing lives!!”


The difference in the client’s life is already being realized as he slept for 7 full hours for the first time in many years with Esther by his side on the very first night she stayed with him. The healing for this wounded warrior will take the next step as he and service dog Esther bond and become a team.
Canines for Literacy are wrapping up for the school year and the children are receiving their gift bags of books thanks to grants from Wilmington Newcomers Club and International Paper. The appreciation for our Canines for Therapy teams is evident from the photo.

Our work does not happen without the support of many. One local elementary school stepped up to make a difference in the lives of other students by donating raffle items and holding an in-school raffle. Together the 5th grade class of College Park Elementary raised $381 which is being matched by a generous donor for the Canines for Literacy program. The children totally get it and realize the benefit of making a difference in someone’s life.

Canines for Service can’t do all this alone. We need you. Whether it is fostering a service dog in training, training to be a certified Canines for Therapy team with your own dog, helping our children with the Canines for Literacy program, holding a fundraiser or donating on a regular basis, there are people waiting for the services we provide. Please help us to make a difference in a life today.

  

6th Annual Walk for Those Who Can't

The 6th Annual Walk for Those Who Can't is right around the corner.  The team is working to bring you a fun 2012 Walk.  Based on your input, we have created a longer route and we have added vendors.  


Besides the fun, the great fundraising prizes (like a week in Florida) and the raffle items available, we all have at the Walk for Those Who Can't, this event is important to Canines for Service.  It helps us to raise money needed for programs that serve people in our communities.  The largest fundraiser for Canines for Service in the Wilmington area, the funds raised help to provide people waiting for their service dog, a 4-legged gift of independence, provides training and certification for pet owners and their dogs to become pet therapy teams and volunteer visiting nursing homes, assisted living, hospitals and working with children.  Requests for our services are up.  Our wait list for a service dog in the Canines for Service program is 2 to 4 years and for Veterans up to 10 months in the Canines for Veterans program.  We have many facilities in our community who are waiting for certified therapy teams to visit with the residents.  And, schools are asking for our Canines for Literacy team to come help the children with their reading.  

We need you to help us.  If you are already fundraising, thank you!  If you have not started, there is still time. Just visit Walk for Those Who Can't and click the Register to Walk button or Donate to A Team or buy a raffle ticket or two, three or more. Every little bit helps and 91 cents of every dollar goes directly to our programs. 


Here are a few tips that our walkers are using to become fundraisers! Follow these and you can’t go wrong.
1- ASK. Asking for money is hard, but you will find that people want to support you and the cause that you believe in. People believe in dog helping people and they will want to help.
2- Ask Again. Participants who send follow-up emails to people who have not responded after the first ask are more successful fundraisers. Your friends are busy -- they WANT to be reminded about the opportunity to help!
3- Thank You! Log into your account to easily see who has made a gift toward your goal. Send a thank you note right away and even follow up after the event by sending a picture of you and your pet at the walk so that your supporters share in the day. 


Thank you to our sponsors making the 2012 Walk possible.  CBS 10 Wilm, Sunrise Broadcasting, Sunny 104.5, Z107.5, Jammin 99.9, 98.7 Coastal Carolina's Modern Rock, ESPN Radio, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Dog Living Magazine, StarNews Media, Queensboro Shirt Company, Unleashed - The Dog and Cat Store, Dock Street Printing, Indian Springs Water Co., Port City Java and PawPrints Magazine.  And to our doggie bandana sponsors A Country Veterinary, Chippewa Aerospace, Inc. , Dineen Animal Hospital, Galligan Chiropractic, North College Road Animal Hospital, Paw Beach Pet Resort, Pine Valley Animal Hospital, Therapy Works Of Wilmington.   Table Top Exhibitors: Dog Connection Inc., Kona-Ice Of Coastal Carolina LLC, Nature's Select Of Coastal Carolina, Inc., Norman's Books,  Pampered Chef - Jesse Watts, Paw Beach Pet Resort, Pet's Pal Inn, Splish Splash Dog Wash, Unleashed, The Dog And Cat Store, Wilmington Animal Healthcare, And Woof 4 Dog Gifts.


Looking forward to seeing you there!

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!